Mohammed Shami: Ousted by Identity
The merit of a Dalit and the nationality of a Muslim are often judged, as the colloquial saying goes. The recent celebration of Mohammed Shami’s feat in the ICC World Cup reminds us of the days when this player was bullied after a match in which India lost the game. The instances of bullying were not based on the player’s performance but on his religious identity. This Indian bowler faced massive online abuse after the Indian cricket team was defeated by Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. He became the prime target after the defeat, with numerous messages circulating on various social media platforms branding him a “traitor.” Some messages accused him of selling himself to Pakistan, while others targeted his religious affiliation. It takes immense effort for a person to be part of the team and prove their worth. The reactions of the nation to an individual’s victory or defeat highlight the harsh social reality on the ground.
Vandana Katariya and the question of merit
A similar incident occurred after the defeat of the Indian women’s hockey team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Vandana Katariya, a Dalit hockey player, was trolled on social media. Some instances were reported on various media platforms that individuals had used crackers to create disturbances near her house in Haridwar. They went on to claim that the Indian women’s hockey team lost the match because it had many Dalit players. Here, they rallied behind the idea of questioning Dalit merit. This Dalit female player became the first Indian to achieve a hat trick in the Olympics, but even this remarkable feat could not prove her merit. She not only faced trolling but also had her home targeted.
Dilemma of acceptance: Indian, Muslim or Dalit
On one hand, certain individuals are celebrated, while on the other hand, certain sportspeople are bullied and abused because of their identity. This context becomes even more crucial when political outfits get involved. This exactly happened with Mohammed Shami when the Indian cricket team lost the match against Pakistan and with Vandana Katariya when the Indian women’s hockey team lost the semifinal in the Tokyo Olympics against Argentina. Numerous individuals rallied behind both players during those incidents, including Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal. However, the lingering question persists: why does losing label them as Dalit or Muslim, while winning designates them as Indian?
