Play Like a Girl, Woman!

http://feministsindia.com/play-like-a-girl-woman/

August 29, 2012 Debates

The International Olympic Committee policy on female athletes with hyperandrogenism could result in a witch-hunt forcing an athlete to undergo invasive medical investigation based mostly on her appearance

By Payoshni Mitra

In his column named Serve and Volley in The Telegraph, Naresh Kumar, former Indian tennis player wrote on January 14, 2006:

“The saddest part about women’s tennis is the destruction of femininity. Most of the top notchers are six feet and over in height, and with the shoulders of a lumberjack and muscular bodies, they have an intimidating presence. Nature is distorted and pushed beyond limits by exercise regimes and diet supplements. Where, in nature, will you find bulging biceps coupled with ample breasts?”

These few lines sum up how most of the Indian sporting ‘fraternity’ looks at women’s sports. It is an aberration to have muscular bodies if you are a woman: six feet tall girls are intimidating and therefore, unacceptable; bulging biceps next to ample breasts are unnatural. With such a mindset, when our sport administrators come across athletes with intersex conditions, they not only struggle to tackle their issues but treat these athletes as anomalies, outcast them and then pretend they never existed.

We noticed this attitude when Santhi Soundarajan came back after the Doha Asian Games in 2006. In my documentary Y cant I run? Santhi talks about how she was suddenly looked at as ‘a cheater’. Footballer Bandana Pal was abandoned, not only by the concerned sport administrators but also disowned by her own family when the controversy about her sex was reported in Bengali newspapers about a decade back.

When Pinki Pramanik was arrested by the police in June this year, sport federations, officials, coaches and doctors were reluctant to comment initially. However, there was a noticeable shift in the way a section of the media (including vernacular press and TV channels) reported the cases – changing public perception and forcing sport governing body members and other concerned people to speak out and offer support to these athletes.

This was possible when some of us openly spoke in favour of Pinki Pramanik and Santhi Soundarajan and turned the focus on the ill-treatment of people considered different. However, the damage made was enormous. The utter failure of the state machinery, the audacity of the police in the way they violated Pinki’s rights again and again, the failure of the judiciary in comprehending the case, and the inefficiency and lack of knowledge about intersex conditions among medical practitioners were indicative of the lack of sensitivity and inadequacy within our society.

Pinki Pramanik’s case points to the fact that we still need to do a lot to be able to combat this maltreatment of athletes and non-athletes born different. When the debate about Pinki Pramanik’s ‘sex’ was getting unparalleled media attention in India, I was often asked about the so-called policy of ‘gender-verification’ in international sport.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had banned routine sex-testing for more than a decade. However, female athletes did not escape scrutiny so easily. Competing nations, participants and even medical officials at international and other tournaments continued to raise questions and force female athletes to go through sex-determining medical test.

Santhi Soundarajan and Caster Semenya are victims of such scrutiny. Even though, not much action was taken after Santhi Soundarajan’s medal was taken away, the IAAF was internationally criticised for the mismanagement of Caster Semenya’s case.  This forced the IAAF to rethink their policy on female athletes with hyperandrogenism. Eventually, before the London 2012 Olympics, both IAAF and IOC published new policies on female athletes with hyperandrogenism.

The current policies proclaim that atypically high levels of endogenous testosterone in women create an unfair advantage and therefore needs to be regulated. What is interesting is – on what basis would they conduct a test on hyperandrogenism? If it is not the athlete herself, or her national federation, who approach the IAAF Medical Manager for investigation, the Medical Manager’s reasonable grounds for belief in a case may be derived from any reliable source including a Doping Control Officer or information received by the IAAF Medical Delegate or other responsible medical official at a competition.

Such information is most likely to be dependent on an athlete’s appearance or performance. IAAF’s publication on regulations governing eligibility of females with hyperandrogenism to compete in women’s competition clearly states that:

“The difference in athletic performance between males and females is known to be predominantly due to higher levels of androgenic hormones in males resulting in increased strength and muscle development.

