Milaan Foundation’s Post

Having grown up in India, cricket is next to religion in our country. It is one common emotion (apart from SRK) that brings all of us together. Though I am neither a huge cricket fan nor an expert, I did religiously follow the ICC World Cup 2023. Yesterday was quite special for a lot of Indians, a whole generation who witnessed the loss during the World Cup 2003 final against Australia was waiting to be avenged. From 2003 to 2023, many things have changed in the field of cricket in India. Like, in July 2023, BCCI announced "Equal pay for finishing in similar positions at comparable events, as well as the same amount for winning matches for both the cricket teams" bridging the pay gap for Cricketers. With many welcome changes in past years in Cricket and in many other sports in India, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. But one thing that is deeply embedded in our blood and society is the sexism in sports. Harbhajan's remark on Anushka and Athiya reflects the way cricket is still perceived as a men's arena not only when it comes to playing but also when women are as active viewers as their male counterparts. This remains one of the main reasons for the lack of participation in sports for girls and women. If sports have to be an equal playing field, male players have to start acting as allies and take their roles seriously. "What role male players are going to play in addressing sexism in sports?", "When are male players going to hold their team members responsible when such remarks are made?", "How can they be allies and not be gatekeepers of sports?" It is high time male players start playing significant roles outside the playing field and use their power and privilege in addressing issues like these.

Why does cricket have to be a religion? Cricket has long transcended the boundaries of a mere sport, morphing into a phenomenon often likened to a religion in India. This analogy, while evocative, raises profound questions about the nature of this 'religion' and its impact on the societal fabric of a nation that prides itself on its diversity. The Indian cricket team often celebrated as a microcosm of the country's rich cultural mosaic, showcases an inspiring unity that transcends regional, linguistic, and religious divides. This unity, however, seems to be increasingly at odds with the atmosphere in the stadiums where the game is played. In the throes of competition, the stadiums often echo with chants that blur the lines between fervent support and religious zealotry. This phenomenon is not unique to India; sports globally have often been a conduit for intense emotional expression. But in a country where cricket is venerated, these expressions take on a different hue, reflecting deeper societal undercurrents. The commercialization of cricket in India has also played a significant role in shaping its current ethos. High-profile matches, with their exorbitant ticket prices, have become the playground of the affluent, a stark contrast to the sport's roots in the streets and alleys where children from less privileged backgrounds dream of cricketing glory. Children of auto-rickshaw drivers, and poor laborers, now can dream of making it to the national team and becoming wealthy beyond their wildest imagination. Every sport, except for those played by the wealthy, has witnessed this phenomenon of kids from the impoverished sections of society battling to make it big on the world stage. This economic divide raises questions about accessibility and representation in what is considered a national pastime. The demographic of the spectators – often the more affluent strata of society – brings its own set of biases and attitudes to the game. The aggressive competitiveness seen in professional and business arenas finds a parallel in the stands of cricket stadiums. The spirit of sportsmanship, ideally inherent in any sport, risks being overshadowed by a win-at-all-costs mentality of an affluent audience. This shift in the ethos of cricket from a gentleman's game to a symbol of aggressive nationalism and religious fervor is a microcosm of larger societal changes. The voices that dominate the stadiums, often those of privilege, do not necessarily represent the diverse and multifaceted nature of India. The irony is stark – a sport that has seen many of its heroes rise from humble beginnings is now a spectacle often inaccessible to those very sections of society. The children playing in the streets, who see cricket as a beacon of hope and opportunity, are far removed from the high-priced seats of power and influence. As India continues to grapple with its complex social and economic challenges, cricket remains a powerful mirror reflecting these issues.

Cricket is a gentleman's game and it will always be! This line would have made sense a decade back. Or two decades back, when I was a teenager and the only faces I would see on the cricket field were men/boys. I have personally been an ardent cricket lover growing up, and it was never really considered as a career opportunity. I have even seen some of my peers struggling now, because all they were passionate about was cricket. And if cracking UPSC is hard, getting into a cricket team of any sorts is even harder. Add women's cricket into the mix, and things get even more complex. But, cricket is more business than sport today and that has transformed the way people see this sport. Parents are showing interest, kids are getting to play longer, brands are sponsoring talent, small businesses are getting built and a healthy ecosystem seems to be building around it. I spoke recently to the founder of one such business owner. Vishal Yadav started Female Cricket, when #SmritiMandhana and #JemimahRodrigues were not household names and he started building it from scratch. We spoke about the possibilities around women's cricket and how #IPL and #WPL is helping businesses to bloom in India around cricket. Check out the video here: https://lnkd.in/gxw_diSM

