Having worked at multinational companies, Ashwani Muppasani serves as vice president of Americas Operations and Quality in North Carolina. Outside of his profession, Ashwani Muppasani’s interests including watching cricket.
For many, cricket is a pastime enjoyed in countries that once comprised the British Empire (i.e. Caribbean, India, and Australia), but historically in the Caribbean, the sport goes hand-in-hand with calypso.
Both cricket and calypso have their roots in politics. Many calypso songs narrate events that happen on the islands. Cricket also has its roots in political expression. When originally established, pitting players from West Indies against English gentleman became a comment on colonialism and might being expressed through sport.
However, throughout the Caribbean, the sport (and its players) have been immortalized through calypso. As far back as the 1930s, calypso chronicled the events of the game. In the 1950s, for example, Lord Kitchener’s lyrics reflect a win by the West Indian team when he writes, “With those two little pals of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine,” discussing the exploits of the team's great players. Much later, in the 1970s when one of India’s greatest players faced off against the West Indian team (today referred to as the Windies), Lord Relator (of Trinidad) wrote: “Just like a wall, we couldn’t out Gavaskar at all.”
The popularity of the game is partly caused by its inter-connectedness with calypso, which has created a collective consciousness expressed throughout the Caribbean islands. Today, much has been discussed regarding the state of islander style cricket with the game not attracting as much interest. In this evolution, one has to consider the power of calypso to rally, impact, and pique renewed interest in the sport.
For many, cricket is a pastime enjoyed in countries that once comprised the British Empire (i.e. Caribbean, India, and Australia), but historically in the Caribbean, the sport goes hand-in-hand with calypso.
Both cricket and calypso have their roots in politics. Many calypso songs narrate events that happen on the islands. Cricket also has its roots in political expression. When originally established, pitting players from West Indies against English gentleman became a comment on colonialism and might being expressed through sport.
However, throughout the Caribbean, the sport (and its players) have been immortalized through calypso. As far back as the 1930s, calypso chronicled the events of the game. In the 1950s, for example, Lord Kitchener’s lyrics reflect a win by the West Indian team when he writes, “With those two little pals of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine,” discussing the exploits of the team's great players. Much later, in the 1970s when one of India’s greatest players faced off against the West Indian team (today referred to as the Windies), Lord Relator (of Trinidad) wrote: “Just like a wall, we couldn’t out Gavaskar at all.”
The popularity of the game is partly caused by its inter-connectedness with calypso, which has created a collective consciousness expressed throughout the Caribbean islands. Today, much has been discussed regarding the state of islander style cricket with the game not attracting as much interest. In this evolution, one has to consider the power of calypso to rally, impact, and pique renewed interest in the sport.