It is also known from experience that there are rare cases of young females competing in Athletics today who are affected by hyperandrogenism which, if the condition remains undiagnosed or neglected, can pose a risk to health. Despite the rarity of such cases, their emergence from time to time at the highest level of women’s competition in Athletics has proved to be controversial since the individuals concerned display masculine traits and have an uncommon athletic capacity in relation to their fellow female competitors.”

This above section should ring an alarm. It is clear that female athletes with powerful physiques will be subjected to unprecedented scrutiny as a result of such policies. The detailed list of medical guidelines, mentioned in the IAAF regulations, only reinstates stereotypes about how a woman should look. This is particularly disturbing because elite female athletes are fitter, muscular and more powerful than most female non-athletes and therefore, such policies will force female athletes to try and conform to a stereotype in order to avoid severe scrutiny and humiliation (as have been noticed in Semenya’s case).

Also, the IAAF policy makes an assumption that those who display what they term as ‘masculine traits’ will have an uncommon athletic capacity in relation to their fellow female competitors. If this was true, Santhi Soundarajan would have won the gold in Doha Asian Games beating Maryam Yusuf Jamal by a margin and Caster Semenya would have held the world record for women’s 800m by now. This makes it clear that these policy-makers are making an assumption on the basis of appearance of these athletes. Besides, the over-emphasis on hyperandrogenism and considering one’s naturally produced androgen as giving one an unfair advantage are debatable too.

Why are they so obsessed with this notion of ‘unfair advantage’ in women’s sports?

The sport governing bodies like the IOC and the IAAF are made of people (mainly men) who are no superior in intellect, sensibility or sensitivity, to our own Mr. Naresh Kumar quoted in the very beginning of this article. They are mostly absolutely incompetent men trying their best to make sure that the gap between the physical potential of men and women are never bridged. Their most recent attempt at achieving this is through their policy on female athletes with hyperandrogenism.

What concerns one the most, is the way the Indian sport administrators look at these IOC/IAAF policies as supreme and indisputable. Given that the IOC policy clearly bestows the duty to the national governing bodies to make sure that athletes with hyperandrogenism are treated and taken care of before they are sent to represent their respective countries in international tournaments, female athletes in India are likely to go through inspection as never before at a national level too.

There is also a common tendency to uncritically follow recommendations made by medical scientists. Scientists have critiqued medical science’s bias on women over the years. Research on intersex conditions is still insufficient. There is no adequate scientific evidence to support the notion that endogenous testosterone levels confer athletic advantage in any certain way.

Internationally, Professor Rebecca Jordan-Young, a socio-medical scientist from Barnard College and Dr. Katrina Karkazis, an anthropologist and bioethicist from Stanford University are campaigning against this policy and are demanding that it should be withdrawn. We in India must work towards protecting the rights of female athletes who are at the risk of undergoing increased scrutiny, exploitation and forceful medical treatment that may include hormone therapy and in some cases gonadectomy.

Featured Photo Courtesy: Mirror UK

Payoshni Mitra is an independent sports research consultant living in UK. As an activist-cum-researcher, Payoshni is closely working with some intersex athletes in India in their fight for justice.

Last journey of the people's Hero

Jhilam RoyChowdhury
10/11/11

I was walking though a busy street in Guwahati looking for a particular shop, when I overheard a by passer, talking in his cell phone. Two words out of the Assamese conversation attracted my attention, ‘Bhupen da expired’. Bhupen Hazarika is the undisputed torchbearer of Assamese culture and the very identity of its people. He has been entertaining and enlightening the people of eastern India with his poetry and music for over 50 years.

Bhupen Hazarika was born in 1926 in Sadiya, Assam. He was academically brilliant and went on to do his Masters in Political Science from Banaras University in the year before India’s independence. He then pursued his PhD in Mass Communication from Columbia University, USA. Later on he received prestigious Lisle fellowship from Chicago University. He has also been blessed to his music with legend like Paul Robson.

Apart from being academically brilliant this child prodigy started his career as a child actor in the very second talkie of India and wrote and composed his very first song at the age of 10. In his long career in cinema and documentary he not only placed Assamese cinema in world map but also propagated better cinema movement in India for more than 40 years.

