Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the American national anthem and this created a huge controversy.

Patriotism and sports in Irrational times

The Asian Games are over. India finished with their best medal haul in this event. Virat Kohli’s India continued to relive the era of the 90s, suffering yet another overseas loss, this time to an under-strength England.

However, amidst the gala and despair, one very important event took place in the USA. An event which calls into question the very dynamics of sportspersons and their role in society.

Colin Kaepernick, the former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, created a massive controversy in the USA when he became the first NFL (National Football League) player to kneel during the national anthem in the 2016 season to highlight racial injustice. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way,” Kaepernick said at that time.

Recently, Kaepernick was part of Nike’s “Just Do It” ad campaign and it resulted in many critics burning Nike trainers, cloting and shoes. #JustDoIt made way for #JustBurnIt.

Not possible in India

Currently in India, there is a wave of irrationality across the nation. Be it cow vigilantism, backing ‘seditious’ pelters against the army, arresting activists in the backdrop of ‘Urban Naxalism’ and mob lynching, Indian society is facing an issue.

Amidst all this, what is the reaction of Indian sportsmen? Silence. Zero reaction. Gautam Gambhir, who opened for India, has been vocal about India-Pakistan relations and about his support to the Indian army but there has been pin-drop silence from many prominent personalities.

Will we see the day when Virat Kohli protests about the atrocities going on in Indian society? Will Indian sportspeople rebel against a system where corrupt politicians are entrenched in every aspect of administration? Will sportspeople in the country rebel in a society where equality is almost absent?

The blunt answer is NO. India will never have a Colin Kaepernick moment because there is no clear vision. India is currently battling whether we should stand for the national anthem. India is currently fighting on what is nationalism and what is freedom of expression. All opinion is drowned in the cesspool of trolling from all ideologies. When a society fights on these issues, a Colin Kaepernick moment from our perceived heroes will never be possible.

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