How to Make an Effigy

The Michelangelo in Indians comes alive when the cricket team loses. They make effigies.

The Michelangelo in Indians comes alive when the cricket team loses. They make effigies.

Fanatics in Ranchi had burned one of Mahendra Singh Dhoni after India lost their World T20 crown. We tried to do the same, but on a lighter note. Youngsters from a BMC Staffers colony in Mumbai were happy to cooperate. It was a good thing that they had picked coconuts off the trees in their building that day. The husk of the fruit provided the flesh and the bones came handy for our experiment.

First, the pants were stuffed with husk and rags. When ready, the legs dangled off a plastic chair, eliciting glances from neighbouring balconies. The torso was to be dressed in the latest India T-shirt, but under it was another shirt with black full sleeves.

“This is Yuvraj’s style, why is Dhoni following it?” one said. “Dhoni borrowed a shirt from Yuvraj,” his friend said. Now a headless cricketer in full gear sat on the chair. Readers of detective stories in the neighbourhood probably pulled out their binoculars.

An hour later, ‘Dhoni’ staggered to the pitch and took guard. “Now, let’s teach him to bat,” the boys said.