It was a moment to be etched in all cricket fans' memory when Ellyse Perry of RCB (Women) hit a scintillating sixer that smashed the display car window at the Bengaluru stadium recently in the WPL. The sheer power and force that she exuded was almost a celebration of what a woman is capable of achieving if she simply puts her mind to it. In fact, the fabulous stroke-play by Ellyse, Smriti, or Richa, left both men and women in the audience, jumping, and cheering for more. Indian Women's Cricket seems to have, finally, come of age. The professionalism really shows now. As does the level of quality training and money invested to bring it on par with men's cricket, which is almost like a 'religion' in our country of billions. Women are doing wonders in every walk of life today, thanks to the unflinching support of their families, and of the society. There isn't a single job that a woman cannot do today. Whether it is at a petrol pump, or at a thana, we see women donning uniforms, and performing their duties with solid competence and confidence both. The changing scenario looks rather promising. And, when we see content like Dahaad, Kala Paani, and Poacher, on our OTT platforms, where women characters are shown in an empowered position to solve complex problems, and make impactful statements, it feels truly inspiring. In fact, Nimrat Kaur's 'Dooberman Madam' in 'Sajni Shinde ka Viral Video', is an indirect salute to the latent power in a woman, one she unleashes unapologetically, when she sets out to accomplish a difficult, or even an impossible mission. At the micro-level, though, an Indian woman, in a middle-class home, is still grappling with conflicting identities. Where she is expected to be educated and working, and yet, docile and obliging, with little or no individuality. Having strong opinions, or choosing not to 'conform' in matters of taste and lifestyle choices, still comes with a heavy price. Sadly, what 'Sajni Shinde' had to pay in the film. A lot needs to change fundamentally around us before a woman can enjoy a more genuine freedom, and earn a more unconditional respect in the way she is perceived. Change in the mindset of not just men, but also, fellow women. Change in our overall thinking. Evolution in our social values needs to happen actually, before a woman can breathe more freely, free from the fear of being 'judged', 'branded' or labelled', and free to live a more authentic life, not determined by what people think or expect, but by what she needs and wants for herself. #womensday2024 #freedom #womenempowerment #selfhelp #wellness #society

Last weeks Post was about how do you manage your energy and time to really enjoy what you do and how one can pursue their passion. Today image I have put the Indian Blind Women Cricket team getting into a huddle before and after every match to encourage each other. Why this image is important in chasing your dreams will be clear with this example. Lets say you want to Loose weight or run a marathon, you cannot achieve that on your own unless you have the company of people who are health conscious as you are or even better have actually lost weight or run a marathon or a coach who has done this before. We are the average of people we spend time with. This analogy holds good for any goal/ dream you may have. You cannot become wealthy if you don't spend time or are in company of people who are wealthy or know about wealth creation. When you have such company, it will foster support and collaboration, there will be collective learning and each member will motivate one another. The Indian blind women's team won the gold despite facing all odds and I am sure each one of you can achieve your dreams when you take the first step of looking around and deciding whom do you surround yourself with. #DekhLeIndia

Women of India: A Force to be Reckoned With In recent years, Indian women have made significant strides in various fields, breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. From the boardroom to the sports arena, women are proving their mettle and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. In business, Indian women are increasingly taking on leadership roles. According to a 2022 report by McKinsey & Company, women hold 15% of board seats in India, up from 12% in 2017. This progress is being driven by factors such as increased education and skills among women, as well as a growing awareness of the need for gender diversity in corporate leadership. In sports, Indian women are also making waves. In recent years, Indian women have won medals at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games. They have also excelled in cricket, wrestling, boxing, and badminton. These achievements are not only a source of national pride but also an inspiration to young girls across the country. The rise of Indian women is a testament to their talent, determination, and resilience. They are proving that they can achieve anything they set their minds to, regardless of gender. As they continue to break barriers and set new records, Indian women are paving the way for a brighter future for all. https://lnkd.in/gbGtcgTP

Food For Thought..!! Sachin Tendulkar’s son, Arjun Tendulkar is a Cricketer. It almost seems like an easy career decision to make. If your father is one of the best cricket players in the world, why wouldn’t you just learn from him? Why wouldn’t you try to get better at what your elders have worked so hard for? Cricketer Ajit Agarkar was the son of cricketer Vijay Agarkar. 🤯 This behavior can be seen across different professions. Singer Lata Mangeshkar and her sister Asha Bhosle are both daughters of renowned classical singer Dinanath Mangeshkar. 😏 These are still famous Examples. If you look around your neighborhood, you’ll find enough examples of children following the footsteps of their Parents. Doctors’ children becoming Doctors. Engineer’s children becoming Engineers. CAs’ children becoming CAs. Lawyers’ children becoming Lawyers. 🤓 Yes, not always. There are enough examples of children pursuing a different profession Altogether. But the point remains, our early childhood experiences have a disproportionate impact on how we think about the world. And even more importantly, how we think about ourselves fitting in that World. This isn’t to say we follow what our parents do. Many times, people do things very differently from what their parents did. The point here is that whatever signals we pick up early in our lives, affect our outlook towards the rest of our lives. 🧐 The earlier something happens in our lives, the greater its Impact. Not always, but often. So, when you think about Arjun Tendulkar, you can understand how easy a choice it was for him to be a Cricketer. And how difficult it would be to just switch to becoming something like a Singer or a Painter. They’ve been groomed to think in a certain way from very early in their Lives. Likewise, our early life, of course, impacts our relationship with Money. An entire generation of Indians grew up in an era where India barely had any high-paying private-sector Jobs. For such people, a government job was seen as the only accessible way to earn a stable income. That generation envied people with government Jobs. Lack of opportunities to grow one’s income also led a lot of people to become aggressive savers – they would be very cautious about spending their Money. The current set of younger people don’t think like that. They have seen more economic opportunities in their lives. Not as much as people used to 30 years ago(at least). Many people who grow up in business families can’t imagine working at a job. There is also a set of people who cannot imagine starting a business. They like to pursue the highest-paying salaried jobs. While many of us are comfortable with paying money via UPI apps, there are still those who regularly use the internet but refuse to use UPI apps (for whatever reason they have fears about). Some of us want no risk. Money should be safe. And that may be Okay. 💁♂️ To each his own!! P.S: Got an Email. Thought Of sharing Here.. 👈

