Laxman Sivaramakrishnan retires from BCCI commentary after 23-year career, claims 'colour discrimination' against him

[charlie007]

Point is, indians try to show off by using high covabulary while speaking with an accent.

Someone in North America wont use high vocab and just wants to listen to simple english.

Someone like bhogle made his commentator career based on high vocab, because he had no cricket career

Why are you against people who speak good English, the way it should be spoken? If they have to speak Urdu, Hindi, or Punjabi, should they not speak the way it should be? It’s ok to not like someone’s commentary or analysis but to hold their good English against them doesn’t make sense.

 

[charlie007]

He himself said it.

I don’t see you take people’s word as the truth in other cases. Try to think logically, if he had been discriminated against due to his color, would he even have had a 23-year commentary career? Why have dark skinned person get away despite mediocre commentary skills? Lol!! Deep Dasgupta is dark too and has done well for himself.
The fact is LS is a mediocre commentator with no technical insight beyond rudimentary stuff, creates zero excitement, and for a large number of fans just brings the overall experience down. You guys just try to hang on to anything that’s against India. India has many issues, including discrimination, but this is not one of them.

 

[Bhaijaan]

He was sidelined because he looked like a stereotypical Endian and BCCI wanted to improve that image. They ignored that he was a decent leggie and an insightful commentator. Remember they won that non serious 1985 micky mouse tournament thingy in 1985 thanks to his performances. Shameless, thankless and rather racist BCCI. I remember they would pick Ramiz Raja and let him take over because he was obviously
More marketable than Endian commies without aura.

 

[cricket.mad]

Not surprised at all. Indians are racist to their own kinds. Most racist country on earth is India. Racism is normal there, even bollywood films they promote racism. Funny thing is they mostly look like him too, but due to the bollywood fairytales they started thinking they are goray rang westerners.

But definitely not 5 feeters like you guys mate

 

[cricket.mad]

How was he as a hindi commentator, because i know the rest were rubbish.

He is Tamilian ..South Indian ..so most probably he doesn’t know Hindi

 

[cricket.mad]

He is Tamil. They cant speak Hindi even if their life depends on it

Why should we speak ?

It isn’t a national language ..we have our own culture,traditions and customs and they are more antique than Hindi,which is at best a medieval language ..Tamil,Telugu,kannada has a long history preceding even Christ era ..we are the original inhabitants of India …DRAVIDIANS …remember the name

 

[Hitman]

Why should we speak ?

It isn’t a national language ..we have our own culture,traditions and customs and they are more antique than Hindi,which is at best a medieval language ..Tamil,Telugu,kannada has a long history preceding even Christ era ..we are the original inhabitants of India …DRAVIDIANS …remember the name

So easy to divide Indians even at this day and age.

 

[NishanKonar]

Why should we speak ?

It isn’t a national language ..we have our own culture,traditions and customs and they are more antique than Hindi,which is at best a medieval language ..Tamil,Telugu,kannada has a long history preceding even Christ era ..we are the original inhabitants of India …DRAVIDIANS …remember the name

I m not complaining. Just stating a fact for our Pakistani folks. I dont care whether they speak hindi or not

 

[Major]

Why are you against people who speak good English, the way it should be spoken? If they have to speak Urdu, Hindi, or Punjabi, should they not speak the way it should be? It’s ok to not like someone’s commentary or analysis but to hold their good English against them doesn’t make sense.

To indians speaking good english is using high vocab words and cliche.

English speakers of UK, Asutralia and North America dont speak like that. Usage of high vocab means nothing if people dont understand meaning.

High vocab is used just to show off, and just to show that look we have learned the language

Harsha can use high vocab all he wants, but him not being a cricketer means his words hold no value, in comparison to someone like holding.

Its sounds really funny, since indians have that accent which is a universal joke

 

[sweep_shot]

To indians speaking good english is using high vocab words and cliche.

English speakers of UK, Asutralia and North America dont speak like that. Usage of high vocab means nothing if people dont understand meaning.

High vocab is used just to show off, and just to show that look we have learned the language

Harsha can use high vocab all he wants, but him not being a cricketer means his words hold no value, in comparison to someone like holding.

Its sounds really funny, since indians have that accent which is a universal joke

Correct.

Native English speakers keep it simple. They don't show off as it is their native language.

