New Delhi, November 21: When Sachin Tendulkar said Mumbai was for all Indians he struck a chord and ultimately made a political stand. He became one with sportsmen who have taken stands against anything political that they felt was not right such as Jesse Owens and Muhammad Ali.
One question that comes to mind immediately in this context is why are Indian sportspeople never forthcoming on political issues? It seems to be surprising when considering the fact that a lot of them come from middle class backgrounds.
In the week gone by the icon of Indian cricket had said that he was proud for being a Maharashtrian but for him being an Indian was of greater priority. Throughout his cricketing career he had never really commented on any issue that was even slightly sensitive from a political point of view.
No reasons have yet come forth as to why Tendulkar shifted from the apolitical tradition of Indian sport stars and actually committed. He remains the only person to answer. Ashis Nandy, the sociologist has said that the root of this thinking of the Indian sportsmen and women lies in the mental conditioning they have been receiving from the colonial ages that sports and politics are not related.
They are always told to keep politics away from sports. He says this trend has continued to manifest itself even after India achieved its independence. Any political stance taken by the Indian sportsmen is only at a national level like when it did not play South Africa as a result of the Apartheid.
–PTI