Sania syndrome:Is she a victim of her success

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New Delhi: The forthcoming tennis tournament in Bangalore lost its brightest Indian representative when Asia’s top-tanked tennis player Sania Mirza refused to participate.

Sania had said that whenever she plays in India, there are always controversies. Does this then mean that Sania Mirza is a victim of her own success?

Debating the question were former tennis player and Asian cup gold medallist and Arjuna award-winner Gaurav Natekar; President of the West Bengal Minorities Council, Shahenshah Jehangir; and writer and social activist, Sadia Dehlvi.

Controversy’s beloved

Sania Mirza is not just a talented sportswoman but is also a youth icon now, one capable of taking Indian tennis to the rest of the world. However, Muslim groups have systematically targeted her and have prevented her potential from growing.

Shahanshah Jehangir refuted the claim.

“Nobody has targeted Sania Mirza,” he stated.

“A fatwa was given against her (for) wearing a mini-skirt, but that was overruled by the same maulana who had given the fatwa,” he recounted.

Calling it “unfortunate” that Sania was “ill-advised” by her manager to drop from the Bangalore tournament, Jehangir requested Sania to return to play.

“In fact, we will be very glad if Sania comes back and she continues to play, as she has been playing, for the glory of India,” he stated. “Millions of Indians are waiting to see her.”

Despite what Shahenshah Jehangir said, the Jamaat-e-ulema-e-Hind has declared that Sania’s tennis togs leave nothing to the imagination. As a result of that, fatwas have been issued against her.

Media machinations

Sadia Dehlvi did not think that such issues ought to viewed through “the prism of gender or religion” and added that in this case, it was the media’s responsibility.

“With media getting more and more intrusive, you have such incidents where journalists actually go and seek fatwas. It has happened in Sania’s case, I think,” she said.

The fact remains that such a fatwa was issued but Dehlvi said that that was only because radical maulanas are applied to, adding that she did not think that Sania’s woes were because she is a Muslim.

“She is devoted to her faith, the Muslim community is very proud of her, as India is proud of her,” Dehlvi said and stated that a lot of women face problems, but that one should not get discouraged and withdraw.

“One should not pay attention to such incidents because when you are a celebrity, it’s not about being Muslim or Hindu. Incidents might differ, but it happens with everybody,” Dehlvi explained.

Tennis talks

The tennis community is divided whether or not Sania should have withdrawn from the tournament. Some say she has damaged the game by withdrawing while others say she is justified in taking such a stance.

Gaurav Natekar felt that too much had been made about Sania’s controversies.

“The International Tennis Federation does not allow players to play in track-pants so she has to wear a mini-skirt or shorts,” he explained and added that the flag controversy was pointless. “Her feet were not anywhere close to the flag, it was just the way the angle of the camera was and the shot was taken.”

Natekar felt that Sania’s decision is temporary.

“I think it has been building up and in Australia, she really went through a lot mentally and physically.”

Refusing to say whether it was right or wrong, Natekar urged everyone to respect Sania’s decision and leave her alone.

“It’s only temporary, I am sure she will play in India very soon,” he reiterated.

A fatwa culture?

A question was raised about the seeming “culture of fatwas” with Muslim groups issuing fatwas against authors or against the way people – such as Sania – dress.

Sadia Delhvi pointed out that in the case of Sania, it was not really an issue about Muslims in general, but agreed that certain Muslim groups wanted to get some sort of mileage.

“Yes, there are groups that are seeking publicity through Sania Mirza – and we are seeing this emergence of radical Muslim groups – and it’s a new militant ideology that we are seeing in Islam,” she said.

Delhvi said that such radical elements needed to be identified by Muslims so that their “ideology of intolerance” could be rejected, particularly since Islam in India has been “inclusive and tolerant”.

“There is a fatwa culture, a trend that needs to be condemned,” she said.

Overturning the fatwa culture

Minority groups, such as the West Bengal Minorities Council, were urged to speak out much more against the fatwa culture of fringe groups.

But Shahanshah Jehangir explained that not everyone had the right to issue fatwas.

“The fatwa can only be authorised by the Muslim Personal Law Board,” he explained. “Other than them, I don’t think anybody should issue a fatwa or those fatwas should be taken seriously. You cannot stop people from saying anything,” he said.

Jehangir said agreed that there are maulanas who do issue fatwas but pointed out that it has nothing to do with the Muslim Personal Law Board.

“That fatwa should be ignored,” he said.

Sania’s identity

The question of Sania’s identity was raised – whether she should see herself as a Muslim woman first and foremost and then as a young Indian sportswoman.

Jehangir said that Sania Mirza was very mindful of her duties to her faith and added that her sports attire was for her comfort.

“That does not stop her from being a Muslim or a bad Muslim or a good Muslim,” he pointed out.

“We don’t mind if she wears a shorter skirt, as long as she is concentrating on her game,” Jehangir said.

A star too bright?

Charges have also been levelled against Sania that she sees herself as bigger than the game and her decision to not play in Bangalore is nothing short of a starry tantrum. Many people have also said that as a sportsperson, Sania ought to play the game and not let personal feelings affect her decision.

Gaurav Natekar did not think Sania was letting personal feelings get in the way of her game.

“Last week, she played for India in spite of such a serious injury,” Natekar pointed out.

Agreeing that Sania is a big star, Natekar absolved her of the charge of throwing tantrums.

“I can’t recall even one incident where she has ever shirked her duty of doing social messages, of playing for the country, of making appearances where it matters,” he said

Drawing attention to Sania’s youth, to the fact that she is just 21, Natekar said it is not right or fair to expect her to consider all these issues, “when she has very, very important matches to play.”

“Sometimes things are blown out of proportion by people who are just looking to get a quick sound-byte with the media,” he declared.

Is Sania Mirza a victim of her own success?

YES: 67 per cent

NO: 33 per cent

CNN-IBN EDITORIAL: Sania Mirza is, perhaps, the best Indian woman tennis player this country has so far produced. That our number one player has to bow out of a tennis tournament in our own country is a shocking indictment of our attitudes to successful young women. Excellence is difficult to find and it is tragic that when it appears, religious vested interests try to destroy it.

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