Page 8 - Seniors Today - August 21 Issue

Cover Story
Mera Bharat Mahaan:
The Other Stories
Behind the victorious faces lie not just hard work but struggles against
tough odds, writes Nazaqat Lal
India’s 75th Independence Day comes on
the heels of a spectacular Olympic run
by Indian athletes and sportspersons.
Independence Day celebrations nationwide
will acknowledge these moments of
Olympic glory in their own small and big
ways. Competing on the highest sports
stage during a global pandemic and
emerging victorious is no small feat. For
a few days it seemed as though Covid had
faded into the background and the only
thing capturing the nation’s imagination
was the next Olympic event that had a
medal prospect for India.
Newspapers have been filled with stories
of the struggle, grit and determination of
Indian athletes and sportspersons, against
all odds. The story of Indians is really the
story of India. There is inspiration and
learning in all these stories but three stories
stayed with me; coincidentally, all women.
8
The first is of the women’s hockey team
captain, Rani Rampal, who led the team
to its first ever Olympic semi-final. She
hails from a humble family that did not
have the means or resources to support
her training. She mentioned in one of her
interviews that it was mandatory for each
of them to carry 500ml of milk to training
each day. However, her family was only
able to afford 200ml of milk so she would
add 300ml of water to the milk and carry it
with her. When I first heard this and even
now, every time I recount it, my eyes fill
with tears and I am choked with emotion.
The dire circumstances from which
many of our athletes emerge by sheer
determination, hard work and self-belief is
awe-inspiring. As much as India is a land
of stark economic inequities, it is also a land
of homegrown champions who shine their
brightest when pushed against the wall.