I've always been wanting to write about this, but putting it off. But a few recent small talks I had with strangers triggered this again. Well, five minutes of conversation with me, there's a fair chance you may actually guess it. For, in India, it is something people always cling to. Open up a conversation with someone random, it just appears. Being an atheist in India is no easy thing after all, being looked down, left out. Well, if you had guessed it, it's bout my apathy for this religion called Cricket. :D Yes, for those of you who dint know, it's true.
While it's no one's fault that people assume you play err.. or at least follow cricket by default, this post I think could be an eye opener to people that some people of my species do exist. Well, I havent found many like me yet. Being a "misfit", there are always these awkward moments when it comes down to this conversation. Based on my mood, sometimes I just smile and subtly avoid it or sometimes tell with all pride. Sometimes, when someone is expected to show sympathy, I keep my face grim and say the word that should not be uttered "I dont follow cricket". I got used to the regular questions of What? Really? Okay so WHAT ELSE do you do? So as it turns out I have turned out to be the most boring for a few and (Uh it's part of the sentence) most interesting person, for a few. Out of curiosity, I even ended up asking others like me, on Quora.
Well, cons first. Since, you know, it's much easier. Awkward moments. Awkward moments everywhere. Miss out on conversations, hangouts. Wondering how do I even escape the conversations? Well, I just dont. Just like in the "A Beautiful Mind" movie, they still exist, I've learnt to live with them. So have my friends with me. If incase I take part in quizzes, I'd lose on the obvious ones. Heh I dont generally go for quizzes anyways.Sometimes you hear the whole hostel (or apartments now) shout in frenzy and you have no frigging clue why. And Oh Yes, We only have one Tv at home and so I've stopped watching Tv as such, for obvious reasons.
Pro? I stand out (Stand out of conversations?). Ofcourse I'm different, with just set of interests. More time (to waste on different things?). You know I could just do anything I want. Read books, watch a movie.Or come back to social media and keep ignoring the updates on cricket.
Whenever someone who asks me to play cricket along with them (Sometimes people do, I dunno why), I just reply them with this one-liner on another old proverb and they'd be gone. "Mazhaikku Na ground pakkam odungunathu illa) I know it turns out awkward to be translated into English, but here it goes - I havent taken shelter in the ground even during rain (adversities) - Well that's the irony :P
Well, As much as I almost forget that I'm atheist in this regard, I get reminded every now and then. But then I dont care.
P.S: I dont follow football either. Okay You can ask me the What-else-I-do. I'd prefer to skip that question.
P.P.S: Incase you were wondering, When it comes to real religion, nah I'm not an atheist *yet*.
While it's no one's fault that people assume you play err.. or at least follow cricket by default, this post I think could be an eye opener to people that some people of my species do exist. Well, I havent found many like me yet. Being a "misfit", there are always these awkward moments when it comes down to this conversation. Based on my mood, sometimes I just smile and subtly avoid it or sometimes tell with all pride. Sometimes, when someone is expected to show sympathy, I keep my face grim and say the word that should not be uttered "I dont follow cricket". I got used to the regular questions of What? Really? Okay so WHAT ELSE do you do? So as it turns out I have turned out to be the most boring for a few and (Uh it's part of the sentence) most interesting person, for a few. Out of curiosity, I even ended up asking others like me, on Quora.
Well, cons first. Since, you know, it's much easier. Awkward moments. Awkward moments everywhere. Miss out on conversations, hangouts. Wondering how do I even escape the conversations? Well, I just dont. Just like in the "A Beautiful Mind" movie, they still exist, I've learnt to live with them. So have my friends with me. If incase I take part in quizzes, I'd lose on the obvious ones. Heh I dont generally go for quizzes anyways.Sometimes you hear the whole hostel (or apartments now) shout in frenzy and you have no frigging clue why. And Oh Yes, We only have one Tv at home and so I've stopped watching Tv as such, for obvious reasons.
Pro? I stand out (Stand out of conversations?). Ofcourse I'm different, with just set of interests. More time (to waste on different things?). You know I could just do anything I want. Read books, watch a movie.Or come back to social media and keep ignoring the updates on cricket.
Whenever someone who asks me to play cricket along with them (Sometimes people do, I dunno why), I just reply them with this one-liner on another old proverb and they'd be gone. "Mazhaikku Na ground pakkam odungunathu illa) I know it turns out awkward to be translated into English, but here it goes - I havent taken shelter in the ground even during rain (adversities) - Well that's the irony :P
Well, As much as I almost forget that I'm atheist in this regard, I get reminded every now and then. But then I dont care.
P.S: I dont follow football either. Okay You can ask me the What-else-I-do. I'd prefer to skip that question.
P.P.S: Incase you were wondering, When it comes to real religion, nah I'm not an atheist *yet*.
