- Everybody in the know would unequivocally deplore in no uncertain terms the ugly rising of racism that keeps hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Especially, if any incidences are reported from the sporting arenas which is meant to be treating players with equality rather than indulge in abuses, name-calling, derogatory, and unparliamentary usage of words so blatantly, it only magnifies the sad state of affairs afflicting society. As we are aware, racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to physical appearance and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another.
PC: Gabriel Nuñez-Soria
- In other words, racism is the marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges white people. Many a profound thinker, renowned leaders, evolved citizens, religious preachers, and concerned citizens fighting for the just rights of fellow human beings have fought vehemently opposing prejudices based on the color of the skin. Concerted efforts at educating and sensitizing people on the issue have had little effect going by the alarming regularity with which the despicable act keeps occurring. One such incident occurred in the recently concluded Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
- Targeted players were Team India’s frontline pace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj who were called as ‘brown dogs’ by the drunk lumpen elements repeatedly while the two were manning the boundary lines. When the matter was reported to the on-field umpires and the match officials, the police were called, and the six offenders were evacuated from the stadium. The play had to be halted for some time as the unfortunate incident was being investigated. Ravichandran Ashwin went on record stating that such incidents are not reported for the first time but indeed happened on previous tours as well where the Indian players were subjected to abuse.
PC: Matthew Smith
- Skipper Virat Kohli too was quickly off the block in recounting earlier instances of racial abuse condemning the blight as rowdy behavior. Make no mistake, racial vilification is an unqualified evil that questions human dignity, respect, and plunges everybody associated into disrepute. Stakeholders like citizens, cities, and countries are of course affected by the bane. The moot point to ponder over here is why the spectators feel empowered to hurl racial abuses at players who have nothing but talent/skillsets to display to entertain the gathered audience. Is it because of the lack of deterrent that encourages people to indulge in such despicable acts?
- The whole world is aware of how the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement gathered steam as cricket players too showed support by taking a knee in a gesture of solidarity towards racial victims. There should be no place for abominable acts of racism on the sports field and the authorities concerned, including the governments, are to display strong intent in curbing the menace by enacting stringent laws. If it entails permanently barring rowdy elements from entering the sporting arenas, so bit it. Mere suspensions would not act as an effective deterrent. Time to act indeed, and now!
