Sakshi Malik proves to male-dominated India why women matter

In male-dominated India, daughters are aborted, abandoned, buried alive and poisoned on a daily basis. Female infanticide is very common in our country even in the 21st century especially in states like Haryana, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. 

 

Why does India still continue to treat women as an inferior sex?

 

Well, there obviously isn’t a rational reason behind the discrimination and cruelty but  bizarre, baseless excuses like "they won't carry the family's name, “they will need an expensive dowry”, “they will have to  move to their in-laws and will not be able to provide for their aging parents” or the most common “they are of no financial help."

 

But on August 18, 2016, a 23-year-old woman from an extremely conservative small town in Rohtak not only won India’s first medal at Rio but won in an event generally perceived as a man’s sport, breaking the age-old beliefs of her society. 

 

Sakshi Malik became the first Indian woman wrestler to wear an Olympic medal after she clinched a bronze in the Women's Wrestling 58kg in the early hours of Thursday. She is only the fourth Indian woman to have an Olympic medal to her credit, after Karnam Malleswari (weightlifting), Saina Nehwal (badminton) and Mary Kom (boxing).

 

 

Sakshi’s victory holds massive significance and not just in her life but for Rohtak as well; a city where women fall prey to sexism with many incidents of honour killings and sex-selective abortions.

 

Her village being one of the most male-dominated areas in Rohtak a 12-year-old Sakshi had to begin her training with boys. 

 

Shocked by her presence in a male camp and sport, the locals constantly warned Sakshi's parents that her wrestling career would put an end to their dream of finding her a good potential husband. 

 

The Haryana government has announced a reward of ₹ 2.5 crore and a government job for the grappler.

 

Will these same locals still not consider getting their sons married to an internationally acclaimed and newly-appointed government employee Sakshi?

 

When the entire nation was frustrated and disappointed with no medal after two weeks of ‘so near, yet so far’ moments at the Rio Olympics 2016, it was this woman who brought us the first ray of sunshine at Rio.

 

And with this win, Sakshi has taught a chauvinistic India the importance of giving women equal opportunity as men do.  

 

Give us woman a chance India!

 

Haryana, infamous for being one of India's most conservative states - forcing the girls to just be homemakers - has suddenly changed its perception about women and is now in complete support of its women athletes and you can thank Sakshi for this radical change of heart. 

 

This move has opened doors for numerous aspiring sportswomen across small towns. All they need now is their parents' support, good facilities for training and more importantly, self-belief and determination to make their dreams come true. 

 

India may soon add a second medal to its kitty soon from yet another woman, PV Sindhu, India's latest badminton sensation, provided she wins her semi-final on Thursday evening.

 

Indira Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla, Pratibha Patil, Priyanka Chopra, Saina Nehwal, Mithali Raj and now Sakshi Malik, have fought against all odds to earn the respect of a male-dominated country. 

 

Now it is our turn to take inspiration, walk in their footsteps and do something special in life!