Speaking to TOI at her home in Balali, Geeta Phogat, winner of gold medal at Delhi CWG, who also qualified for Olympics in 2012, said that politicians only like to pose for pictures with sportspersons, although she added that she is hopeful that PM Modi will be different.
"There is so much discrimination towards women in Haryana. In spite of being a CWG champion and being given the rank of inspector, I am told that there are no posts vacant in police. My sister Babita has still not been given an Arjuna award in spite of overcoming immense obstacles to reach where we are today."
Their father Mahaveer Phogat said that politicians do not want to change the patriarchal nature of Haryanvi society as they only want to pander to traditional values to win votes. "There was a lot of resistance to me from my village when I encouraged my daughters to take up wrestling. Even today, politicians do not want to challenge the entrenched attitudes of people here. They do not really want to campaign for change. Even woman politicians vow to uphold the maan maryada and reeti riwaz of the village. They don't want to question attitudes. "
Babita and Geeta said that sports has become one of the main ways in which women can escape the restrictions placed on women in Haryana, the state with the lowest sex ratio in India where khap panchayats are known to target young women if they show any signs of independence.
"I wear jeans and shorts. I travelled on my own to Mumbai for my knee surgery. I can go to Delhi when I want. Being a sportsperson helps me get away from the bhed bhav of Haryana," Geeta said. Sports has given her confidence and self-respect and enabled her to speak her mind. "Young girls in Haryana should speak their mind and not be afraid to challenge the system. Unhe awaaz uthani chahiye. Women sportspersons like Krishna Poonia and Seema Antil are role models for Haryanvi women."
While politics remains largely the preserve of women from powerful families in Haryana, sports is proving to be a road to liberation for many women. "Many more women should come into politics," said Geeta. "Parties should allow more women to contest. Women from humble backgrounds don't get opportunities in politics."
Haryana is seeing a record 109 women candidates this time, the highest ever for a Haryana election. Prominent faces though are from well-entrenched political families and are VIP wives and mothers. Kiran Chaudhary, daughter-in-law of former CM Bansi Lal is contesting from Tosham, Savitri Jindal, mother of former Congress MP Navin Jindal is contesting from Hisar, Renuka Bishnoi, wife of Kuldeep Bishnoi, chief of Haryana Janhit Congress, is contesting from Hansi.
Is it a good thing that there are so many women candidates in these elections? "Women politicians are good but there is still a lot of social change that needs to take place in Haryana," said Babita. "If it wasn't for our father, we would never have come this far. There are so many girls in villages, who are as talented as we are, if not more. But their parents will not let them come into wrestling. Women politicians can't change that."
At Captain Jora Singh's akhada in Jhajjar, the mood is decidedly anti-politician. "Haryana is known for its tradition of kushti and its pehalwans," said Captain Jora Singh, a retired Army man, who runs the akhada. "Politicians come to us only for photos after we have won medals. There is no system to provide us with facilities such as mats or dummies, there is no system to find wrestling talent from villages. Girls like Geeta and Babita are reliant on family support and girls often don't get that," he said.
Babita and Geeta say they are in no hurry to get married. They want to win medals, maybe one day even an Olympic medal and set up their own sports academies. While the sportswomen march ahead, the state's feudal dynastic politicians can only hope to play catch-up.
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