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It is 2014. The Incheon Asian Games are being telecast. I was excited since morning to witness the bout of an Indian boxer who was sweating it out in the Gold Medal match. Secretly, I knew that gold was assured. No, not because I was an eternal optimist who always wanted Indians to emerge triumphant, but because I had unconditional faith in the boxers ability. I watched in awe at her skills and determination, which were on full display. A close encounter later, which saw punches from both sides, the winner was announced. The Gold had been won and I soon broke into jubilation.
As the tricolour fluttered high far away in South Korea, my belief in her had been reaffirmed.
As I sang Jana Gana Mana, a sense of pride overcame me.
Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom had added another medal to her already envious trophy closet and had done the nation proud ONCE AGAIN!
Her achievements
MC Mary Kom’s achievements are well documented, yet there are the ignorant few who won’t hesitate to dismiss the Manipuri as “yet another gold medallist from India”, without realising that it is a 5 time World Champion they are talking about.
Fighting all odds and overcoming a tough childhood, which was defined by lack of support, Kom, inspired by fellow Manipuri Dinko Singh’s gold at the 1998 Asain Games, won her first Women National Boxing Championship in 2001 and the same year stood second in the World Championships, which she went on to win the following year. This was just a dream beginning for her as medals, along with fame and accolades soon followed. She left her stamp in the Asian Boxing Championships as well, emerging victorious 4 times and bagging silver in 2008.
She took a sabbatical from the game in 2006 to get married, and news of an early retirement did the rounds. She returned, more determined than ever in 2008, and won silver at the Asian Championships. She became the first boxer to win 5 successive World Championships in 2010, creating history in a sport, originally reserved for the “masculine” gender. Her achievements did not stop, as she won almost everything that was thrown her way, including a bronze at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
2012 was a historic year for the boxer. It was the first time that women’s boxing was being included in the Olympic Games, and she became the only Indian to qualify for the event. A few struggles later she eventually lost in the semi-finals to Britain’s Nicola Adams, but not before clinching bronze.
Another break followed before she made another comeback to win gold at Incheon. Kom now has her eyes fixed on the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she will be fighting for gold, which will prove to be the ideal farewell for her. Her triumphs weren’t unnoticed by the Indian Government as she won the Arjuna Award (2003), Padma Shree (2010) and the Padma Bhushan (2013). In 2009, she was conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, given to the best Indian sportsperson of the year.
With almost all awards credited to her, one can safely say that the highest civilian award- the Bharat Ratna still eludes her.
Why should she be given the Bharat Ratna?
Indeed, let me frame the question this way- “Why shouldn’t she be given the Bharat Ratna?’
When the Government changed its rule last year, thereby making sportspersons eligible for the award, it was a no-brainer as to who would be its first recipient. Sachin Tendulkar was honoured with the award to congratulate him on a career spanning 24 years. Then started the debate as to who should be awarded next. The names of Dhyan Chand, Vishwanathan Anand and Milkha Singh did the rounds. Yet, no one spoke about her.
She has been winning consistently in a sport which offers tougher competition than cricket or hockey. She has earned respect by defeating boxers from all over the world. In an individual sport, she has had to be at the top of her game at all costs and rarely has she disappointed. Besides, a look at her struggles through the years would make you sit up and take notice of the Magnificent Mary.
Her struggles through the years
Brought up in a lower class orthodox Manipuri family, Mary Kom started helping her parents in the field when she was very young. A childhood of hard labour prepared her for the struggle that would follow and once she was determined to take up boxing, she knew the journey won’t be easy. She yearned for support and encouragement in her early life. Considered a sport for the “men”, not many were willing to give her a chance at the top level. She practised away from her father’s glare, without proper equipment and funds and soon moved to Imphal.
Being a woman did not deter her in any way. Yes, she claims of corruption. Yes, she claims of molestation, but at the end, it proved no hindrance for her.
Mary Kom had big dreams and she was willing to conquer society and change conventions, in order to fulfil them.
The Wonder Mother
That Mary was blessed with twins in 2007 is famous news; that she went for a C-section is not. She states how her family forced her into retirement, considering the physical demands of a surgery. Moreover, in India where mothers are only expected to nurture children, here was Mary Kom breaking norms. After a two year break, she was back doing what she did best.
She was away on national duty when her son was having a heart bypass in 2011, even then her words “my country is more important” did the rounds.
She spends almost 300 days away from them in a year, but as she states “I want to fulfil my dreams first for my country. After that, I can be with my kids.” In moments of weakness, she does get misty-eyed and nostalgic, but always manages to regain her composure as her attention is drawn towards the Gold- the only goal which she still wants to achieve. After her bronze in 2012, the 32-year-old took time off to have another baby and the way the mother of 3 manages her career, yet finding time for them is inspiring to say the least.
The ‘Unbreakable’ Mary
“I was the David who took on the Goliaths in the boxing ring” writes Mary in her autobiography “Unbreakable”. The title of the book aptly sums up her life in short. Be it in her career, where she has had to constantly switch weights according to the rule changes by the AIBA (she prefers 48 kg, but currently fights in the 51 kg, which means bigger and stronger opponents), or in her life where she chose to tread on a path which no one ever dreamt of, she has always managed to keep the UNBREAKABLE spirit intact in her.
Challenges have been many, yet they have been won with ease, and in the process she has managed to inspire millions.
She can either be admired for her determination (she even trains with men, to increase her stamina),or she can be envied for her records.
She might or might not get the country’s highest civilian award, but for me and for millions of girls out there, she is indeed India’s Ratna- one who has faced all odds in a “man’s world”- and won. EVERY SINGLE TIME.
