From 'Mary kaun?' to Mary Kom, India has come a long way.
We Indians tend to stereotype ourselves. A person belonging to the Southern states is a Madrasi and a person from the North eastern states is a 'chinki' which essentially is a slur for people of Chinese ethnicity. Basically, for all these years a majority of us have considered them to be 'not one of us'. Who would've thought a diminutive mother of two from Manipur would manifest a change in this thinking albeit temporarily, though I hope not.
Sport is a wonderful thing. It unites people like no other. When Mary Kom competed at the Olympics, she wasn't a Manipuri, she was an Indian- a thought that resonated in 1.2 billion hearts. She was given front page coverage on days when the Indian cricket team was actually winning a series against Sri Lanka. The web was abuzz with wishes for the first Indian woman pugilist who would win a medal at the Olympic games.
Her Olympic story didn't have the perfect ending. She had to be content with the third spot. But she sure did conquer our hearts. Hailing from an impoverished family in a remote part of the country with virtually no access to resources that make champions and eventually competing in a higher weight category at the games, Mary's story is no different from a day in the life of an average Indian woman, one who faces many challenges. What is remarkable is how she fought against the odds that didn't swing in her favour and brought glory to herself and the nation.
Post exit in the semi finals, the bronze winner apologised to the country for being unable to win a shinier medal. Mary Kom, never mind the colour of your medal, it is your nerves of steel and heart of gold that has earned you our respect. You are a source of inspiration. More power to you!
We Indians tend to stereotype ourselves. A person belonging to the Southern states is a Madrasi and a person from the North eastern states is a 'chinki' which essentially is a slur for people of Chinese ethnicity. Basically, for all these years a majority of us have considered them to be 'not one of us'. Who would've thought a diminutive mother of two from Manipur would manifest a change in this thinking albeit temporarily, though I hope not.
Sport is a wonderful thing. It unites people like no other. When Mary Kom competed at the Olympics, she wasn't a Manipuri, she was an Indian- a thought that resonated in 1.2 billion hearts. She was given front page coverage on days when the Indian cricket team was actually winning a series against Sri Lanka. The web was abuzz with wishes for the first Indian woman pugilist who would win a medal at the Olympic games.
Her Olympic story didn't have the perfect ending. She had to be content with the third spot. But she sure did conquer our hearts. Hailing from an impoverished family in a remote part of the country with virtually no access to resources that make champions and eventually competing in a higher weight category at the games, Mary's story is no different from a day in the life of an average Indian woman, one who faces many challenges. What is remarkable is how she fought against the odds that didn't swing in her favour and brought glory to herself and the nation.
Post exit in the semi finals, the bronze winner apologised to the country for being unable to win a shinier medal. Mary Kom, never mind the colour of your medal, it is your nerves of steel and heart of gold that has earned you our respect. You are a source of inspiration. More power to you!
