Just before the Indian hockey team departed for the World Cup in Belgium, we were presented the team in new saffron jerseys. Slowly and creepily, the traditional blue jersey India wore was thrown aside and replaced with a distinctly nationalistic saffron jersey. What made matters worse was that the president of the hockey federation, Dileep Tirkey, who had played with distinction for India as a defender, was himself unaware of this change in national colours. Clearly, it was a colour coup.

An outraged Tirkey has asked for an explanation, but it is very clear that the president of the hockey federation and Orissa state, which sponsors the team, were kept out of this backroom manoeuvre to saffronise the team. It is in keeping with a continuing effort to present India in saffron, this being the dominant colour used by Hindu nationalistic organisations and even the ruling BJP and thus a religious symbol.

Sport And Nationalism

The attempt to saffronise, and even militarise, sport in India has been on for the past decade. Various attempts were made to change the colour of the cricket team jersey as well, but it has not succeeded because, like in all sports, national colours are registered in all sports.

To link sport with a muscular nationalism and militarism in line with right-wing notions is not confined to India alone. This has been attempted in Europe and the Americas as well.

In an academic study of this phenomenon in New Zealand, for example, Damion........

© Free Press Journal