🌟From Stumps to Socials, India's Cricketing Surge Sparks many Stances 🏏💬 Development of cricket in India has sparked a storm of critical opinions, be in mainstream outlets or on social media, not just internationally but domestically too. 🤑 Some decry the overpowering influence of money, casting a sinister shadow over the game. 🤝 Others don't like the symbiosis between administration and politics - from stadium names to visa policies. ⏰ Some don't like the shorter formats more popular in India. 💰 Criticism surrounds hefty paychecks; might it erode the game's soul? 🌐 Vast stadia and extensive travel don't sit well with some. 🔆🪔 Amidst varied opinions, there is one often-overlooked facet that deserves all the limelight: the unifying power of cricket. 👏 🙌 Despite a history of communalism and more recent rise of individualism in the wider society, the game acts as a cohesive force bringing together everyone. This is not just in the star-studded national XI. This unifying force embraces the first-class, club and college teams up and down the land in a celebration of diversity. 💚🤝🏽 In the future, we will embody this spirit from Indian cricket — of diverse collectives coming together, transcending differences for a shared love. In all the critique, let us not forget the unifying magic. 🏏💙 In the future, we will all be more alike, because life is famously a metaphor for cricket. #Cricket #UnityInDiversity #Diversity #India #Inclusion

Lately, I've been pondering the idea of what it truly means to love our incredible nation, India. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of cheering for our cricket team's victories or celebrating our scientists' remarkable achievements, like landing on the moon. But do these actions alone define our love for India? We live in a society where actors and celebrities often earn enormous sums of money, far more than the real heroes who dedicate their lives to our nation's progress and safety. It's perplexing to think that we willingly spend our hard-earned money to watch movies, where actors portray roles of scientists, soldiers, and patriots, while the real individuals in these roles often receive far less recognition and compensation. As citizens who claim to love our country, it's essential for us to reflect upon our actions and how they align with our sentiments. Cheering for cricket matches and applauding scientific milestones are undoubtedly important, but are they enough? Can't we channel our enthusiasm and support towards the actual heroes who deserve recognition and respect? Imagine if the same fervor we exhibit during cricket matches or blockbuster releases was directed towards supporting our soldiers, scientists, and those who tirelessly work to uplift our nation. By questioning these disparities and making conscious choices, we can bridge the gap between our expressions of love and the tangible actions that truly make a difference. Let's not settle for surface-level displays of patriotism. Let's challenge ourselves to do more, to stand up for the real heroes, and to contribute positively to our country's growth. It's time to turn our words into actions, and our love for India into a force that drives change. Jai Hind! #LoveForIndia #RealHeroeseroes #makeadifference #BoycottBollywoodMovies #BoycottBollywoodForever

An attempt (As per my observation on TV and interviews) as to why Australian succeed in Knockout matches and India doesn't majority of times: • Australian teams seems to play with so-called negative / not likable emotions - Disdain / Mockery - E.g. When an Interviewer asked Smith "How will they deal with India in the finals", he replied with a smirk "Interesting Question" as if saying "That's a cute question you kid" - Overconfidence - Already assuming internally that you are far superior makes you treat the other person less seriously leading to less stress in key matches - You would rarely see an Australian with tears of joy on winning (Barring Marnus Labuschane this WC) or while their National Anthem is being played. It seems they are less driven by Nationalism and more driven by upholstering their Aussie Spirit of aggression and dominance - Putting others down psychologically - Often we have seen Australians playing mind games like asking for referral to cause doubt in mind of player, hard core sledging • India seems to play with all the accepted positive emotions - Nationalism - We all including me feel all pumped up and emotional when our national anthem gets played. We associate the WC to the team doing something great for the country which in turn motivates the team but increases the stress more in crunch situations due to expectations - Dedication and sincerity - Mutual respect for everyone - Controlled aggression The above thoughts doesn't mean Australians do not play with respect or sincerity or Nationalism is a bad thing. It's just that a collection of negative attitudes seem to working great for a country (6 times WC champions) and a collection of positive attitudes seem to hinder a country in knockout matches (6 Knockout exits in last 10 years). Skills do not seem to be the differentiator as India has been a superior side since long. PS: If any opinion strikes you as incorrect , it might well be. I am just putting my thoughts here ☺️