"Olympics - Contrast this with Indian achievements in science and mathematics. Could it be that most physical acitivity is not well regarded ? "
Good question. (Sorry about the delay in responding; off on my first ski trip of the year.(g))
The answer has to be yes, that just like pre-1947 China where scholar-officials ("shih") had social primacy, physical activity literally stigmatized an individual as lower class. In China, "gentlemen" grew long fingernails and wore their sleeves long, so as to demonstrate to the world their social status.
If athletics were valued, a nation of at least 1.1 billion would necessarily win more than 2 Olympic medals.
In my opinion, I think there is more to it though. On the one hand (and you addessed his when you asked if India were really a "nation"), the very number of languages, dialects, ethnic groups etc., the absence of any commonality, would militates against a unified Olympic effort. On the other hand, there is an element of resignation: if the most significant fact in an individual's life is the station he was born into (e.g., level 28 of the Brahman caste), why bother with anything as ephemeral as athletics?
You are correct that Indians are passionate about cricket; it is the only sport highlighted in Indian newspapers and the only one I ever saw children playing. It could be that because of their colonial past they associate it with what British "gentlemen" do.
Bruce |
