Chaitali Kapat and her 'fists of fury'

India is but a land which boasts of umpteen number of “Slumdog Millionaires”; individuals who have braved their way onto the promised land, in the face of grave adversity, and made their mark in history.

Sports in India has also seen the rise of many such sensational individuals, whose tales of glory continue to serve as reminders of the extraordinary number of talents that continue to blossom in various parts of the country.

Among these inspiring accounts of brave women and men, there is one which seems to have drawn a lot of attention towards itself, not only within the country, but, all over the world.

‘Fists of Fury’ ( also a 1972 martial arts films starring Bruce Lee) is a documentary about 16-year-old Chaitali Kapat, who emerged from a slum in Andul, Kolkata to win the gold at the sub-junior Nationals when she was only 14.

The director of the documentary is Reed Lindsay, who won a Gracie Award presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, for this mesmerizing story overshot with passion.

The story baffled audiences all over the globe and served as a deconstructing mechanism of the timeless tradition of perceiving India as a land where women are considered ‘helpless’ victims of the oppressive patriarchal order.

Her story is one which has not only got significance in the realm of sports, also resounds various other pulsating social issues of great relevance.

“For a girl to survive in a slum, she has to either keep mum and accept everything or fight constantly.”

“Since I am not the submissive type, I got into skirmishes often. I was never afraid of receiving a punch but made sure I had delivered more blows than I received,” she said in an Interview with the Times of India.

She is not the not the stereotypical Indian woman as portrayed in seamless works of literature and art, so submissive and voiceless, but one who professes action and dominance than subordination.

“I used to be angry with the boys who boxed here,” she said. “They would make faces at me when I used to watch them box. When I was asked to join the team, I was happy I’d have the chance to hit them.”

The male order is no hurdle to this young woman whose heart is raging with fire. She serves as an exemplar of a woman who through her action serves as an admonition to the oppressive institutions of patriarchy in India.

She trains with her Muslim friend Madhu, “in spite of being a Hindu”.

“A lot of families don’t let you go to the homes of Muslims. But I don’t like all that. We’re friends. I even eat from her plate,” says Chaitali.

This statement also serves as a reminder to the world, which has always had India as a land where Hindus and Muslims have shared an antagonistic relationship since the beginning of time (which by the way, is a stark disjunction from the truth).

A Woeful Past

The rage and passion which is characteristic of Chaitali’s boxing has a lot to do with the series of injustices she suffered at the hands of society.

Her mother, Shyamali Kapat, works at a local textile factory, earning a meagre salary of $30 to $50 a month, struggling to make ends meet in the house. Her determination in the face of exploitation and poverty has had a compelling impact on the teenage warrior, who seemingly never backs down.

Another painful event which had an adverse effect on her was the murder of her father, whose assailants were never arrested or charged.

She faces a lot of disapproval from her family, and is the subject of sneers and jeers from her friends, because of her decision to box.

Chaitali talks about the grief she experiences when other teenagers like her talk about their fathers.

The profound sadness which underlines her life, and the desire for retribution, has now been steered into the boxing ring, which brims with fury and passion in her presence.

A force to reckon with in the future

“There’s nobody in our home who can take care of the family,” she explained. “My mother takes care of us now. She’ll be getting older. What then? Who will look after us? That’s why I need a job. At first, I took up boxing as a passion. Everyone plays different sports, and I boxed. But it’s not a passion anymore. I only want to box so that I can get a job. If I get a job, something good will happen.”

She hopes to banish the poverty which has always riddled her family, by striving to secure a position at the Olympics.

Her coach, Sanjib Banerjee says, “As long as she has heart, she will go a long way in boxing, I want her to box because it will give her a profession.”

She is perceived as the ‘masculine’ figure in her household, and the one who seems to shoulder the responsibility of providing for the family in the future.

Her sister, Baishakhi, who is two years older, looks up to her, and feels quite secure in her presence, as no boy would dare to harass her now, for the fear of facing the wrath of Chaitali and her furious fists.

Chaitali states the goddess Kali to be her source of strength and inspiration. She prays to the powerful female goddess who is perceived as the personification of domination. In addition to this she also spends considerable amounts of time, during the week-long festival of Kali, celebrated with great reverie and pomp in West Bengal.

Chaitali is yet to secure a significant win since 2012, though she continues to train diligently amongst the encumbrance of the responsibility of tending to chores at home.

She is yet to be recruited by the Sports Authority of India, and Indians have yet another female boxer to be proud of in the days to come.

Chaitali Kapat with her fierce right hook and ‘never back down’ attitude, serves as an exemplar for women all over India, to dissent the subjugating forces of patriarchy, and it’s overriding authority.