All students are equal. Students who are sportspersons are more equal. A student who is the captain of a cricket team that wins U-19 World Cup is the most equal.
That is the view of Ajay Maken, Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Shukla, Kirti Azad, Arnab Goswami and many others who live in a world that is worse than George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
Valson Thampu, principal of St. Stephen’s College, appeared on many channels on 30/8/2012. He faced hostile questioning on Times Now.
On 26/6/2012 Sania Mirza and Rushmi Chakrabarty got wild card entry for women’s doubles in London Olympics and Somdev Devvarman in men’s singles. Soon Sania issued a statement. Some excerpts:
“For Leander to consider partnering with Vishnu only if he has a written assurance from me to play mixed is, I think, demeaning for me, Vishnu and Leander. What is even more shocking is the manner in which facts have been misrepresented to justify the breaking up of a team that won a second Grand Slam. Leander and I are not the only combination likely to get a direct entry in the mixed doubles.
As an Indian woman belonging to the 21st century, what I find disillusioning is the humiliating manner in which I was put up as a bait to try and pacify one of the disgruntled stalwarts of Indian tennis… the manner and timing of the announcement reeks of male chauvinism where a two-time Grand Slam champion and No. 1 player in women’s singles and doubles is offered in compensation to partner one of the feuding champions purely in order to lure him into accepting to play with a men’s player he does not wish to play with!
When TV channels announced that Sania Mirza was getting married to Shoaib Malik there was disbelief. There was no report of her being seen together with Shoaib Malik. Sania Mirza had not said anything.
Next day Sania Mirza confirmed the news. After marriage they will live in Dubai which is second home to her. It is three hours flight from Dubai to Hyderabad.
That led to various reactions. What should have remained a personal and family matter became a political issue. In Pakistan there was joy and people danced. In India some groups opposed Sania Mirza marrying a Pakistani. Some said Sania Mirza should not represent India.
Sania Mirza’s decision to skip Bangalore Open in March and not to play in India has evoked different reactions. It is her choice not to play in India and it has to be respected. Her decision was on the basis of advice of Globosport which is her managing agent. The advice was given as whenever…
The year 2006 was witness to many events. Some of them were unprecedented. I mention some events.
Publishing of cartoons about Mohammed in a Danish newspaper caused riots in many countries. Newspapers in some countries reprinted the cartoons. No newspaper in India reprinted them. TV channels did not show them in full. Danish flags were burnt.