Wrestling With Power
By Poonam I Kaushish
If we do not maintain justice, justice will not maintain us, said Francis Bacon. This comes to mind over our wrestlers grappling with power. Indeed, it was a sad day for wrestling when Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik announced that she was quitting the sport last week and another medalist Bajrang Punia gave up his Padma Shri award until justice was given to his “sisters and daughters” fighting against sexual harassment and their perpetrators.
The cause célèbre? Five-time BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh accused of sexually harassing and exploiting female wrestlers and against whom pugilists have been agitating for nearly a year, acolyte Sanjay Singh winning elections to the Wrestling Federation President’s post.
True, a politician or his aide winning an election to an administrative post in a sports body is par for the cours given sport is riddled with proliferation of netagan seeking to soak in the popularity of sport and sportswomen. Of course, the hold of leaders on the electoral processes of sports federations cannot be legally challenged. Example: Bhushan was running WFI from his official residence.
Also true, if Bhushan had not been a bahubali with a huge following among Rajputs and who holds the key in reportedly, 10 seats in Gonda UP, he may have been counting bars as a Pocso case is registered against him. However, such is his political clout that any action against him could affect BJP’s prospects in the State.
Consequently, he remains not only free while courts take their time over cases registered against him, but also is much feted as a leader with an outsize influence on wrestling till he became ineligible. So what if he is not a saint having around 40 cases against him? The UP bahubali has admitted to committing a murder and gone to jail.
Undeniably, wrestling is not the first sport to witness allegations of sexual exploitation of young athletes of both sexes. Look at Haryana Sports Minister and ex-hockey captain Sandeep Singh who too has been accused of sexual abuse by a junior coach. He remains a Minister. However, the allegation against Bhushan is an extreme case that athletes ran into a political brick wall despite top wrestlers throwing their all into opposing him since January.
Happily, amid huge outcry over Singh’s election, the Sports Ministry suspended WFI for its “hasty announcement” of organising U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers” for preparations. Asking Indian Olympic Association to form an ad-hoc panel to manage and execute WFI’s roles and function.
In sync, Bhushan announced his resignation from wrestling after meeting BJP President Nadda. Even as aide Singh states he will talk to Prime Minister Modi, Centre and Ministry to prove no rules were violated. Sic.
Nevertheless, the Government’s action is only quick fix. The malaise in WFI runs deep and the sight of elite wrestlers hitting streets, sparring with authorities, being evicted from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, quitting the sport and returning national honours does not do justice to the country’s aspiration of becoming a sporting power. Given the United World Wrestling not only expressed its unhappiness with the sordid saga but also suspended WFI.
Besides, with seven medals, wrestling is India’s most successful individual sport at Olympics and for many girls specially in Haryana it is an aspirational game which provides social acceptance.
Privately, a senior sports administrator avers, Government’s action was a face-saver without openly acknowledging a mistake in handling la affair Bhushan.
Alas, over the years power structures in sports federations often overlap political power whereby politicians have usurped positions of control and operate them as their private fiefdom. Thereby, creating conditions that enable abuse of authority.
A sad commentary on society that our rulers should hold such sway and have their way even in sports administration. Perhaps it has something to do with our patriarchal lineage and misogynistic culture. Whereby, we show utter disregard and disrespect for women…. rape, marital rapes, sexual assault and systemic harassment et al.
Clearly, in a society which lives with the regressive mindset that freedom and equality for women tantamount to promiscuity, we swing between two extremes. One where a girl child is bad news and nurtured on “conform” paranoia: Not to rock the boat, be fearful of what lies around the corner and subjecting them to countless restrictions in the name of women’s protection. Whereby fathers make the rules, husbands enforce them and male bosses reiterate them, speaking out against someone’s wrong doing is tough.
Notwithstanding the #Me Too campaign, in a culture where the national narrative conditions people to think that sexual harassment has no consequences; where sex crimes are dismissed as result of an imbalanced sex ratio; and where women have little or no cultural respect, it is going to be a steep uphill to change what is just ‘normal’.
Where does one go from here? Given that this oppressive atrocity against sportswomen will get worse, not better. All eyes are on what happens in this case. Clearly our leaders need to pay heed and address this seriously. Undeniable it is a wake-up call for change. Change our approach to sexual harassment. One option is radical feminism to make a social impact and safety of women an important article of faith with people, society and Government.
Our leaders need to pay heed and address this seriously. Underscoring, the urgent need to create a safe space for athletes, especially women. Laws should be tightened which would deter men to think thousand times before they commit crime, along-with transparency, accountability and good governance. Only then can India truly become a sporting powerhouse and fulfil the aspirations of its talented athletes.
One hopes the Government’s latest action is more than just image management and it uses the opportunity to clean-up WFI governance, carry structural changes, addresses wrestlers concerns and creates a sport and a federation worthy of sports. Alongside quickly finish investigation and prosecution of Bhushan which was set in motion by wrestlers charges of sexual harassment against him and a chargesheet filed by Delhi police over six months back if justice is to be done and WFI run in spirit of rules established.
Towards that end, the National Sports Development Code 2011, a legally binding framework to ensure that sports federations which have a monopoly and receive public funding are made accountable should ensure wrestlers kushtee with power get justice. As merely mouthing platitudes of impartiality and fairness will no longer work.
However either which way, our pugilists have identified their predators and they will determine what happens next. Surely lies have no legs but truth is the best defense. We need cry a halt to women being playthings of voyeuristic men. Will we break new ground and unshackle women? One hopes this will have a knock-out effect on other federations and trigger greater accountability. What gives? — INFA