THESE two statements actually highlight two ends of the country’s sports continuum -- in the sense, there is a national leader who understands the philosophy of sports; and the larger Indian society can now boast of one man at the top who is considered the best symbolism of national sports aspirations. In other words, the country has a man at the top as the best motivator for sportspersons in different conditions -- normal or parathletes, and that man realises what kind of mental make-up the people in competitive sports need -- the attitude of giving their 100% best. Thus, Indian sports now appear to have arrived at a good renaissance point from where rising on the ladder of sporting excellence may be the matter of time.

 

The nation today can harbour a hope that Indian sports are already on their way to greater glories with the toplevel encouragement. And this gets indicated very well through the ear-to-ear grins on the faces of sportspersons who interact with Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi before going for Olympics or after returning from the tournament. Frankly, the country had not seen anything akin to this earlier -- since Independence. However, there also is a reality that the larger Indian society must face -- of its general apathy towards sports, and also of its general insistence upon pushing its youngsters into careers other than sports. Possibly, that is why sports have not been woven integrally with education in the country. Or, inversely, it may be surmised that because sports almost stand separated from sports in the national scheme of things, the larger society does not feel motivated to taking to sports as a passion or a mission or a pursuit (and not as a career). This is an important aspect that the larger Indian society has missed. Most unfortunately, the element of passion has not been woven into the educational fabric of the country.

 

Everything appears to have been calibrated for careers that bring in a lot of money (which, unfortunately, is considered as the most critical mark of success). Possibly, this applies also to careers in Defence services. And unfortunately, the larger Indian society does not realise it has caused to itself over time. For, such an approach has kept the youngsters away from passionate pursuits -- like sports, like career in Defence services where the narrative revolves around the idea of excellence for its own sake. Indian sports generally suffer from this malady -- though the numbers of youngsters taking to sports is rising (though very gradually). Therefore, even if the country has Prime Minister who is treated by the sporting community as its best brand ambassador, the overall nourishment of sports as a matter of passion is grossly missing. Of course, in sharp contrast, an international sporting power like China literally herds its talented youngsters into sports and trains them the hardest. Possibly, in many other countries, a more of less similar model is followed though without the element of hard regimentation.

 

No matter the route a nation may take to achieve greater excellence in sports, the results are stunning, to say the least. In India, unfortunately, the larger society never gave any serious thought to sports as a national activity -- either from top-down or from bottom-up. The details matter less, though. For, what matters actually is the overall performance of Indian sports in global arena. Though the Indian showing has improved over time, that cannot be considered even an incremental growth -- let alone the concept of exponential growth ! True, one may never denigrate the Indian effort as incidental achievement. Yet, the fact is that a much greater dose of conscious effort needs to be injected into sports as part of the belief system of the society. When Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi interacts with sportspersons, the event’s happy pictures are circulated around. However, speaking factually, it does not make any difference other than satiation of popular optics. Of course, by no means does this suggest any denigration of the Prime Minister’s personal involvement in promoting sports and sportspersons. Yet the thought lingers in the mind that the larger Indian society has yet not primed itself for excellence in sports as a matter of its collective culture. This aspect needs a lot of pondering over -- and subsequent implementation in the most serious manner. And this is a serious business -- which we do not seem to realise and recognise. This is where Indian sports appear stuck. (To be continued)