Many Indians try too hard to sound sophisticated. It is comical. They end up sounding creepy and unnatural.

 

[Major]

Correct.

Native English speakers keep it simple. They don't show off as it is their native language.

Many Indians try too hard to sound sophisticated. It is comical.

Its funny because they say it with that accent.

Apu accent i call it.

These guys are a universal joke

 

[charlie007]

To indians speaking good english is using high vocab words and cliche.

English speakers of UK, Asutralia and North America dont speak like that. Usage of high vocab means nothing if people dont understand meaning.

High vocab is used just to show off, and just to show that look we have learned the language

Harsha can use high vocab all he wants, but him not being a cricketer means his words hold no value, in comparison to someone like holding.

Its sounds really funny, since indians have that accent which is a universal joke

You’re not seeing the point. Their English is just fine and if some people don’t understand it, they should learn better - we all do for different things in our lives, including language. Personally, I don’t hear anything that feels like showing off vocabulary, the words just fit. I think it’s about exposure and usage in our daily lives. Harsha Bhogle is a product of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, which is the top management school in the country - so it’s not a surprise he comes with a high quality of English delivery.
He doesn’t need to be a cricketer to be a good commentator. That said, he has played club cricket and university level cricket. He became a commentator at 19 years of age and started with Radio commentary through All India Radio. He’s not new to this.
There are many examples of commentators and coaches that haven’t played any high level cricket and have done quite well. Mark Nicholas, Henry Blofeld, John Buchanan, that Abeysekara guy from Sri Lanka. Understanding and playing are two different things.

Accents? Come on man! You can do better than this. Even American, Irish, Scottish, and British accents differ from each other. In America, it is very difficult to understand what a native speaker from the South is saying for someone, say in Maine or Vermont. People have accents and that’s just the way it is. Listen to someone from Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa speak Urdu versus someone from Punjab!

 

[Major]

You’re not seeing the point. Their English is just fine and if some people don’t understand it, they should learn better - we all do for different things in our lives, including language. Personally, I don’t hear anything that feels like showing off vocabulary, the words just fit. I think it’s about exposure and usage in our daily lives. Harsha Bhogle is a product of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, which is the top management school in the country - so it’s not a surprise he comes with a high quality of English delivery.
He doesn’t need to be a cricketer to be a good commentator. That said, he has played club cricket and university level cricket. He became a commentator at 19 years of age and started with Radio commentary through All India Radio. He’s not new to this.
There are many examples of commentators and coaches that haven’t played any high level cricket and have done quite well. Mark Nicholas, Henry Blofeld, John Buchanan, that Abeysekara guy from Sri Lanka. Understanding and playing are two different things.

Accents? Come on man! You can do better than this. Even American, Irish, Scottish, and British accents differ from each other. In America, it is very difficult to understand what a native speaker from the South is saying for someone, say in Maine or Vermont. People have accents and that’s just the way it is. Listen to someone from Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa speak Urdu versus someone from Punjab!

I dont care about what school or how top that school is.

Point is, they try to use high vocab to make up for their accent and their unnatural flow of english speaking.

There is no point in using high vocab if u cant soeak in a full flow.

Indian accent is a universal joke. Accents do exists, and indian is the funniest of all

 

[charlie007]

I dont care about what school or how top that school is.

Point is, they try to use high vocab to make up for their accent and their unnatural flow of english speaking.

There is no point in using high vocab if u cant soeak in a full flow.

Indian accent is a universal joke. Accents do exists, and indian is the funniest of all

Alright man, I give up. What am I to lose if you choose to not try and get better while complaining others say things you don’t understand. But it’s definitely funny seeing a Pakistani make fun of Indian accents while your captain utters gibberish on a global platform.

 

[Major]

Alright man, I give up. What am I to lose if you choose to not try and get better while complaining others say things you don’t understand. But it’s definitely funny seeing a Pakistani make fun of Indian accents while your captain utters gibberish on a global platform.

So indian accent is not an universal joke?

 

[giri26]

There should be some truth to his claims as Abhinav Mukund in the past has spoken about the same.

 

[charlie007]

So indian accent is not an universal joke?

It’s not a joke, it’s an accent - just like you have Russian accents, Romanian accents, Spanish accents, Jamaican accents etc. when speaking English. Hell, Americans make fun of British accents in their stand up comedy shows.
Rise above stereotypes if you want to grow as a person. If not, that’s the choice you make on who you want to be, it doesn’t affect me.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

If it's true, I can't say I am surprised.

Even if not true, nobody would be surprised at ur negative reaction u'd give...
#KhatmaliFitRat

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

A bog average commentator - i felt was ok as far as IPL goes, but am not a fan of his international commentary....never saw him give any penetrating insights or any out of the box observations for example any field change or stage of the game
Dont know what he is on all about crying victim & discrimination etc....

But one thing is for sure.... several 'locals' who were notably absent since the last stages of india's fantastic victory in the T20 WC , suddenly are present here as something -ve has to be peddled

 

[Major]

It’s not a joke, it’s an accent - just like you have Russian accents, Romanian accents, Spanish accents, Jamaican accents etc. when speaking English. Hell, Americans make fun of British accents in their stand up comedy shows.
Rise above stereotypes if you want to grow as a person. If not, that’s the choice you make on who you want to be, it doesn’t affect me.

But indian accent is used as a joke due to it being funny, no?

 

[charlie007]

But indian accent is used as a joke due to it being funny, no?

By who?

 

[Major]

By who?

The simpsons
Russel peters
Many stands up use the accent as a skit

 

[Cricfan8920]

But indian accent is used as a joke due to it being funny, no?

So??

 

[light]

Discrimination is never a good thing but the reality is, the more ugly you are, the more unfair the world is towards you. And to top it off, if you ugly, you gotta compensate with personality or something. Bro has no charisma either.

All Asians (yes even Chinese, Japanese, etc) have a negative view towards dark skin people. This is not just an Indian problem like some of you guys are saying, it's most of Asia (and a lot of other part of the world too).

So yes, I believe him that BCCI did Infact act that way towards him

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Even if not true, nobody would be surprised at ur negative reaction u'd give...
#KhatmaliFitRat

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Point is, indians try to show off by using high covabulary while speaking with an accent.

Someone in North America wont use high vocab and just wants to listen to simple english.

Someone like bhogle made his commentator career based on high vocab, because he had no cricket career

Entirely your opinion. There are others who have theirs on your lot as well..

And its 'vocabulary' .

Overall, another cope thread and attempt to throw the dirt.

 

[charlie007]

The simpsons
Russel peters
Many stands up use the accent as a skit

Of course, it’s their bread and butter - have you not heard them mock Chinese English or Arabic English or Russian English too? It’s no different than that. It’s more to stereotype them because it’s different than say, an American accent.
However, the point of this discussion was Bhogle using good vocabulary and I said he uses it because it comes naturally to him not because he’s trying to. You said: “There is no point in using high vocab if u cant soeak in a full flow.” The flow is just fine and he’s quite clear. Where do you see him stammering or searching for words?
But like I said, it’s ok to not like a commentator but don’t tell me he’s trying to cover up for his accent, because there’s no need to - he speaks the only way he’s been taught to.
For that matter, I quite like listening to Ramiz or Aamir Sohail’s English in a good accent even though there’s not much substance in it cricketing wise despite being ex-cricketers.

 

[Josh]

So indian accent is not an universal joke?

Do you think you guys speak English with a different accent?

 

[Major]

Do you think you guys speak English with a different accent?

Offcourse, we dont have an accent, because urdu has a very different punctuation compared to hindi and all other language spoken in india.

Plus, in pakistan punjabi is spoken as majortiy

You guys cant even pronounce z

 

[Josh]

Offcourse, we dont have an accent, because urdu has a very different punctuation compared to hindi and all other language spoken in india.

Plus, in pakistan punjabi is spoken as majortiy

You guys cant even pronounce z

Lol you're right about z sound and many Indians don't pronounce it correctly. But people from the cities and some parts of India where Z sound exists in local languages can speak it properly. Issue is more with 'kh' sound. Also you guys don't sound any different than north Indians in English at all. Afghans do have a bit different accent though.

 

[Major]

Lol you're right about z sound and many Indians don't pronounce it correctly. But people from the cities and some parts of India where Z sound exists in local languages can speak it properly. Issue is more with 'kh' sound. Also you guys don't sound any different than north Indians in English at all. Afghans do have a bit different accent though.

The pahari people of pakistan from kashmir, muree and northern have accents that matches the indian due to potwari.

But not the punjabi side

 

[BDfanforever]

Forget the looks, in the game of entertainment, you got to have mad swagger to survive.

 

[Josh]

The pahari people of pakistan from kashmir, muree and northern have accents that matches the indian due to potwari.

But not the punjabi side

Maybe there is a bit of difference when Pakistani elites speak but it's hardly differentiable.

 

[Suleiman]

Do you think you guys speak English with a different accent?

We don’t need to speak English brother. Pakistan to cricket is like Brazil to MMA / football, France to the culinary arts or Mexico to Boxing. There’s a translator present to translate the cricketing genius from mother tongue of Urdu / Arabic / Turkish to English or whatever.

 

[Josh]

We don’t need to speak English brother. Pakistan to cricket is like Brazil to MMA / football, France to the culinary arts or Mexico to Boxing. There’s a translator present to translate the cricketing genius from mother tongue of Urdu / Arabic / Turkish to English or whatever.

But this flavour of cricketing genius has been getting milder and milder over the years.

 

[gazza619]

Made his money for over two decades. Criticise his employer on the day of retirement. Classic case of namak haram

 

[charlie007]

Instead of retiring, why didn’t (or doesn’t) he sue BCCI for discrimination? In fact, but stating this he has opened himself to libel, BCCI can actually sue him for defamation or slander.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

He is Tamil. They cant speak Hindi even if their life depends on it

Really?

Pretty generic sweeping statement, eh mate?

The below Prominent Tamilians, from my memory speak fluent Hindi, possibly as well as you, if not better.

- Mithali Raj

- Veda Krishnamurthy (indian female cricketer)

- Ashwin Ravichandran

- Dinesh Karthik (is from chennai but possibly a telugu speaker as well)

- Murli Kathik (as above)

- Murali Vijay

- Rahul Dravid (Tamil bharadwaj iyer from his dad's side, in additon to what wikipedia says - the dravids moved from Thanjavur in tamil nadu about 300 years ago to the holkar states of indore, Gwalior etc, they are iyers but had the blanket surname of Dravid imposed on them, i know his uncle Chandu Dravid)

- Shreyas Iyer

- Subramaian Badrinath

- Shantha Rangaswamy (india's woman version kapil dev before kapil came along)

- Venkatesh Iyer (IPL cricketer)

- Dr Anand Ranganathan Bharadwaj Iyer (author, scientist, media personality)

- J Sai Deepak (media personality)

- Anand Narsimhan Srivatsan Iyer (Times nows news anchor)

- Abhijit Iyer Mitra ( media personality)

- Subramanian Jaishankar (minister)

- Nilakantan Iyer (navy admiral)

- Air marshal P V Iyer (check his you tube - mind blowing fitness at age 90+)

- Shri Subramanian Swamy (politician)

Heaps of entertainment, movie arts and culture personalities....

Several others too numerous to name here....

Next time try thinking what you are posting and what site are you posting.

At the very least those i named above did'nt comment negatively on their own country men on a foreign, read pak site.

Neither does knowing a language or not knowing it or the level or prowess or having an accent or not having one show any kind of superiority or inferiority, mate.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

I don’t see you take people’s word as the truth in other cases. Try to think logically, if he had been discriminated against due to his color, would he even have had a 23-year commentary career? Why have dark skinned person get away despite mediocre commentary skills? Lol!! Deep Dasgupta is dark too and has done well for himself.
The fact is LS is a mediocre commentator with no technical insight beyond rudimentary stuff, creates zero excitement, and for a large number of fans just brings the overall experience down. You guys just try to hang on to anything that’s against India. India has many issues, including discrimination, but this is not one of them.

Spot on!

LS bored me when he was on air, to start off with, his voice was bland almost robotic. I never saw any insights into a fielding change or anything else.

I guess he is ok as far as IPL goes but international cricket is a no no.

And these guys are jumping up and down as if ants got into their pants, pointing out the indian accent when speaking english.

Yeah, so do pakistanis, afg , SL as well as our bangla bandhus but here some are walking along with balloons under their arm pits as if they were the knights of the round table who were the progenitors of the english language.

When you say there are talk shows laughing at indian accent, and i know there are - its a common umbrella for all those countries named above, so get off the high horse.

End of the day a cope thread!

 

[kach]

LKS --> you weren't discriminated against the color of skin, you were just a lousy commentator. We have so many black commentators from the west indies and zimbabwe whom he love listening to. you were just awful.