TOPIC: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
1)There are systemic issues that act as barriers against entry of minorities like Dalits and Muslims in Indian cricket. Analyse. (250 words)
Why this question
Indian cricket is poorly represented by the Dalits and other minorities like Muslims. The question is more of a sociological question rather than highlighting a expedient action required. The issue is related to GS 1 syllabus under the following heading-
Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to bring out the reasons behind poor representation of minorities in Indian Cricket. We have to look into all the aspects of the issue.
Directive word
Analyse- we have to look deep into the issue and identify the key aspects of the which need to be addressed- systemic issues that act as barriers against entry of minorities in cricket. We also have to see if there are any other related aspects also.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– mention the low number of cricketers from India’s minority communities especially Dalits, Muslims and also Sikhs.
Body-
Discuss in points the systemic issues behind this.
The princes and the British had multiple motives to encourage diversity. This included the belief that cricket would “civilise the natives” and that it could be a unifying factor. But corporate patronage ended this diversity and laid stress on player’s qualifications (e.g TATAs),
non-sweaty, non-contact and slow nature of the sport which is better suited to Brahminical tastes,
relegation of dalits and muslims to bowling only,
hockey among SIkhs was more popular, cricket is not as developed in Kashmir and Noth-east- where most of non-Hindu population lives etc.
Conclusion– mention the inadequacy of data regarding representation of minorities in Cricket and other associated factors which affect representation like regional and urban development of Cricket,