Bhupen Hazarika was a lyricist and composer in his own right. I grew up listening to his songs in the record player my mother proudly possessed. Even today his song instantly takes me away to my childhood memories. At that tender age I perceived the words as description of a beautiful land of river, water, rainfall and people. Never knowing at that age what Assam is and how it looks like, I imagined a beautiful landscape with greenery and moisture-full air and overflowing rivers. Surprisingly, when I actually get to see this land after 30 years, I find it exactly the way I imagined it years back in my tender mind. Such is the power of his lyrics and music. It took many more years for me to actually internalise the meaning of his words, his endless optimism to awaken humane values, search for his destiny, appeal for humanity and equality, his thirst for world culture and travel. But all the while, he deeply remained true to his land, culture and people.

He remained truly a people’s voice through his works in cinema, literature and music. He is recipient of many awards but all recognition fell short when it comes to acknowledge his contribution as a true intellectual to Indian society in last 5 decades. So, it comes as no surprise that innumerable fans and followers flocked in the Judges Field in Guwahati on 7th and 8th of November to pay their homage to their last living hero. But even then what I experienced in Guwahati those two days is completely unprecedented and overwhelming. His body was supposed to reach his home at 2 o’clock from airport but all through the road so many followers wanted to pay their homage that the cart could not move and they only could reach at 11.30 at night completely shuffling state governments further plans. In fact, the cremation ceremony had to be postponed by another 24 hours to let everybody be able to pay their homage to Bhupen Hazarika.

I saw long queue at the Judges Field on the night of 6th when his body didn’t even arrive. Visitors flowed in throughout the night, next day and next whole night. The state government had to notify 12 hours prior to the public before closing of public viewing. Such is the respect and love he commanded from his own people. I could not really fathom why a 19 year old boy or girl or a mother with 2 month old baby in lap or a 85 year-old feeble lady would not mind to stand in a queue as long as 6 and 6 and ½ hours to pay homage to a man who died at the age of 86 after long ailment. I am truly taken over by the passion of people and the love for their Hero. It is right that we Indian’s are fond of hero worship and is always willing to look up to a hero who we can follow and respect. What I witnessed is epitome of hero worship witnessed in recent past in the country. Mostly in white wear, with flowers, garlands, white pigeon and Assamese Gamcha in their hands and tears in their eyes, the crowd moved very systematically and slowly towards the large tent build in the middle of the field even at wary hours. Their faces were sad and thoughtful but never showed any tiredness. They came here with very high spirit with a vigour to not to let their hero down and continue to follow his path and take his movement forward. For three days we only got to hear his voice, his songs when walking in the street, while turning on the television and radio.

The state government called for a 3-day state mourning where all offices, schools, colleges remained closed, exams were postponed. I found not a single shop was opened including pharmacies on my way to airport on 8th. Not a single soul remain their, who did not remember this man on those mourning days. While sitting in the airport to catch a evening flight back to Kolkata, we found that the local channel are condemning the few offices who chose to work on those days saying that they deprived their employees from their right to pay homage to the state’s all time hero. It has been decided that his ashes will be taken to all district and dissolved in various rivers.

His songs which I memorise from childhood ‘Bistirno du pare, ashonkkho manusher’, ‘Dola, he dola he dola’, ‘Shagor sangame’, ‘Ganga amar ma’, ‘Manush manusher jonne’ are still echoing in my head. I believe, his works have been able to transcend time. These would always be remain relevant and will be the medium of transmitting values, culture, and patriotism to coming generations.

DESTINY

Ethical discussion dis-linked to environment is hardly appealing. Ethical thinking, even in early days, writers in books has its base in nature which includes not only mankind but all. Plants, river, mountain, animals, birds…… are the limbs of mother earth, where as the sun, moon, stars…..are celestial bodies. These are the associates of those who live on earth. Change in nature is universal law, but the present rate of devastation of creation heading towards darkness is nothing but display of whim and competition and is something a march towards development, redevelopment, modernization and re-modernization.

