My Letter in Gulf News(UAE)dated 25th August,2016

They fought gallantly

Malik, Sindhu and Karmakar of India brought glory to their country in the Rio Olympics. These athletes deserve to be applauded for their achievements, as they overcame social ills — exploitation, abuse, discrimination, sexism, authoritarianism and maliciousness. These are things that women in sports usually have to cope with. These women have broken all previous Olympic records for their country. The larger message is that India’s daughters are a pride and joy and they must be celebrated. More so in the face of the struggles women have to endure in every sphere of life in India. The limits placed on them by patriarchal notions serve to distance them from the sporting arena. That is why it is heartening to see them respond with a never-say-die attitude. A lesson for those who believe that wrestling and other sports are largely not suitable for women.

Hopefully, Rio 2016 should prove to be a turning point for Indian society. It has given Indian women the dignity and power to compete with a male-dominated society. These women are the conquerors that we, as a society, desperately need. In a country where only a handful of male cricketers have mattered, Karmakar, Malik and Sindhu fought gallantly for the nation on the world stage and their role needs to be abundantly praised.

From Dr Shiben Krishen Raina