What an incredible time to be alive! The Tokyo Olympics 2020 has shown the world what human perfection is capable of, especially in difficult circumstances like the current worldwide epidemic.
Fables, like youngsters looking externally for life lessons, motivate through narratives of perseverance. Many such stories have emerged as a result of the Indian platoon’s success, particularly among the ladies.
The triumph of Chanu Saikhom Mirabai is the most current example in collective memory. Her trek to the top of the podium is a testament to human perseverance. However, these stories frequently provide us with a deeper understanding of real challenges, as well as the disparity in privilege that most of us have compared to the lives of these Olympians.
With the Indian Women’s Hockey Team reaching the Olympics semifinals for the first time, and their stunning success over three-time champions Australia, many such stories have surfaced. One of them is Rani Rampal’s narrative.
Here are the 5 things that are discomforting to know.
1. “I wanted an escape from my life; from the electricity shortages, to the mosquitoes buzzing in our ear when we slept, from barely having two square meals to seeing our home getting flooded when it rained. My parents tried their best, but there was only so much they could do–Papa was a cart puller and Maa worked as a maid.”
She made her own way out. Her journey has led her to the Olympic podium. Rani Rampal, on the other hand, hasn’t been fooled by its glitz; she hasn’t had an easy life by any stretch of the imagination. She has battled her demons on a path that has gotten her closer to the Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s first Olympic gold in their history.
2. “However, when I told my family, they said things like, ‘Ladkiya ghar ka kaam hi karti hai,’ and ‘Hum tumhe skirt pehen kar khelne nahi denge.'” ‘Please mujhe jaane do,’ I’d pleading with them. I’ll do whatever you want if I fail.’ “With reluctance, my family gave in.”
Internalized patriarchy, which many of our female athletes have had to fight since birth, is a sad reality. Rani Rampal had a similar encounter.
3. “Training would start early in the morning. We didn’t even have a clock, so mom would stay up and look at the sky to check if it was the right time to wake me.”
Rani’s mother’s name is undisclosed, but she deserves credit for identifying the shine in her daughter and keeping time by looking to the stars. Rani was able to achieve her goals thanks to her mother’s encouragement.
4. At the academy, it was mandatory for each player to bring 500 ml of milk. My family could only afford milk worth 200 ml; without telling anyone, I’d mix the milk with water and drink it because I wanted to play.”
Even the most basic requirements are unavailable to our Olympians. It depicts the reality of many of our country’s sports stars. Consider the number of athletes who will never achieve fame as a result of this sorry state of affairs.
5. “I remember earning my first salary; I won Rs.500 after winning a tournament and gave the money to Papa. He hadn’t ever held so much money in his hands before. I promised my family, ‘One day, we’re going to have our own home’; I did everything in my power to work towards that.”
A sum of Rs. 500 is a sum that most of us would spend without hesitation. With such insufficient financial stability, an athlete in this country is required to cling to their dreams. It’s incredible that we’ve had the opportunity to see jewels like Rani Rampal in the first place.