Slow and steady wins the race is not much pertinent today. Long jumping, high flying, crossing nay barrier breaking the norms of brotherhood, affinity, courtesy, politeness…. has become the need of the hour. All birds do not fly high and long. Some are herbivores some are omnivores. All birds do not have sweet voice. All varieties of mangoes do not have the same taste; likewise all human beings do not posses equal potentiality or the same vision. If we think anything contrary to the nature of species is a vista to achieve perfection and isolation if it is not lay men’s gossip.

Let us overview the past. History of love affairs of Cleopatra the Egyptian queen and Mark Antony is well known within the discussion of academician. The queen had a liaison with the mighty Julius Caesar that solidified her grip on the throne. After Brutush stabbed Julus Caesar to death, she aligned with lover Antony. Brutush had a charge in reply to Caesar giving justification of his betrayal that Caesar had become ambitious. Legendary tale unfolds that after Antony and Cleopatra were defeated at Actium by their rival, the proud queen committed suicide. Thus fall of pride lead to set the example of frustration.

Let us revert to centre from circumference and to say that civilization is not to remain static. It is said that it transforms in cyclic order in different forms keeping in touch with the regime singing the songs of glory and despair.

People have faith in customs, tradition, rituals, pilgrimage so they exist. East is east so that the west is west. The sun rises in East and sets in West carry deep meaning.

Gurudeo Rabindra nath Tagore the great thinker, poet…..flourished in 20th Century traveled many places in the world on different seasons and expressed his thinking in praise of beauty in nature in Sangit called Rabindra Sangit.

It is not the fact that river water has been polluted? Lifestyle has been changed or compelled to change in globalization age. System is completely hotch- potch.

Smiling face even in adverse circumstances, carrying the cloud of stress and strain seeing the beautiful wings of peacock, relishing sweet voice of Cuckoo going ahead like banjara forgetting any chance to stumble so long we reach the destination is life and the way of life to survive.

Ceaseless efforts to achieve a goal and to reach a pole is no doubt the story of successful man and woman the noble creation of god but when the fate turns ugly face and puts one in the grip of hurricane left them in the State of helplessness mires all hopes and aspiration that bears the curse of destiny. Hence it is to conclude that destiny plays an important part in life. We are toys in the hands of destiny.
(Written by my father- Shambhu Kumar Ghosh)

LIFE IN PAST- PRESENT AND FUTURE

Stories of civilization of human beings travel in past, present and future, likewise the flow of water from the sea to river and vice verse. Story of the past is the story of success and failure, victory and defeat, prosperity and anarchy, pain and pleasure, friendship and betrayal, good will and ill will…….Past memory being carried forward to the present. Every moment of the present takes places in the past. It takes lead from the former- hardly break between former and latter. Review the past and look the sweet and sour tastes. Utopia is engraved in the stone. Thinkers saying time is changing fast. Social scientists say such changes in society had never seen before.

Forget duty. Hound right. Apply tricks and get success. Imbalance in duty and right like wise imbalance in eco system had never been seen before. Apply GDP formula, get the desired results and be prosperous. Globalisation has been re- shaped. None is aligning. Brain drain was yesterday’s talk, Current research, new technology, entrepreneurship the present concept. Shift from natural food to refined and synthetic culture is the talk of the day. Repeat- repeat secular (read it camouflage). Always remember “Piped piper of Hamlin”, “cat and mouse game”, “Hide and Seek Game”, Cock and bull story”, “Cock and sand witch”, “Pandora’s box…, cold war, proxy war, terrorists, militants, “Hollywood, Bollywood, world cricket”, “Uncle Sam” are not simpler for all to understand.

How is time changing?
Earlier there was a diplomacy and war. Today, besides these there are international lawyer, multinational merchants, cross- border financial, World Bank technology, UN peace keeping force and etc. consider the vocabulary and metaphor of the new age: Srebrenica, Rwanda, DRC, Sierra, Child Soldiers, ethnic cleansing, blood diamond. 9/11, regime change, Islamophobia, HIV/ AIDS, SARs, HINI, global warming, climate Change, micro soft, Google, iPod, blackberry, Face work, Twitter, metro-sexual, hateropolitan, localifarian the list is endless.

