The Title of this post may appear surprising. But, it is true in the context what founding fathers of our Constitution thought of sports. They believed that sports had no role greater than being an amusement or recreation. Though I am not someone who is expert at Indian constitution. But I came to know about this fact from the interview of Union sports minister Manishankar Aiyer given to Karan Thapar in last weeks Devil's Advocate.
During last decade, on several occasions we have witnessed some unusual hue and cry about abysmal Indian performance at different international sports event. But, on most of the occasion this hue and cry was just an impulsive reaction which didn't change the fate of Indian sports even to a least significant digit. Usually all this drama took place immediately after the pathetic show from Indian sports person at some international event. Even the so called powerful Indian Media used to highlight this kind of sports related concern only at the time when it helps to increase TRPs of their program. Even after a consistent history of abysmal performances and 60 years of independence we have failed to analyze the root cause leave apart the implementation of solution to this problem. Every time we look at the short term problem and try to find some specific solution to that problem. But, We never tried to visualize the bigger picture of Indian sports.
Why I mentioned this interview is that I found some strong and reasonable answers from the minister. At least he is someone who dared to raise a finger at the fault of the founders of Indian constitution. At the same time with his following statement
"Now if the founding fathers of our Constitution believed that sports had no role greater than being an amusement or recreation then it’s hardly surprising that over the last 60 years we have not given sports the kind of importance it deserves."
He made another important point clear that we as Indians are very slow or non-reactive in rectifying the mistakes or in correction of errors. So, if something wrong was there in the constitution at time of formation it is still there even after about sixty years.
Also the minister gave justifiable answers to other questions as well. About cricket he made a valid point that BCCI doesn't get a single penny support from government so there is no point in crying at the benefits provided to cricket players by BCCI. Also he made one good point that at least this is the one sports in which we have done well in past and doing well.
It is really surprising to see media acting in such an irresponsible manner. After the T20 world cup they were busy in flashing the protests by the people associated with other sports. So, what media was really trying to convey?? Should we stop the all happening around cricket because we are not doing well in other sports??? By stopping all cricket activities would we be able to improve the poor conditions of other sports?? Or the solutions to the poor sports condition lie somewhere else?? Instead of looking at the bigger picture media was busy in this cheap stunt to increase the TRPs. Why not these media people shown the cold and blunt responses of Indian public and government towards the Hockey players when they won the world cup?? Why did media find that the governments attitude towards hockey players was unjustifiable only after T20 world cup?? So, what media was attempting to show?? Rewarding hockey player was necessary or not rewarding the cricket player!!!
What a short-sighted and baseless thinking?? Can't a country of more than a billion people dominate in several games. Just look at Australia- A country with 20-25 Millions population. Still it dominates in Cricket, Hockey and has also produced great players of single player event like Tennis.
There are so many fundamental problems responsible for the current poor state of Indian sports. The need of the hour is to implement a policy which will address these problems in long run. But, the drafting an honest and practical policy and its implementation in the complicated Indian system is really challenging.
I am still surprised at the thought of the founding fathers of our constitution - sports equal amusement!!! How they reached this absurd conclusion even at a time when India was dominating in Hockey and the even the history of India tells the importance that was given to sports like wrestling, archery!!!! Hope now after sixty years of independence our leader and more generally average citizens of the nation will change this equality and will give sports its due respect.
During last decade, on several occasions we have witnessed some unusual hue and cry about abysmal Indian performance at different international sports event. But, on most of the occasion this hue and cry was just an impulsive reaction which didn't change the fate of Indian sports even to a least significant digit. Usually all this drama took place immediately after the pathetic show from Indian sports person at some international event. Even the so called powerful Indian Media used to highlight this kind of sports related concern only at the time when it helps to increase TRPs of their program. Even after a consistent history of abysmal performances and 60 years of independence we have failed to analyze the root cause leave apart the implementation of solution to this problem. Every time we look at the short term problem and try to find some specific solution to that problem. But, We never tried to visualize the bigger picture of Indian sports.
Why I mentioned this interview is that I found some strong and reasonable answers from the minister. At least he is someone who dared to raise a finger at the fault of the founders of Indian constitution. At the same time with his following statement
"Now if the founding fathers of our Constitution believed that sports had no role greater than being an amusement or recreation then it’s hardly surprising that over the last 60 years we have not given sports the kind of importance it deserves."
He made another important point clear that we as Indians are very slow or non-reactive in rectifying the mistakes or in correction of errors. So, if something wrong was there in the constitution at time of formation it is still there even after about sixty years.
Also the minister gave justifiable answers to other questions as well. About cricket he made a valid point that BCCI doesn't get a single penny support from government so there is no point in crying at the benefits provided to cricket players by BCCI. Also he made one good point that at least this is the one sports in which we have done well in past and doing well.
It is really surprising to see media acting in such an irresponsible manner. After the T20 world cup they were busy in flashing the protests by the people associated with other sports. So, what media was really trying to convey?? Should we stop the all happening around cricket because we are not doing well in other sports??? By stopping all cricket activities would we be able to improve the poor conditions of other sports?? Or the solutions to the poor sports condition lie somewhere else?? Instead of looking at the bigger picture media was busy in this cheap stunt to increase the TRPs. Why not these media people shown the cold and blunt responses of Indian public and government towards the Hockey players when they won the world cup?? Why did media find that the governments attitude towards hockey players was unjustifiable only after T20 world cup?? So, what media was attempting to show?? Rewarding hockey player was necessary or not rewarding the cricket player!!!
What a short-sighted and baseless thinking?? Can't a country of more than a billion people dominate in several games. Just look at Australia- A country with 20-25 Millions population. Still it dominates in Cricket, Hockey and has also produced great players of single player event like Tennis.
There are so many fundamental problems responsible for the current poor state of Indian sports. The need of the hour is to implement a policy which will address these problems in long run. But, the drafting an honest and practical policy and its implementation in the complicated Indian system is really challenging.
I am still surprised at the thought of the founding fathers of our constitution - sports equal amusement!!! How they reached this absurd conclusion even at a time when India was dominating in Hockey and the even the history of India tells the importance that was given to sports like wrestling, archery!!!! Hope now after sixty years of independence our leader and more generally average citizens of the nation will change this equality and will give sports its due respect.
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