Sports Diary: Where Sports Is An Identity

The courtyard of peace

“Ei prithivi ek kriyangan
Kriya hol xantir prangan”

(This world is a playground
Sports is a courtyard of peace)

This song by Dr Bhupen Hazarika holds true in every sense. Sports bring peace. Those who know a sport can live a peaceful life. In Northeast India, sports are a part of our culture. It is in our genes as we have been playing sports traditionally. Our kings used to promote different sports. We grow up playing sports. Not everyone tries to make a career out of it but everyone does play some kind of sport to at least keep oneself physically fit. In our region, football is the most popular sport and I used to play football before becoming a sprinter. Sport is an identity and it unites us as one entity, one nation. It helps in minimising division. When I play for India in international events, I am not someone from Northeast India; I play as an Indian. This is a great unifying factor despite our differences. I don’t know much about nationalism or statehood. But I know that as a nation, we bond over sports.

I am from the small village of Dhing in Assam in Northeast India, a region which is culturally unique compared to the rest of India. But I have never felt I am different from my fellow players. I was in the national camp for seven years during which I don’t remember ever having faced any kind of racism while participating in various national tournaments. Yes, many people from Northeast India complain about being treated differently or being looked down upon in metro cities, but it has never happened to me. I have always been respected and treated well by sports organisers, players and all those associated with an event.  I have made great friendships with players from different parts of the country. We represent the country together. I never feel I am seen differently because of my Northeastern identity.

Changing Infrastructure

Even though sport is a way of life in Northeast India, especially in Assam, the infrastructure here was very poor till 2018. Things have changed in a good way since 2018, the year I won two gold medals (team) and a silver medal (individual) at the Asian Games in Jakarta. It started a revolution in the sports scenario of Assam, along with other states of  the Northeast. Now we have a sports policy. In a very encouraging move, the government of Assam has allotted space for 1,000 playgrounds across the state which would help rural sporting talent to practise and make sport a career. Work like earth filling in these allotted grounds or constructing boundary walls have begun. Though I have not kept a track of how many of these grounds are ready for practice, it gives me immense pleasure to see such grounds in my town and in the surroundings.

Perseverance

But sport is about perseverance. If you have the passion for it, you should not wait for the government to reach you. The government will not knock on your door, bring you out and give you the opportunity. It is you who need to find a way to come out and hone your skills. It is better if you come out to the town or to Guwahati for better sports facilities. I would not be what I am today had I not left my tiny village of Dhing and worked hard to shine on bigger platforms.

Motivating youngsters

Before 2018, people did not feel that they could make a career out of passion for a sport. The youth got motivated when they saw me clinching a gold medal. Now, many young talents want to seriously pursue sports as a career. My winning an international event from a rural corner of the country has not only changed my life for the better but for the youth of my village as well. These days I don’t live in Dhing but whenever I visit my village, young boys and girls come and sit with me. They tell me about their dreams and aspirations. Not everyone wants to be a sportsperson. Some want to pursue music, some art, etc. But the point is my struggles inspire them to aspire for more.

My story motivates them to shine amidst hurdles and become who they dream to become.

(This appeared in the print edition as "Sports Diary")

(As told to Syeda Ambia Zahan)

Hima Das is a sprinter who won the silver medal in the 400m, at the Asian Games, Jakarta, 2018