Multiple modes of communication is transparent rather than confidential and its consummation takes the form of increased flow of tourists, students, Labour, Credit, investments, technology, goods and services. The agenda- setting capacity of NGOs, amnesty International, human rights watch, and International Red Cross society is far greater than that of many Govt. protocols.

Past is past, present can’t forget the past. It’s time to review the past. Advancement in the ethical thinking- advancement in culture and nature of human being in the past has become mere open talk in the present leisure hour. Every civilization is supposed to pass through fine and rough weather. Memory of the past goes to future through present.

Is there any demarcation in the past and the present Vis- a- Vis present and the future, pre industrial era or the post industrial era?
(Written by my father- Shambhu Kumar Ghosh)

Devolution – devolution is continuous and on going process.

Time was changing in the past. Today it is changing very fast. Now think of the future. Europe’s erstwhile Allied powers observe victory day after the Axis power surrendered unconditionally. It is also to remind that prior to that there was slave system which the history has not at all forgotten. It is not the changing civilization of the mankind? To let others say speak the truth is easy but painful when it reacts. There is no dearth of such films which do not highlight the defective system in the authority or in the society but it is hard not to crack to criticize to them who are flying very high. Those were the days of prophecy of soothsayer taken into cognizance and taken as an aid in pursuing human activities. Today there is research/ scientific wings who can easily set aside earlier findings and all may escape the danger of rising temperature on earth Vis- a Vis the danger of rising sea level. It is not free technology. Certainly it bears cost.
Not all but some one say that hypothetical discussion is isolated in the materialistic world; nevertheless to say that hypothetical talks do not more in vacuum. It is not the statement of loss and gain, possession and dispossession but to remember how far we are grateful or otherwise to the past. Advancement was the talk of yesterday. Development is today’s open talk. Pass it on to the next generation.

Remember the life of Raja Harish Chandra, oral myth of Raja Bali, and Vishnu disguised as dwarf is still narrated in Indian shrine, imagine the suffering of Guatam Budha. Horrible seen of war in Kalinga changed the heart of Pridarshyani Raja Ashok. History speaks king Shikander invaded India and defeated Poroush and took back turn to Greek. Md. Gazani plundered Somnath temple. Warriors of Arabian lands invaded India and ultimately made here their homeland. People affirmed faith in co-existence and subsequently strengthened by the successive rulers. Britishers carrying the grace of Queen Victoria established British Empire here defeating the long established Mughal Empire. It was the constant struggle of leaders as well as the martyrs in Gandhian age that we achieved independence. Nation is struggling hard to protect its integrity and sovereignty. There was news that the pearl carpet of Maharaja Khandeo Rao of Baroda crafted in 1865, auctioned in International market in Doha, fetched $5.5 million. Invasion is not yet over. All eyes are here on golden egg. Sniffers have already taken their position in every direction. Fiction becomes real. After all it is the age of science and technology. Wait and watch.

Cuckoo in its sweet voice expresses not only its existence but also welcome call of monsoon. Summer is at peak, waiting to watch the hide and seek of black clouds in the sky is the hope of rain. But how and who will enjoy the rain before the storm has unfolded its strength. Pray god! Lower the strength of cyclone & hurricane as almost all creatures inhabited in universe are habituated of unnatural life. To make it more interesting let us welcome thunder and lightening. This is so called the change of season. Any change ignoring geographical change would be incomplete.

