Aggression in Sports - RP Devgan

There has always been great hype by the media about Indian sportsmen lacking the killer instinct at the world level and losing important matches because of lack of aggression. The latest to add to this theory, a week or so ago, was the former Captain of the English cricket team Nasser Hussain who said that the Indian cricket teams of the past were too nice to their opponents and often smiled at them!

All the talk about this ‘killer instinct’ needed to win was much talked about at the time of “ABC” of tennis Vijay Amritraj, Borg, and Connors were making a mark at the world stage. This also included the fiery McEnroe. It was mainly aimed at Vijay Amritraj because he couldn't win grand slams like the others did. 

The ‘killer instinct’ theory has been propounded by the Press world over that to win at the top level, aggression is a must. I remember a coach of an American International School advising his team going in to start a soccer game  with the words ”Go kill them.” Some advice!

As a bit of a sportsman myself, I have never subscribed to this theory. What confirmed this and broke the myth was when I was in Indonesia on a Sabbatical in 1990. It was a pleasure to see the gentle, modest and well behaved Indonesian shuttlers. Indonesia at that time ruled the Badminton world in the Men's and Women's categories. The players went about their business with great determination, skill and a will to win.  They threw no tantrums, showed no emotion or aggression on or off the court and went on to beat the best in the World.

When one looks back at the legends of Indian sport right from the time of Dhyan Chand, they were all highly talented and great role models.

It is only now that we see the Indian star cricketers swearing and shouting at every given opportunity. The present Indian cricket team is not winning matches because of their aggressive and at times unbecoming behaviour but because of the immense talent they possess. We have won series and matches on the cricket field with cricketers like Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid, Kumble and Dhoni as perfect role models. Gavaskar was rightly upset by Nasser Hussain’s frivolous remark.

My personal opinion is that skill, perseverance, diligence and determination win matches, not swearing and shouting and making a spectacle of oneself. Sporting icons should be gracious in defeat and modest in victory and be good role models to the younger generation of school children.
There is enough aggression in the world today and our sporting icons should be examples of dignity and grace to the millions of followers of whom a large percentage is a school  and college-going children.

If aggression and the so-called “ killer instinct” were important traits to win, then I wonder how swimmers, divers and shooters manage to win Olympic medals. Abhinav Bindra is a good example of a cool and collected and determined a sporting role model.

Aggression and loss of temper only lead to embarrassment sooner or later as in the recent incident involving Djokovic at the US Open Tennis. A real shame that he was disqualified from the tournament because in a fit of temper he inadvertently slammed a ball in the neck of a helpless linesman.

Sport should be played with sportsman spirit, dignity and grace. Sporting icons must not forget that their actions affect millions of young followers who look up to them as heroes.

Rajinder Pal Devgan
Chairman Learning Forward India
<rpdevgan@gmail.com>

Quit India Movement - Kusum Sharma

Quit India Movement Day (77th anniversary) is observed on 8 August which is also known as August

Kranti. It is considered as an important movement in the freedom struggle where masses also participate and take charge itself.

 In April 1942, the Cripes mission failed. Within less than four months, the third great mass struggle of the Indian people for freedom started. This struggle is known as the Quit India movement. On 8 August 1942 at the Bombay session of All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi during World War II passed a resolution of Quit India Movement. This resolution declared that the immediate ending of the British rule in India was an urgent necessity for the sake of India and for the success of the cause of freedom and democracy, for which the countries of the United Nations were fighting against fascist Germany, Italy and Japan. The resolution called for the withdrawal of the British power from India. Once free, it said, India with all her resources would join the war on the side of those countries who were struggling against fascist and imperialist aggression.

The mantra of movement do or die. We shall either be free or die in the attempt”. “Quit India” and “Do or Die” became the battle cries of the Indian people during the Quit India movement. By the end of 1942, about 60,000 people had been jailed and hundreds were killed. Among the killed were many young children and old women

The war years were a period of terrible suffering for the people of India. Besides the misery caused by the repression by the British army and police, there was a terrible famine in Bengal in which about 30 lakh people died. The government showed little interest in providing relief to the starving people. There is no doubt that the "Quit India Movement", united the Indian people against British rule. Although most of the demonstrations were suppressed by 1944. But after Gandhi's release in 1944 from the prison, he continued his protest and went on a 21-day fast. By the end of World War II, Britain's position in the world had changed dramatically and the demand for independence could no longer be ignored.

