Tennis star Somdev Devvarman on police brutality in India, racism and more

Former Indian tennis player Somdev Devvarman spoke out against the growing police brutality in India, also underlining the prevalent issue of racism and casteism in the country.

Devvarman expressed his sentiment against police violence in June through his Twitter to manage the lack of responsibility for these acts.

In a video interview with The Indian Express, the former Indian tennis player further reiterated the need for Indians to oppose brutality.

“Police brutality in India is out of range. It’s awful. It is simply an improper use of power. We read how villages came out and burned, people crushed, detainees and how some died in stations. Right now, a case is happening in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. The other day, there was another case of a auto-rickshaw driver tortured by police in Tamil Nadu. And the worst part is that none of this is shocking to us. Why is it okay? “He said.

The death of George Floyd, an American black man victim of police brutality in the country, sparked widespread protests in the United States and around the world with the Black Lives Matter movement gaining momentum.

Devvarman felt that while it was important to talk about the injustice that was happening in the United States, it is important not to turn a blind eye to similar cases in our backyards.

“Of course, Black Lives Matter; without a doubt, what’s going on in America is absolutely wrong. But we have been silent on the cases of police brutality in India and on other issues such as casteism and racism in our country, “he said.

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Recalling his childhood, Devvarman revealed that he had to face a lot of racism because he came from the northeast. The 35-year-old, born into a Tripura family in Guwahati, moved to Chennai at the age of eight.

“I come from the Northeast and moved to Chennai when I was eight years old. By default, I was one of the best, “said Devvarman.

“In the beginning, I was called a guardian. My nickname was “Bahadur”, people said that for a lifetime. I felt a little bad. As an Indian, you cannot tell me that we are not aware of the color. I grew up in southern India and the dark kids there weren’t necessarily discriminated against but made fun of them, “he added.

“Look at the caste system. I had friends I grew up with who wouldn’t eat at the same table because they were brahmins. People wouldn’t have eaten on the same table because someone was Muslim, “he continued.

Devvarman felt that Tamil Nadu had embraced him after he moved there and had not discriminated against him during his career, but he remembered an accident when the Tamil Nadu government denied him the prizes after winning a medal in the Asian Games because he didn’t it belonged to the state.

Indian athletes generally remain silent when it comes to speaking against the authorities. Devvarman believed that athletes in India are still a small minority which makes them vulnerable to a backlash.

“It is a combination of fear and hope. If people are afraid to speak out against a certain government, then they are afraid. Whatever government was in power, the athletes were not speaking openly, “he said.

“And the truth is, whatever you say, India is far from a sporting nation until we become a true sporting nation where at least 500 or thousands of people are making money simply by playing sports and not through government jobs . I don’t think there are enough professional athletes in India. That’s the problem, “he added.

Devvarman had a good career winning gold medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2010. He also reached the Chennai Open final in 2009. However, at 32, injuries forced Devvarman to announce his retirement from sports.

Clock Somdev Devvarman’s full interview a The Indian Express here: