Cricket (IPL) United RCB Fans, Misgovernance Shamed the Nation.

 

                                            

                                        

Cricket in India is more than a sport—it is a cultural phenomenon, a unifying force, and a mirror of the nation’s collective consciousness. As scholar Ashis Nandy famously remarked, “Cricket is an Indian game accidentally discovered by the English.” Its deep ties to Indian nationalism, catalysed by cinema, political, and corporate interests, have made it a powerful tool for unity and identity.  However, what should have been a jubilant and unifying celebration of RCB’s maiden IPL victory in Bengaluru, has instead turned into a national tragedy. This tragic incident reminds us of a deeper, more troubling pattern: the erosion of institutional integrity.

 The loss of 11 innocent lives, crushed in a stampede born out of administrative apathy, is not merely an accident but an indictment of systemic failure. This must serve as a stark reminder of the need for responsibility, foresight, and robust planning to learn from such failures. This tragedy also underscores the need for stakeholders—politicians, administration, government, BCCI, IPL and other organizers, corporations, and even cine stars and celebrities —to learn from lapses and ensure cricket and such other celebrations that unite citizens remains a source of joy, not a sorrow and a national tragedy.

 Every day since the tragedy on 4 June, new layers of disappointment are surfacing — pointing to a clear absence of planning, coordination, and accountability. But instead of honest introspection and corrective action, we are witnessing a disgraceful passing of the buck and politicking. While the ruling political establishment washes its hands of any responsibility, it has found scapegoat in the Police Commissioner, suspending him and few other Police officers even before a full and transparent inquiry.

The Rs. 25 lakh compensation announced by the Government for the victims’ families is an absolute necessity and must be welcomed, but this should not become a shield to avoid real accountability. The opposition must stop political blame game in circumstances such as this, where precious human lives have been lost. This moment warrants and demands bipartisan resolve to identify failure points and fix the issues — not just for justice today, but to prevent such disasters in the future. 

My tryst with the history of the game of Cricket and its innate connect with the people of India began when curating three Cricket Connects exhibitions - India South Africa (2014), India Australia (2016) and India England (2017). The tragic incidence of the loss of lives in Bengaluru has tempted me to pen this article on Cricket and its popularity in India and how we must ensure that the game of cricket does not come in the cross fire of the tragic incident that happened in Bengaluru and how the cash rich cricket body and its shenanigans invest the money they earn from the game in ensuring an absolute safety of the people and ensure that they do all that it takes to see that such incident happens never again.    

Cricket and Indian cinema stand as two dominant mass mediums in India, transcending class, religion, and regional boundaries to unite a diverse nation of 1.4 billion. From children in rural hamlets to urban professionals, every Indian is touched by cricket, rallying with fervour to support their team, especially during high-stakes events like the World Cup or India-Pakistan clashes. Bollywood has capitalized on this link, with films like Lagaan—Ashutosh Gowariker’s Academy Award-nominated film—portraying cricket as a unifying force in pre-independent India. It is therefore no wonder that Amir Khan the lead in Lagan film, chose IPL finals between RCB and PBKS to promote his upcoming film “Sitaare Zameen Par”, joining the commentary team. The ruling political class in Bengaluru too wished to have their share of public and media space by joining the victory parade –The CM and Deputy CM were seen with RCB players celebrating their IPL victory at the Vidhana Soudha. This is not the first time that political leaders have been a part of such celebrations, Cricket victory celebrations has always attracted this class alongside other celebrities from cinema and business all of who depend on each other.

The 1983 Prudential World Cup victory, led by the legendary Kapil Dev, marked a turning point, catapulting cricket as India’s most beloved sport. The advent of colour television via Doordarshan during the 1982 Asian Games, followed by economic liberalization in 1991, transformed the game’s reach. Deregulation of the television industry in 1993 brought private channels like Star Sports and ESPN, delivering cricket to living rooms nationwide. Nation ide spread of TV transmitting station and the 50-over format of the game, with frequent breaks for advertisements, became a goldmine for broadcasters and corporations. Multinational companies (MNCs) flooded India with their consumer products, leveraging cricket stars like Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood icons like Amitabh Bachchan and others to endorse their products—Pepsi and Coca-Cola -  larger than life billboards became a common sight, deepening the game’s cultural footprint. The rise of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 amplified this, turning cricket into an intoxicating blend of sport, entertainment, and commerce, an “opium” for a cricket-crazy nation.

The relationship between cricket and politics in India is symbiotic and longstanding. Even before independence, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was formed by maharajas of princely states, with power brokers backing local boards. The popularity of the Quadrangular and Pentangular Cricket matches in Mumbai were as popular in the 1930s and early 40s as the IPL now. Even during the freedom struggle the popularity of the tournament remained untouched with scores of spectators thronging the matches. The games popularity and its possible adverse effects on the freedom struggle motivated Mahatma Gandhi to publicly appeal for a boycott of the Bombay Pentangular cricket tournament. He viewed the tournament, which pitted teams representing different religious communities, as communally divisive and harmful to the broader national movement. 

The popularity of the game remained so even after Independence. Post-independence, leaders harnessed cricket’s appeal to bolster their image. Jawaharlal Nehru played the game, and during the 1975 Emergency, Indira Gandhi used images of her father in cricket whites on political pamphlets to connect with the masses. Politicians across the spectrum have since supported cricket, hosting players and funding events, while cricket boards - mostly made of political class - including the influential BCCI, navigate red tape and secure resources from the government for the game through political ties.

This mutual benefit has persisted, with cricket serving as a platform for political visibility. The 1983 win, combined with economic reforms, fuelled a growing middle class—standard-bearers of nationalism—who embraced cricket as a symbol of pride. Media hype, especially during India-Pakistan matches, and world cup finals stokes hyper-nationalism, framing games as virtual battles. However, this fervour, while unifying, can spiral out of control, as seen in Bengaluru, where poor planning and underestimation of crowd size turned celebration into a catastrophe and a national tragedy.

 The Bengaluru Tragedy: A Wake-Up Call

RCB’s historic IPL victory over Punjab Kings by six runs in Ahmedabad sparked jubilation in Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India. Wanting to capitalise on this fan frenzy, the RCB planned to have a victory celebration parade. There were two celebrations planned one at the Vidhana Soudha and other at the Chinnaswamy stadium. Celebration and felicitation for the RCB players, arranged at the Vidhana Soudha, was attended by the CM and the Dy CM, who greeted and felicitated the players and the team. From here the players were to assemble at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

Estimates suggest 2-3 lakh people converged, trying to enter the stadium, far exceeding expectations and a capacity of 35000 at the stadium. Initial plans for a victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium were announced on social media post at 3:14 PM, on RCB's official account on X, on 4 June. It confirmed a "Victory Parade" scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM from the Vidhana Soudha to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, followed by a felicitation event inside the stadium. Confusion ensued when the parade was cancelled, but fans, uninformed and desperate to see the team, surged toward the stadium, leading to a deadly stampede. Eleven lives were lost—youth, a woman, and a boy among them—while over 40 were injured.

News reports claiming eyewitness accounts described chaos, with people climbing trees and buses, and others falling in the crush. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah admitted the crowd surge was unanticipated. The Karnataka High Court registered a Suo Moto case, and Bengaluru Police filed an FIR against RCB, event organizers DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for criminal negligence. As expected criticism mounted from the opposition, with the BJP decrying the state government’s “hasty” planning and failure to heed traffic police warnings about crowd control at Vidhana Soudha.

Exploitation and Accountability

The Bengaluru tragedy exposes how cricket’s popularity is exploited by multiple stakeholders. Political parties leverage the game’s mass appeal for clout, with most political leaders joining the bandwagon in rushing to felicitate victorious teams. The BCCI and IPL organizers reap billions from sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcasts, with MNCs and Bollywood stars amplifying the frenzy through endorsements with support from political class. Yet, this synergy often overlooks fan safety. The Mumbai celebration of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win drew 5 lakh people; a precedent Bengaluru’s planners could have studied. In an era where AI and data analytics—tools at home in India’s IT hub—can predict crowd sizes based on social media buzz, ticket demand, and historical data, the failure to anticipate 3 lakh fans was a glaring lapse.

The Way Forward: Balancing Passion and Safety

Cricket unites India rallying a diverse 1.4 billion-strong audience specially during World Cups and India Pakistan matches. It fosters national pride, bridges divide, and fuels dreams. Yet, the Bengaluru tragedy demands introspection. To avoid such incidents while promoting the game, stakeholders must ensure;

1. Robust Planning with Technology: Use AI, data analytics, and real-time monitoring to predict and manage crowd sizes. Bengaluru, an IT hub, should lead in deploying tech for event safety—drones, CCTV, and crowd-flow models can prevent bottlenecks, funds should not be a problem with cash rick BCCI.
2. Clear Communication: Avoid last-minute changes like parade cancellations without widespread, timely alerts via social media, radio, and SMS to prevent confusion and surges.
3. Enhanced Infrastructure: Stadiums and public spaces need wider entry/exit points, barricades, and trained security. The Bangalore Metro’s suspension of stations like Cubbon Park and Vidhana Soudha on June 4 highlights the need for coordinated transport plans.
4. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Karnataka’s move to formulate SOPs for mega events is a start. The BCCI, state governments, and event organizers must enforce strict guidelines, learning from global examples.
5. Shared Responsibility: Politicians, the BCCI, IPL teams, and corporate sponsors must fund and prioritize safety, not just profits or popularity. Bollywood stars can use their influence to promote crowd discipline.
6. Fan Education: Encourage fans to follow guidelines, respect limits, and prioritize safety, ensuring celebrations remain joyous.

Cricket embodies India’s spirit—diverse, passionate, and united. The 2025 tragedy must not dim this light but galvanize action. As Virat Kohli, “absolutely gutted” by the loss, and fans mourn, let us honour the fallen by ensuring cricket connects, uplifts, and protects. Only then can it remain the heartbeat of a cricket-crazy nation.

Centenary of the Planetarium and the Deutsches Museum (1925-2025), An Inspiration for Indian Science Museums.

Introduction 

This year, 2025, marks the centenary of the Planetarium. It was on 7 May 1925 that the world's first planetarium projection to the public was opened at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany. Incidentally, the occasion also marked the opening of the Deutsches Museum, one of the preeminent science museums, which incidentally served as an inspiration for the establishment of the first science museum – Birla Industrial and Technological Museum - under the National Council of Science Museums NCSM), an autonomous scientific institution under Ministry of Culture, Government of India, that spearheads a chain of science museums and science centres in India. Incidentally, I was associated with NCSM for 35 years. This article will, therefore, trace the history of the centenary of the planetariums and the Deutsches Museum and the lasting legacy of these events on science museums and planetariums in India.

In the annals of human history, observing the night sky has been a cornerstone of intellectual evolution. Early humans, gazing at the cyclical dance of stars, sun, moon, and planets, discerned patterns that unveiled the rhythms of seasons and rains. This understanding transformed the early hunter-gatherers into a settled community, laying the foundation for the early river civilizations to flourish. Observing celestial movement in the sky has therefore been central to human intellect, which places us at the top of the evolutionary pyramid. Yet, in our modern era, light pollution obscures this celestial spectacle that plays out in the night sky, denying us, especially children, the awe-inspiring view that once sparked curiosity and discovery.

Idea for mimicking the night sky in a dome

Oskar von Miller, the visionary founder of the Deutsches Museum – an inspiration to the founders of Indian science museums – had an idea to mimic the night sky using projection on a dome. His idea and the engineering brilliance of Walther Bauersfeld, Zeiss, converged to create a revolutionary planetarium tool, which could mimic the night sky in a dome that would benefit astronomy/science education. Thus began the journey of planetariums, beginning with the Zeiss planetarium, which was one of the important features of the Deutsches Museum, which opened in May 1925 and spread across the globe over the centuries with many more players in this field.

It was in the year 1912 that Oskar Von Miller, an electrical engineer and founder of the Deutsches Museum, conceived an idea: “Could you project an artificial starry night sky onto a dome, as a way of demonstrating astronomical principles to the public?” The idea was unique yet challenging, and therefore, when Von Miller approached the Carl Zeiss company in Jena, Germany, leaders in the field of engineering and optics, to design and manufacture such a projector for his proposed science museum, they initially “rebuffed” him.  Eventually, Zeiss came on board to venture into this unique idea and deep-dived into this project, which was led by Walther Bauersfeld, their lead engineer, and the result was that Zeiss created something amazing, whose centenary we are now celebrating this year. The planetariums became so successful that within a few years of their opening on 7 May 1925 at the Deutsches Museum, the planetariums spread worldwide over including in India, which boasted of its first mini planetarium in Pune in 1954 and another one at the National Physical Laboratory in 1956-57.

Engineering Brilliance of Walther Bauersfeld, Zeiss

Although there existed engineering tabletop models to show movements of the planets and stars, which goes back centuries, beginning with mechanical orreries that used clockwork mechanisms to depict our solar system, nothing like what was being envisaged by Von Miller was ever attempted, a task which Zeiss had accepted. The task of providing an engineering solution to this novel idea fell on Walther Bauersfeld, a mechanical engineer by training who was then the Managing Director at Zeiss. He used all his mechanical engineering skills to plan and design different components of electromechanical systems, which were worked out with their mechanism in detail. Bauersfeld designed and redesigned interdependent mechanisms that were required for creating a projection in a planetarium. The accompanying image with the article, from the archives of Carl Zeiss, shows his design setup in his notebook. The sketch shows the two-axis system for showing the daily and annual motions of the stars. From this humble beginning of his design arose a projection system, which became fully functional to serve as a projector for the planetarium.

It was on May 7, 1925, a hundred years ago, that the world's first projection planetarium opened to the public at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany, a marvel that meticulously mimicked the night sky and simulated the celestial cycles of all seasons. This monumental achievement democratized access to astronomical wonders and ignited a global movement to inspire scientific curiosity, particularly among students, a legacy that continues to resonate in India's vibrant science museum and planetarium ecosystem, a century later.

Deutsches Museum and its impact on Indian Science Museums and Planetariums

As the world commemorated the centenary of the Zeiss planetarium, inaugurated on May 7, 1925, at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, it is an opportune moment to highlight the profound influence that the Deutsches Museum, founded by had on India's science museum movement.

NCSM - which governs a chain of science museums and science centres, small and medium-sized planetariums, including a large number of inflatable mobile planetariums (taramandals) that have reached far and wide across the country - owes its genesis to the Deutsches Museum. A visit to the Deutsches Museum by Dr Bidhan Chandra Ray, a distinguished physician, freedom fighter, statesman, and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, inspired him in the founding of the first museum under NCSM, the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM), Kolkata, which was opened on 2 May 1959.

Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy’s contributions to the nation extended far beyond politics and medicine. He was instrumental in sowing the seeds of India’s science museum movement. Deeply inspired by his visit to the Deutsches Museum in Munich, a pioneering science and technology museum, Germany, Dr. Roy envisioned establishing a similar institution in India to spark scientific curiosity and learning among the masses. Collaborating with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, a staunch advocate of scientific temper, and industrialist G.D. Birla, he championed the establishment of the BITM in Calcutta in 1959 under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), of which Nehru was the President.

BITM became the first government-sponsored science museum in independent India, which laid the foundation for a nationwide movement. Its success and popularity led to the creation of more such institutions, beginning with the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technology Museum (VITM), Bengaluru in 1965, followed by the Nehru Science Centre in 1978-79 and 85 in two phases. Dr. B.C. Roy’s foresight not only laid the foundation for BITM but also ignited a movement that democratized science education in India, eventually resulting in the establishment of the NCSM in 1978. Today, NCSM stands as a premier institution in India, inspiring millions through its network of science centres and museums across the country—an enduring legacy of Dr. Roy’s visionary leadership.

Oskar von Miller and the founding of the Deutsches Museum

Oskar von Miller, a visionary engineer, Deutsches Museum in 1903, which later opened to the public in a grand new building on 07 May 1925. The museum also included the first ever planetarium in the world. This year, along with the centenary of the planetarium, the Deutsches Museum also celebrates its centenary. The Deutsches Museum has grown to become not just a landmark of the city of Munich but globally.  It is now considered one of the world's largest museums of science and technology. Every year, around a million-plus visitors flock to the Museum Island, located between 2 branches of the Isar River. Locals and tourists alike, both adults and children, are fascinated by the many thousands of science and technology exhibits and artefacts in the exhibition rooms covering an immense range of science and technology topics.

Genesis for founding the Deutsches Museum, by Oskar von Miller, traces its history to the visit of Miller to the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers (National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts) in Paris and the South Kensington Museum, which is now the Victoria and Albert Museum, in London. He also visited the London Science Museum and the Natural History Museum in London, which were earlier part of the Kensington Museum. Inspired by his visit to these museums, Miller developed an idea for a museum of technology and science in his home city, Munich. He envisaged an institution for all social classes based on a completely new concept that had scarcely been heard of before that point. Miller wanted a museum where you could touch things, and a place where children could have fun. A museum which could both educate and entertain, two buzzwords which have become central to NCSM.

Miller wanted the museum to be housed in an architecturally unique building. Therefore, he conducted an architectural competition to select the best building design. Gabriel von Seidl was chosen from amongst many participants to be the designer for the building. Unfortunately, he died in 1913 and did not live to see the opening of the museum. Moreover, the First World War and the inflation that followed caused delays, and during this time, the project as a whole was at risk of failure. However, thanks to Miller's good contacts in the construction industry, he managed to continue the construction of Seidl's design with some minor modifications. Instead of the 2 towers originally planned by Seidl, only one tower was built: the rear one on the west side, which was also of a slightly different shape. The museum finally opened its doors on 7 May 1925.

Miller initially studied civil engineering, but later became famous as an electrical engineer and hydropower pioneer. He was the first to succeed in transmitting electricity over long distances. He built the world's largest hydroelectric power station at Walchensee and promoted the development of electricity supply for the whole of Bavaria. Miller, who was well-connected in politics and society, used his contacts and relationships with scientists all over the world in soliciting donations and rewarding his supporters. This helped him in developing his dream museum, the Deutsches Museum, which is now globally well-known.

 

Deutsches Museum and Carl Zeiss Collaboration for the Planetarium.

 

Being an engineer, Miller wanted to introduce a special attraction in his museum, which would distinguish itself from the London Science Museum or the V&A Hall that he had seen in England. He wanted the Deutsches Museum to be one of its kind in the world. And for this, he dreamed of a plan to translate his vision for simulating the night sky in the museum on a dome. In 1912, Oskar von Miller conceived this idea for an apparatus that would depict the apparent motions of the sun, moon, and planets along with those of the stars. He firmly believed that if an engineer with a passion for experimentation got involved in this project, he could succeed in translating his vision into reality. He thought that the best-known technology company specialised in optics, required for simulating the night sky, in Germany that could attempt this project, would be Carl Zeiss. 

 

Oskar von Miller in the year 1913, approached Carl Zeiss in Jena, Germany, leaders in the field of engineering and optics, for the manufacturing of a "rotating star sphere". He envisaged that Zeiss would design and manufacture such a projector, which could imitate the night sky in a dome. Zeiss initially cold-shouldered his ideas and did not find any merit or a market in attempting his idea. Eventually, they came on board and chose Walther Bauersfeld as their lead engineer to lead this project. Unfortunately, there was a setback in the project owing to the onset of World War I.

Walther Bauersfeld, who was also a member of the Carl Zeiss Jena Board of Management, after many trials and errors, came out with a design for a projection planetarium in March 1919. He began working with the employees under him to translate his design into a working mechanical reality of a machine.

 

Planetarium Projector for Public Shows.

 

The planetarium projector, designed and scheduled to be commissioned by 1923, was, in fact, a chain of many smaller projectors and a host of gears. According to the Zeiss Archive, a large sphere held all of the projectors for the fixed stars as well as a “planet cage” that held projectors for the sun, the moon, and the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The fixed-star sphere was positioned so that it projected outward from the exact centre of the dome. The planetarium also had projectors for the Milky Way and the names of major constellations. The projectors within the planet cage were organized in tiers with complex gearing that allowed a motorized drive to move them around one axis to simulate the annual rotations of these celestial objects against the backdrop of the stars. The entire projector could also rotate around a second axis, simulating the Earth’s polar axis, to show the rising and setting of the sun, moon, and planets over the horizon.

 

The final defining moment both for Oskar von Miller and Walther Bauersfeld, Zeiss, arrived. It was on 21 October 1923, the Zeiss Model I, which was developed painstakingly by Bauersfeld and his team at Zeiss, was first demonstrated to the Museum committee at the Deutsches Museum, Munich, during their tour of the Museum construction site. It is to be noted here that although the Deutsches Museum was founded in 1903, the museum had to wait for another two plus decades for the befitting museum building to be constructed for the museum to be thrown open to the public. It was during one of those inspections of the new museum building by the museum committee that they were shown the Zeiss I model of the planetarium.

 

Immediately thereafter, the museum authorities, seeing the potential that this projector has to be a huge public attraction, decided that the projector would be run in public operation in the still unfinished dome on the museum island for six weeks. Accordingly, this projector ran at the Deutsches Museum.  At the end of December, the device went back to Jena, the factory site of Zeiss. Incidentally, because of the huge success of the projection during the public demonstration in Munich, the Zeiss company offered a public demonstration of this projection on the roof of the Zeiss Factory in Jena from August to October 1924. Thereafter, the projection went for the opening at the Deutch Museum in their newly constructed dome. It was on the historic occasion, on 7 May 1925, 100 years ago, that the planetarium was officially opened to the public at the Deutsches Museum in Munich.

 

Today, as we celebrate the centenary of this historic Museum and the planetarium, it is pertinent to recall that from that moment, there was no looking back for the rapid spread of planetariums across the globe, including in India. 

 

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