Kusum Sharma

The Fabindia School

ksa@fabindiaschools.in

Unity & Caring - Penta BHIS

UNITY

CARING

 “Saavi, look out!” cried Ria. The horrid boys in my class were in the middle of one of their usual fights. In order to hurt each other very badly, one of them had hurled a metallic bottle at the other. Unfortunately, I was in the way. Despite Ria’s warning, I could not ‘look’ out. You see, I can’t see very well. I have a genetic disorder that clouds my vision. I am one of those ‘special’ children you see in classrooms of inclusive schools. Everyone tells me that I am fine. But I am not, really. The teachers print large question papers for me, I have difficulty reading the textbook or any other book for that matter.

At school, Ria has been my eyes. I cannot fathom the depth of her affection for me. We are neither related nor are our parents, friends. Ria has, since grade 3, volunteered to help me in every grade that we have moved together. Even after 4 years, we are as thick as thieves.

There are two other ‘special’ children in my class. These two boys, Avi and Krishna, are so hyperactive that they can stir up a hornet’s nest in virtually seconds! They have always been naughty but luckily were in separate sections. Suddenly I found the two in my section this year, much to my annoyance. But then, who am I to judge anyone?

The Avi-Krishna combination proved to be a disaster for my class. They fought between themselves and instigated the other naughty ones (I gather, there were around 3 or 4 more) to join in the fracas. The class erupted in a frenzy of fistfights with dusters, shoes, and water bottles being used as missiles. None of the teachers liked coming to our class. Our charts on the soft boards were torn, fan blades bent, door handle broke, and so on and so forth. Whenever these boys fought, innocents were caught in their fights and got hurt.

Strangely, they had been exceptionally careful about me. I always had the first place, in front of the teacher, and so very often in the way of the crazy fights. Ria was instrumental in keeping me safe. But I always sensed a tenderness or whatever these boys could be mellowed down to – in their attitude to me. It was certainly not pity, as nature developed a very sharp nose in me for it. Were they even capable of care?

I think I had the answer then. In the middle of the fight, somebody had hurled a 1-litre metal bottle that was filled with water. It headed straight for me. I stood stupefied in spite of Ria’s cry, “Saavi, look out!” Within seconds Avi shielded me (how did he manage to fly in my direction so soon?), while Krishna leapt and caught the bottle. It hurt his index finger. If he winced, I could not see it.

Somehow, something changed in my class that day. Of course, the fights remained but were less intense. They fought but their aggression had mellowed. Perhaps they had seen what damage their behaviour could inflict? They argued, exchanged a few slaps, but realized that together they can change.

  "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
– Helen Keller

Penta @ Billabong InternationalHigh School, Thane

- Jeeji Sanjeev, Sanika Joshi, Arpita M.G., Muskaan Menda, Radhika Anand, Supriya Naravankar & Bhavani Swamy.

Happiness and Tolerance - Optimizers BHIS

It was my first year as a preschool teacher.  Preschool classes bubble with energy and varied developmental skills.  A  teacher has to balance them all without hurting any child’s emotions. The role of a preschool teacher is challenging; to get children to understand the importance of valuing each other’s emotions.

I had a learner named Darsh. He was an autistic child. During the concept time, he used to feel restless and run about in the classroom and sometimes even used to throw objects at his classmates. This behaviour distracted other children and they started behaving rudely with him. His aggression increased as other children retaliated. 

On the one hand, it was necessary for me not to react at Darsh’s behaviour negatively and on the other, guide the remaining class to accept him as he was. I explained and made children understand how Darsh was special than all of us. I had to tell them that each member of a family is different yet we love them and don’t misbehave with them, in the same way, our classroom is our second home. Each and every child is an important member of us in spite of their differences. 

The children realised their mistake and whenever Darsh reacted inappropriately, children calmed him down by showering love and care. This change in the children’s behaviour towards him reduced his aggression and we were all a happy family for the rest of the year. 

Tolerance is to have  faith and maintain an objective attitude towards others whose lifestyle and behaviour differs from our thought process.  The  moment we accept  people the way they are, the happier we feel.

Optimizers @ Billabong High International School Thane

- Sanket Patel, Kalyani Chaudhuri, Ajita Bhoir, Momita Banerjee, Madhubala Saji, Rupal Trivedi, Kshama Rajgor