Now that it has been proved that Harbhajan did racially taunt Symonds with "monkey" in India, do Indians agree that if Symonds had reported him, Harbhajan deserved punishment (similar to Lehmann)???
I would have thought it was to Symonds' credit that he first chose to be mature, left it on the field and told Harbhajan privately that he would report him if he said it again!
I agree this is of no relevance to current proceedings, except for the fact that Harbhajan can't say "Oh I didn't know it was offensive".
RE:The Harbhajan matter
by Indian on Jan 09, 2008 06:34 AM Permalink
Mr. Mammen: Firstly wipe it off your mind (and completely wipe it off if you possibly can) that the "monkey" business in India has anything to do with racism.
An average Indian fan doesn't even know that Symonds is black. He is a lot lot fairer than most Indians. For an average Indian fan, he is just an Aussie. I am sure more than 90% of Indian fans won't even know where he originally hails from. So please get that right.
The Indian fans just didn't tolerate his boorish behaviour and arrogance on field, and took to his appearance, especially his white lipstick. And that is (contrary to whoever, wherever believes otherwise) the only explanation for those taunting episodes.
Bhajji probably taunted him with "monkey" in India just to needle him, and he has every right to do that, the same as every Aussie has been needling all opponents post-Bradman era.
It's just that Aussies have devised a fantastic way to block anyone needling one-of-their-own, by labelling as "racist" anybody who makes fun of their precious Roy.
RE:The Harbhajan matter
by Indian on Jan 09, 2008 07:12 AM Permalink
And secondly, in his defense Harbhajan DID NOT say "Oh I didn't know it was offensive"; he completely denied saying the monkey word.
Now that we are discussing this like two mature people, let me bring another aside to this. Alan Border has magnanimously offered his opinion that this is all just a cultural misunderstanding etc. etc. equating the word monkey (in Indian context) with the B word (in Aussie context). I find it funny in the wake of your argument hailing Symonds' maturity. This so called maturity (nay patience) lasted only for 2 instances (assuming Bhajji said it again, which incidentally he DIDN'T, so actually the patience cracked during the first instance itself and then became a vendetta that incidentally also benefits Punter the Bunny). Whereas Indians have been displaying this maturity for decades now. If Alan knows that B word has always hurted the Indians, yet Aussies keep using it and claim sledging is their birthright, and yet Indians don't report anyone, then its a far far higher maturity that has been on display for anyone to see. Its just a pity that the Aussies won't appreciate it, and express a collective shock when a certain Hogg is eventually reported as a "last straw on camel's back syndrome"; and go further to label the entire Indian race as being sooks and bad losers and what nots.
RE:The Harbhajan matter
by Dev Purkayastha on Jan 09, 2008 07:51 AM Permalink
Why do you believe Symmonds and disbelieve Harbhajan? What am I missing here? If you know that Singh is a liar please share it with us. On the other hand what was the crack Mr. Symonds admits he made to Singh during the Sidney match? Aussies invented sledging, and they have been indulging in it for many years. Now they find the Indians sledging them offensive? Give me a break. Those whol live in glass houses should not throw stones.
