Mr Kapil Dev, Your ‘Lack Of Understanding’ Doesn’t Give You A Right To Be Publicly Insensitive!

Who doesn’t know Kapil Dev? The legend who held the 1983 World Cup and gave us Indians, our maiden World Cup victory. He is an icon and a role model to so many people. He has given wonderful moments to remember and cherish to his fans and players of the game.

Like so many of his fans, I have placed him on a high pedestal for so long that I forgot to separate his larger-than-life personality from him, the individual.

His latest interview that has gone viral is one such lesson that reminded me that our heroes are flawed human beings too, and we should not worship them to the point of being blind to their fallacies.

He doesn’t understand doesn’t mean they don’t exist here!

He couldn’t be further from the truth when he said, “These are American words–pressure, depression. I don’t understand all this. I am a farmer who enjoyed playing. If you enjoy, how can there be pressure?

When did “pressure” or “depression” become American terms? Last I checked, these terms were universal and anyone from across the world could be afflicted by them. I am certain Americans don’t hold a monopoly over them! And certainly, Kapil Dev’s lack of understanding of these conditions does not make these terms “American.”

According to him, if a player is passionate, he shouldn’t feel pressurised. How is that a fair statement? Are passion and enjoyment enough to keep the pressure at bay?

I am passionate about my craft, work, and family; does it make me immune to pressure? NO!

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A callous mockery of the young generation!

If this poor jab at the players wasn’t enough, he had the audacity to mock today’s generation of students for being “fortunate.” He narrated an instance of a recent visit to a school where grade 10 and 12 students mentioned being under pressure.

This is a verbatim translation of his Hindi words – “You are studying in AC schools, your parents pay the fees, teachers cannot indulge in corporal punishment, and you are under pressure!”

I was appalled at his statement and the response it garnered. The sheer enjoyment of his co-speaker, Saina Nehwal, the host, and the audience and the applause filled me with rage. None of them bothered to correct the speaker and rather went on a giggling spree.

Isn’t this a callous mockery of our kids’ struggles? I am a mother of two teens, and I know from personal experience, pressure, and depression aren’t alien words. These are very much a part of our lives.

Do NOT minimise the very valid struggles kids face!

Just because a child studies in an AC classroom or has parents who can afford to pay the school fees does not alleviate their suffering. Every school-going child, and especially a teenager, is under tremendous pressure. Their struggles are way too different from what their parents or grandparents faced.

Just because our kids are not wading through rivers to reach school or have electricity or aren’t getting thrashed by teachers does not mean they are free from pressure. It’s just that they are facing a different kind of struggle.

The struggle to score marks, get admission to the best of universities, fit in, yet stand out, and not succumb to peer pressure is very much real. Anxiety, depression, fear of failure are the demons they battle every day.

Our emotional, psychological and social well-being is affected by many factors. Leading a comfortable life doesn’t make one immune to negative emotions or struggles.

Mental health is a sensitive topic. It takes a lot of courage to talk about it. And attitudes like these are certainly not helping create a conducive environment to talk about mental health openly. Mocking such serious issues should not be encouraged at all.

I am unsure why Mr. Kapil Dev is so far from understanding today’s kids’ realities, but such contempt is certainly not conducive to creating a positive environment. This kind of crass mockery would discourage many from seeking help.

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