Time to time anti- English idea is floated and watched the public reaction. Elite class reacts sharply because their interest affects. Its reaction might have been taken lightly. Matters settled like a bubble of water, taking it hypothetical issue.
Think of the deletion of PADH (poems) of Kabir from the text done silently- ignoring the ethical thinking and its application is one of the examples of devaluation of literature originated in Indian peninsula and substitution of the foreign tasteless stories in the text is tantamount to discounting the Indian Scholars’ merit. Who can raise the voice? Taking admission in the institution is generally a matter of choice but materials contained in the books and in taking by the students are a matter of compulsion and Hobson’s choice. It is not the act of hypnotism?
Don’t forget the past. It guides us and stimulates in pursuing further progress. Rome was not built in a day. Its foundation is based on the myths of twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, son of priestess and the god of war, who were suckled by a wolf and each, founded a city on the seven hills before Romulus murdered Remus. Scholars of history have reason to state that a similar tangle of myths can be found in Indian memories of the same period. Indian civilization and culture surpassed any in the west. They knew that calendars must include Leap years. Those epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are certainly our guide. Sacred texts such as the Vedas, devolved into many languages are spoken today. Modern India abounds in myth and legends – such as Holika’s attempt to burn a little boy Prahlad, devotee of God.
Arbian Nights which attained its highest pick in decorating theme and language is unforgettable encyclopedia Persian are proud of the fight of Sohrab and Rustum. It is the strength they possessed. Today the man- the superman is confident of the brain to over come even the most difficult task. But even the big powers are unable to have face to face talk with Osama. He is seen in television. He is visible but not audible. None has seen him talking. So long he is nothing but mesmerism.
Since past I am now tired to understand if ignorance is the root cause of confusion and trouble, it is opportune to say fear is the main cause to take on restoring the real issues, with reference to situation in the present scenario. If fear is lighter dose, to discourage the courage apply threat and see its implicacy. Beware of the swine Flu, be alert of any eventuality of the militants or the Maoist. To overcome ones fear is jumping in fire. Statuses of the martyrs are the evidence. US fear that nuclear arsenal falling into the Taliban hand is nullified that it is gimmicks. Remember the search of chemical weapons in Iraq and the pretext of beginning of war for oil.
Incapacitate I beg to die before my death. Reasoning whispered. No, no, no, it is divine gift. Brain is still sub conscious. Remember the parable of Good Samaritan Maoist revolutions are going on. Fire, fire, fire…… Pilgrims are making their own progress. Jihadis are battling to spread their religion.
Cricketers are batting hard to secure good score. Militants are watchful to play their games. Newspapers as well as Televisions are always ready to give current and multiple news. Politicians are busy how to handle the situation. Convoke all. The earth belongs to all. Pied Piper of Hamlin is ready- waiting for call.

(Written by my father- Shambhu Kumar Ghosh)

“Spiders Message”

‘Nothing likes to lament get ready for new Job’
To start with the cock and hen morning call followed by chirping noise of the sparrow and CAW CAW calls of crow remind us the night is over- Good morning! Get ready for work. The postman may deliver the envelop carrying the message which may make you either happy or unhappy. Standing outside looked a web that the spider is already in action to spin the web. Its speedy manner of weaving was such that occurred rare chance of going wrong in the design of the cob web. Really the spider is unparallel designer. It has robed none to gather thread for the web while finishing a final shape of the web to capture insects for its food. It was something the sticky filmy substance of its body. It did not require any one’s support or help while doing its duty. It is no loose talk but the fact that even deer fall prey in its trap that becomes the food of the tiger in jungle, web is torn. Nothing likes to lament. Get ready for new web. Change in design yet unchanged in mind which is my modern design that the spider said. It is spider’s message.

(Written by my father- Shambhu Kumar Ghosh)

Short story of odd and even numbers

God is known by one. Easy to worship one god but difficult to know who is god and where is god. One who knows god is very near and dear to God. Man and birds are known by two leg creatures. Easy to walk and easy to fly by two leg is the habit of man and bird. Man is an enemy of bird that the chicken knows well. Man is cunning that the crow knows well. A women knows her beauty that the peacock knows well.
Three is the name of god (Brahma, Bishnu and Mahesh) that he is satisfied with Belpatra leaves three combined in one.
Four is the name of animals that the ox, dog, horse, elephant, tiger, donkey, monkey, camel know the use of four legs. Monkey is cunning to claim to live in two and four to maintain his position as herbivorous and enjoy laden. To live in two and four is cunningness of mama monkey.
Five counts the numbers of five deavtas to start the call of devtas in Puja. Six is the term of sixer that the cricketers know well. Seven is known as the Sattaa-phera at the time of wedding of bridegroom and groom to bind in a tie of union. Eight is knows as the name of Astabakra or Astapuran. Nine is known by Nawgrah.

(Written by my father-Shanmbhu Kumar Ghosh)