Parents pressurise us to study in school to get into a good college in PU(10+2), as is the norm in Karnataka. Slog it out in PU, to get into a good engineering college. Slog it out in engineering to get a good job. Get frustrated with the job, and start preparing for the CAT. Slog it out for CAT/SNAP/XAT/etc., to get into a good B-school.
Sounds familiar. Well, yes. For most of the middle class indian boys/girls, this is the way we are brought up. The parents are not wrong in a way to bring us up this way.For the generation to which our parents belong to, they have struggled throughout life. There have been times in my parents lives at least when they made a living out of the barest minimum. And have a strong belief that it is studies that matter and nothing else does.
This attitude, which is right in its own way is probably a reason why we are poor sporting country. Arts are encouraged to a certain level in certain families. But, the most common thought is to restrict the kids to playing gully cricket or lukka-chuppi, come back home do your homework and sleep.
"As a country we lack the fitness culture." This is the oft heard terminology. But, is that true?
Yes, i believe we lack the fitness culture. But, has it been like this always? Probably not. We are nation who had our own sports. Akhadas ,which still exist in some part of the country, were in a way, the gymnasiums of the past. Games like Kabaddi, hockey, etc., came into existence in India. But, the British India suffered from repression and hunger. To fight back, the mentality has always been to work hard enough to feed your stomach well.
When i look at my fitness levels today, playing games like badminton. I feel vastly inadequate. At school, there were only two games played, volleyball and basketball. With a idiotic P.T., who didnt care a damn about anything else, but to have the best volleyball team at the school level in Karnataka. The yearly sports meet and the qualifiers for the same were nothing short of a joke. And today, there are schools increasingly, especially in cities, without even a proper playground. At the school level is where, sportsmen are born. But, our educational system, seems to strangle the Micheal Johnsons, the Maradonas and the Dhanraj Pillays at this level.
But, luckily enough, today, there are enough parents today belonging to the upper middle class, forming a substantial number who encourage their kids to excel in sports. There is thought that, their children should get the opportunities that they never got. This is a good start. But, we need a series of inspirational sporting achievements, in olympic sports to change the mindset of the majority.
Looking back today, the only thing on my mind is i should have improved my fitness vastly long back. But, today is a good day to start, is the thought that goes into my mind everyday and Ms.Laziness takes me in her stride and convinces me to take the first step tomorrow.
But, today, i promise to get up first thing in the morning tomorrow and go for a jog.
Unless, Ms.Laziness seduces me all over again...
