Democratising Sports
Gender, Discrimination, and Opportunities
Alka lives in a rural area of Uttar Pradesh. She has just finished her graduation. She simultaneously managed both study and sports. She is a well-known badminton player and has won many prizes by representing India in various sporting events, making her family and fellow Indians proud. Her parents are middle-class, salaried employees. They are not much aware of sports and governance. They were just happy with the achievements of their daughter, Alka, who is now thinking about her future, about pursuing sports as a career. She has in her mind to make the economic conditions of the family better.
Recently, her friend John informed her that applicants with a good record of achievements in sports can apply for Government jobs. She enquired more about such prospects. Then, John explained to her in detail about the procedure of applying for a job under Sports Quota:
“Any sports player who’s won a national or international-level sports-prize is eligible for an officer-level job in the Public sector, under the government. However, if a person has won at state-level sports competitions, then she is eligible for junior roles in government service. To get a junior-rank job, a person should be at least 18 years of age. However, eligibility for such jobs varies and 21 years is the minimum age requirement.”
John told her that he too will be applying for the available jobs. Further, John said that once a person gets recruited under Sports Quota, the responsibility of that person increases. She has to do both the things- continue playing for the nation and complete the professional duties required by the job. Alka became interested and decided that she will apply for the job. John suggested that both of them could apply together. Alka was happy hoping that she might get a job in the Government Sector and still continue to represent India’s badminton team.
The next day, John and Alka decided to head together to different Government organisations, like Railways and Coal, which have their respective teams. Both of them went to various departments and applied for jobs there. The procedure of applying for a job under Sports Quota is not so simple. First, the sports players have to search for a job vacancy in the specific government department. Then, they have to apply through the department’s online portal. The head of that department will then ask for verification of documents and the process will be followed by an interview. The successful candidates are later accepted for the available posts.
For the available posts, only the two of them had applied. When they went to the Railway Department, they met Rakesh Singhal who was Manager of the Railway Sports Federation. Rakesh talked to them and assured them that they will get the job for sure. After getting an assurance of a job from Rakesh, Alka was happy. She continued her badminton practice without any break, while they waited to hear back from the Railway Sports Federation. One week passed, then two, and then three weeks passed, but neither of them heard anything. Alka and John, then, tried to meet Rakesh Singhal again, but Rakesh’s assistant was not giving time to them to schedule a meeting with Rakesh.
Meanwhile, Alka came to know that John got the job. She was happy for him and, at the same time, she was also eager to know about her results. She started contacting the Manager of Railway Sports Federation, Rakesh. However, he always refused to either respond to or contact her. She waited for a couple of days and tried to contact him again, but it didn’t work. Then she decided to go to his office. She had to make many rounds to the office until one day she finally got to meet him. Rakesh was coming from the balcony area, surrounded by two people with some files in their hands. He was dressed in pure-white, with a mobile in his hands. She was unsure about how she could ask him to talk. She gathered her courage and politely greeted him.
Alka: Hello, sir! Excuse me, please?
All three people turned and were staring into this audacious girl’s eyes.
Rakesh: Hmmm, yes?
Alka: Hello, sir! I am Alka, I had applied for the job under badminton Sports Quota. I wanted to talk to you about that. Are you available for a few minutes?
Rakesh: Okay, aao mere office mein baith kar baat karte hain (Come, we will talk in my office).
They headed to the office.
Rakesh: Ramu, do cup chai leke aana (Ramu, bring two cups of tea).
Rakesh sat sipping his tea and was behaving in a little-bit arrogant way. He gazed at Alka through his spectacles.
Rakesh: So, Alka, tell me what happened.
Alka: Sir, I had applied for the job about five weeks ago. I haven’t received any update on the application’s status.
Rakesh: You will come to know about it, soon.
Alka: Sir, but you have been postponing this for long. Even John has also got confirmation. Both of us had applied at the same time. Why is my application taking longer, sir?
Rakesh: We have many things to do. We also have less human resources. Often, it takes quite some time to announce the results of every candidate.
Alka: Sir, par John aur maine saath mein hi apply kiya tha. John ka result announce hua hai. Mera kyu nahi, sir (Sir, John and I had applied at the same time, however, he’s been notified with his results but I didn’t receive any update. Why so, sir)?
Finally, Rakesh blurted angrily.
Rakesh: Can’t you see that he is a male? He has the responsibility of taking care of and protecting his family, and despite that, he will continue to give his best to badminton. What about you? Once you get a job, you will get married and will stop playing badminton. Won’t you?
