While Bradman was
making his entry into the record books, a significant event that was to cast
its shadow for more than a decade, was occurring on the other side of the
globe. The United States of America, having experienced great prosperity in the
1920s, post World War I, saw soaring exports and booming stock markets, but
much of the shares bought with borrowed money. This bubble that had
consequently been created, burst on October 29, 1929, a day that came to be
known as ‘Black Tuesday’.
The stock market on
Wall Street collapsed. Countless fortunes were lost. The ripple effect engulfed
the entire United States, and then the world. Banks failed, businesses and
factories closed, and international trade came to a virtual standstill. The
markets kept plunging and bottomed out only after three years. It is believed
that 30 million people lost their jobs, half of them in the United States.
Australia too took a big hit as nearly one-third of the people found themselves
out of employment, and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined by as much as
25 percent. The Great Depression had set in. It was a period of great economic
hardship that lasted more than a decade.
It was exactly during
this time leading to the Second World War that Bradman regaled the crowds with
his magical 2 lb 2 oz bat. People thronged to the grounds to watch his
run-sprees, as much as to forget their own miseries. His deeds brought solace
to the multitude that watched, heard or read about his exploits. In Australia
there was the added glee of giving a hiding to the imperial masters, who
protected the interests of their own merchants at the cost of the toiling
masses. The impact of Bradman’s peerless accomplishments went far beyond
providing entertainment and transmitting the joys of sporting excellence. His
record-breaking feats helped lift, at least temporarily, the gloom in people’s
lives, and enabled them to escape into a less depressing world.
When there was
darkness all around, Bradman was one bright light that offered hope and
instilled the courage to battle on. For many, Bradman became the very reason
and purpose for their existence. Someone who has come close to replicating the
joy that Bradman spread has been India’s Sachin Tendulkar. There has not been a
more loved character in recent times than Tendulkar, nor one who people want to
see succeed as much as he. When it was later pointed out to The Don that he had
helped so many cope with the pain of the Great Depression, he merely replied,
“I don’t know. I was too busy playing cricket.” Indeed he was, and so focussed
was he on the field that the only things that mattered to him were runs on the
board and victory for his team.
(Author
Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).
Don’s
Century
Published by Sporting Links
ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0, Fully Illustrated
French Fold 21.5 cm x 28 cm, 188 Pages
Price Rupees 995
Available at attractive price on Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/Dons-Century-Indra-Vikram-Singh/dp/8190166859/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1532086303&sr=1-3&keywords=indra+vikram+singh
Indra Vikram Singh’s latest books published
by Sporting Links:
A Maharaja’s Turf ISBN
978-81-901668-3-6
The Big Book of World Cup
Cricket ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3
Don’s Century ISBN
978-81-901668-5-0
Crowning Glory ISBN
978-81-901668-6-7
Available at attractive prices on Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_7?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=indra+vikram+singh&sprefix=Indra+V%2Cstripbooks%2C532&crid=1FGYRC684WG65
