This 68 year old former model always leads herselves to controversies. After trying her luck as a small time model, Shobhaa De began a career in journalism in 1970. In her columns, she used to explore the socialite lifestyle of the celebrities. At present, she is a freelance writer and columnist for several newspapers and magazines. Nowadays, she is much active on social media. This is not the first time that De has invited ire of netizens. Earlier, Shiv Sena had protested against the publication of some of Shobhaa De’s opinions, including the separation of Mumbai from Maharashtra to create a separate entity. She also endorsed beef consumption and encouraged the debate on the topic. These ‘so called’ celebrities sometimes make things much complicated forgetting their social responsibility. More than them, media should be blamed for giving a platform to brain-dead opinions. They become aged and new generation don’t need their old fashion comments which help them remain in news. Media needs to understand whom and when to give importance.
Well, Dipa Karmarkar is doing Maharashtra and India proud, on a similar scale, I don’t know if Shobhaa De has had any serious international recognition in the literary space. Of course, India is democratic country and anyone can comment on anything, if they have what it takes to get it trending or talked about. It takes a whole system to excel in sports like other countries do. Countries like US, Europe, SA, Australia nurture sports as part of their school system. Local community activities, where parents play a huge role to inculcate the habit of practice, sportsmanship and more importantly to the drive to excel should be encouraged. Instead of commenting on players, she should have commented on the Government and ministry for lack of facilities given to sportsmen and women. Our government needs to provide facilities; laws should be implemented strictly that make playgrounds/facilities are made available in each area/schools/colleges and then enhance our current systems. Inviting the controversy, when Indian athletes are participating in the Olympic and representing the nation, is not fair. It’s not insult to the sports personalities but its insult to the nation. De must understand that there is no point in commenting randomly.
Very few people aspire to take up sports as a career in India. People consider sports as an activity that is limited to school and nobody goes beyond that to think of it as a means of earning one’s daily bread. Parents refrain from encouraging their children from opting for sports as a career and teachers also lay more emphasis on studies. Sports do not command the same amount of respect as studies. The government of India has also introduced various incentives for the promotion of sports such as the ‘Come and Play’ scheme, but after launching the scheme they forgot to check its implementations.
India is a vast country with a massive population. Our populace is a resource for the nation. A country with the second largest population has won fewer medals. The “richer” sport is getting richer and other sports are almost dead. The condition of state level and university level sports are even worse. In countries like the U.S.A, many students choose sports as a career, they have a very solid infrastructure for sports and a remarkable proportion of its population earns huge money by playing sports only. Their sports start at the grass root level. Schools provide scholarships to students who excel in sports. Schools have proper coaching and playing facilities for students and sports is given the same importance as academics.
Here in India, even if children are interested in a sport, then proper coaching is not available firstly. Secondly, no proper grounds are available for practice and most importantly, children don’t get proper exposure to competition. In India, sports get recognition only when a sportsperson wins a major tournament of his sport. However, why to wait for an athlete to win a tournament to give that sport some importance?
All of us have to pitch into to make this transformation. We can’t replicate a China as we are not a Communist system that will enforce strict/crude laws with a sheer objective to win gold and project the success of an oppressive government. Why people like Shobhaa De, refrain themselves in promoting about the conditions of sportsmen in this country. Why she never spoke about the election expenses where dacoits and thieves get elected and misuse democracy for their personal benefits? Isn’t it a waste of taxpayers’ money? Let her stick to her high society parties and book releases and shut up about other things which she is unfit to talk about. Shobhaa De may not even know about, what our athletes go through while preparing themselves for the events. Our athletes should train hard and give their best in Olympics. What they do in their personal time is up to them. Instead of loud mouthing, people like Shobhaa De should go out and compete. We should encourage our country’s participants those competing in Rio Olympics. Participation in any event doesn’t restrict them to take selfies or enjoy the moment there.
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