Alka: Sir, ye aisa kehna sahi nahi hoga (Sir, this won’t be the right thing to say). You cannot compare him and I on the basis of gender. Give me a chance. I will also deliver the best results.
Rakesh: Huh, I myself am a man. I know the mentality of a man. I know how men think and function.
Alka: Sir, aap na bhedbhav kar rahe ho (Sir, you are discriminating between him and I). If you feel that I am not capable of doing a job with the talents and achievements that I have, let me know. But, mai ladki hu isliye agar aap mujhe job nahi de rahe ho to wo sahi nahi hai sir (But, if you are not giving me the job because I am a female, then it is not right). Don’t give the silly justification that he is a male and hence he needs a job. I also need a job to take care of myself and my family.
Rakesh: Now, you will tell me what is discrimination? You all girls are the same. First, you demand a job and once you get it, you dream of settling with a husband and family, and then you quit playing sports. I know all of you are the same. I have been seeing this for years now.
Alka was pissed by now.
Alka: Bas sir, I am humbly trying to make my point. However, you are completely in favour of him. You wanted only him to get the job. Basically, you want that male player to get the job. This is not a valid reason to justify the rejection of my candidature. Why are you against me getting a job? Are women not deserving enough? Regarding your concern, I am not at all looking to get married soon. I want to play for the nation. Sir, also, why do you think married women cannot play well? I can give you ‘n’ number of examples of married female sports players. People criticized Mary Kom for marrying and said that that’s the end of her career. However, she has been continuously winning medals even after marrying and having kids. For a second, let us consider that you are right. Don’t you think that male players can also quit after getting a job and marrying? Sir, please aisa mat kariye (Please don’t do this).
Rakesh hasn’t spoken any word yet. Alka continues.
Alka: I am aware of this sports management. One can see such a pattern in cricket also. Male players in the ‘A’ category get 3.5 Cr. rupees per year while female players in the same category get only 50 lakhs per annum.
Rakesh: Beta, What’s your problem? Why can’t you be satisfied with what you get? Tumhe aur bhi bahot sangharsh karna hai jeevan mein (You have to struggle a lot in your life).
Alka: Sir, you are not answering my question, instead you are changing the topic now.
Rakesh: Had ho gayi, Alka, enough is enough now. You can not speak whatever you want. This is not at all acceptable. I can debar you from playing in any future badminton tournaments.
Alka: Please don’t do that at least, sir! I really want to continue playing for the nation.
Rakesh: This is our final decision. If you are serious enough, then continue playing and keep applying to different departments. This is not the end of opportunities for you. C’mon!
Alka: I know, sir. This wouldn’t be the end of opportunities, but who knows if I might face similar problems in other departments also. However, I still have one last option of proving myself right. I will file the RTI application.
Rakesh: So, are you threatening me now? Try, you will see what will happen later.
Alka: That’s the only option I have. This is not only about me. Par mere jaise kitni ladkiyo ke bhavishya ke liye karna padega [ I have to do this for future of many helpless girls like me].
When Rakesh’s tactics did not work, he, fearing the consequences, talked to someone on the phone. Rakesh knew that if the girl filed the RTI application, then there’s no way of denying her candidature.
Rakesh: Wait here for some time!
Alka grew tensed now. She was eagerly waiting for his reply.
Rakesh: See, I just checked your application again. It’s not that your application lacked in merit, but we had only one vacancy and both of you got same points. We thought John would be the right fit for the post. Now, we can do one thing. I can’t substitute John with you. However, I will try to check if we could appoint you in other departments.
Alka: See, you had this option earlier as well. But, you see girls as helpless beings who would never dare to voice against you. May this be a lesson. Please treat girls and boys equally.
This was just one incident from Alka’s life where she was a victim of favouritism, often on the basis of gender. Alka can enlist an infinite number of such discriminatory practices where female players are not heard and not given enough opportunities to grow and flourish in their fields. Alka showed the necessity of courage, transparency, and how that can protect one from any injustices.
About the story:
The story is about a female star badminton player who is looking for a job. She has represented India in the past and is a strong candidate to be appointed under Sports Quota. However, due to some unexpected events, her fate faces a drastic turn. The story captures her struggle as a woman and the challenges she faced as a sportswoman. She later proves to be an inspiration for many like her for voicing against the injustices and discriminatory practices.
About the author:
Shubham Palaskar is an electronics engineer who is currently pursuing a post-graduate diploma in Liberal Arts. His interests lie in politics, badminton, and travelling.
