Millions walk with their heroes, SRK breaks hearts

KOLKATA: The city was swept by a purple tide of emotion, euphoria and chaos as its victorious Knights were accorded a hero’s reception by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Thousands walked with the open trailer on which the Kolkata Knight Riders started their victory procession at the Hazra crossing, jostling and elbowing for a closer glimpse of the stars in the stifling heat.
They wrapped themselves in KKR colours, shouted slogans and cheered their heroes even as Trinamool Congress leaders egged them on to celebrate the victory for “poribartan-kami manush” (people who sought a change). Many were left heartbroken though with King Khan not showing up at the march.
All roads converged at Hazra — the south Kolkata crossing which has been the home of protests led by Mamata Banerjee for the past two decades. On Tuesday, the crossing slipped into a celebratory mood, but without shedding its political colour altogether. Nor did it miss the chaos that Kolkata associates with the intersection. A slew of ministers, MPs, MLAs and other politicians conducted the show from a makeshift dais. Even as a huge trailer — “Korechi, lorechi, jeetechi re” glued to it — waited for the heroes to arrive, thousands started trickling in by 9.30 am.
Within the next half an hour, the crossing had been swarmed by millions who were not only cheering for KKR but were getting impatient for a glimpse of Shah Rukh Khan as well. The police cordon was repeatedly broken through. Even as MPs Subrata Bakshi and Kunal Ghosh took the dais, sports minister Madan Mitra and urban development minister Firhad Hakim looked quite lost as the crowd repeatedly surged ahead, blocking the road. The minutes ticked by but the wait for the Knights continued. It was not until 11.10 am that two team buses finally arrived at Hazra.
Hazra erupted in a thunderous roar as the KKR bus doors finally swung open and the gleaming IPL cup made an appearance. The Knights held it aloft as they were helped through the crowd to the waiting trailer. The roar now got deafening. Skipper Gautam Gambhir, Manvinder Bisla, Shakib-Al-Hasan and coach Trevor Bayliss climbed on to the open vehicle one by one. But there was no sign of the Knight of Knights.
But Shah Rukh Khan, the man of the moment, was missing. “Where is Shah Rukh?” the crowd shouted in unison. There was no answer for the next few minutes as the trailer started rolling. Shakib held the trophy, pumping his fist in the air and waving at the crowd. It was then Bisla’s turn to hold the coveted cup. Bayliss, who was clicking photos, was greeted with a cheer and Gambhir given a rousing welcome. The trailer had moved past the crossing but there was no sign of the KKR owner yet. An announcement on the public address system then broke a million hearts.
“Due to the crowd, Shah Rukh Khan could not join the march. But we welcome the KKR team,” it said. “Oh, why didn’t he come here? I have travelled all the way from Garia just to see him,” said Jayanta Nath, a student. Ronnie Manna, a die-hard KKR fan, had painted his face in purple. “I am delighted to be here but I feel cheated. Shah Rukh should have led the march. But I will surely catch a glimpse of him at Writers’,” he said.
If Hazra was chaotic, Bhowanipur was in complete disarray by the time the victory march reached Jadu Babur Bazar. A small dais collapsed as scores climbed on to it for a closer look of the stars. About 50 yards away, a concrete wall along Netaji Bhawan Metro station gave way as fans jostled on it.