NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

INTERACTIVE ELECTION MAPS

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Subscribe
Follow us Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
For latest updates on nCOVID-19 around the world visit our INTERACTIVE COVID MAP
Protests & Movements
sports
India

Hum Khelenge: Football Becomes a Medium of Protest Against CAA-NRC and State Brutality

The game must go on. And so must the protests, if only to protect the idea of the country itself. In Kerala the movement took to the pitch when the Maharaja’s Ground was the stage for a day of football against fascism.
Leo Xavier
15 Jan 2020
Dribbling past Fascist defenders at football against Fascism event in Kochi.

A young girl dribbles past “fascist” defenders, dummies dressed in khaki shorts and white shirts, during the Hum Khelenge: Football Protest Against Fascism evening at Maharajas College Ground in Kochi, Kerala (Pic: Leo Xavier).

The symbolism was obvious. Boys and girls, men and women, young and old, took turns to dribble past “fascist” defenders, dummies dressed in khaki shorts and white shirts. It was a celebration of the peoples’ spirit as well as a display of a solidarity; a sort of demonstration of a united citizens front against the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 and the National Register of Citizens that comes with it. 

Football was the driving force at the Maharaja’s Ground on January 13, 2020. The protestors―footballers from five-years-old to octogenarians― unequivocally voiced their solidarity against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the centre and its divisive politics.

Also Read | Khelo India: Why PM Modi Decided not to Show up to His Own Games

Hum Khelenge: Football Protest Against Fascism  ― an evening of football organised by Streets of Calicut, a cultural community based in Kozhikode, Collective Phase One, a community of filmmakers, and the Maharaja’s College Union ― brought thousands to the ground in the heart of Kochi, Kerala. The protestors, many wearing their team colours, described the evening as ‘Panthukondoru Nercha’ (an offering with the ball) to the fight against divisive forces in the country.

Many places in India have become hotspots of protests against the BJP government and the CAA, led by young people, college students, community leaders and, inevitably, backed by various political parties. As the movement gains momentum the government, for its part, has refused to engage in dialogue with civil society, choosing instead to trying to quash the voices of dissent and democracy, particularly where those voices come from the margins of society, with both force and a propaganda onslaught.

'Football Protest Against Fascism' involved a tournament between four college teams, and seven-a-side and five-a-side matches between many clubs, including women's teams, and squads made up of football fans. The protest, was inaugurated with a blindfolded penalty kick by former India footballer CV Seena, while Falhan CS and Aneesh M.K, captains of the national and Kerala state blind football teams, took turns, taking, what they called ‘shots against Fascism…’ Harder than any fired by the forces trying to quash the worth of the Indian constitution.

The whole evening, “sent powerful messages,” said writer-director Muhsin Parari, one of the organizers of the eight hour long protest, which had its fair share of goals, spills, thrills, nutmegs and the likes.

“This is the time for the fraternity to come together against fascism. And we chose football as it is loved by millions of people around the world and it also has the ability to unify people,” added Parari.

Football_Against_Fascism_Kerala1%20-%20Edited.jpg

A girls team ready for action at the Football Protest Against Fascism event in Kochi on January 13 (Pic: Leo Xavier).

Football matches apart, people who gathered at the ground also participated in two special events set up at demarcated zones ― Shootout for Democracy and Dribble a Nazi. All the fans who reached the ground attempted spot kicks, and tested their dribbling skills around mannequins in khaki shorts. Slogans of ‘Azadi’ rang out each time a goal was scored. The initial target was to score 10,000 goals against fascism before the night wound up. Needless to say, many more shots were fired, and goals scored. 

A symbolic shirt-swap was also conducted with the aim of demonstrating football’s ability to bring together people from various walks of life. Fans of various football teams swapped shirts forsaking the usually fierce footballing rivalries for the larger cause― what they called the fabric of the nation.

Also Read | A Quick Reminder on the Realities of Life: You Never Walk Alone, So Don’t Try

The gathering, which continued till midnight, also featured performances by singer-composer Shahabaz Aman and the band Shanka Tribe, while chants against the CAA, Narendra Modi, and Amit Shah provided a pulsating background score. 

In Kerala this event was a continuation of a proud tradition of football and politics. On December 22, in Malappuram, the hotbed for sevens football, turned into a protest venue, and spectators raised slogans in protest against the CAA during a local tournament. The packed gallery chanted “Azadi” as the players lined up for the game.

At the Maharaja’s Ground, the mood was equally inspiring. No matter the situation, the rule in football is: the game must go on. And the voice of the people is what makes the game what it is, both on the pitch and in our collective imagination.  

Read more sports stories from Newsclick

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Football against fascism
football against CAA
CAA Protests
CAA NRC Protests
Citizenship Amendment Act
Indian democracy
Amit Shah
Narendra Modi
BJP policy
BJP government
JNU Protests
Indian protest against CAA
football protest Kochi
Maharajas College Ground
Hum Khelenge
Football Protest Against Fascism
Related Stories
Khidkiya Ghat site

Varanasi: Close to 500 Rendered Homeless for Food Plaza, Helipad

farmers shoe polishing.

Meet the Ones Building the Edifice of Farmers’ Movement

Central Vista

Everything You Need to Know About Central Vista Judgment and Dissent

‘Centre Trying to Create Farce of Tripartite Consultation’: Trade Unions Boycott Meeting

‘Centre Trying to Create Farce of Tripartite Consultation’: Trade Unions Boycott Meeting

Modi Govt Paid Rs 1,364 Crore to Over 20 Lakh Undeserving Beneficiaries under PM-KISAN, RTI Reveals

Modi Govt Paid Rs 1,364 Crore to Over 20 Lakh Undeserving Beneficiaries under PM-KISAN, RTI Reveals

farmers protest

Enough is Enough’, Akola Farmers’ Message to PM Modi

Agrarian Crisis.

For Capital, the Calamitous Farm Reforms are an Opportunity

Prime Minister Modi (R) and UK PM Boris Johnson. File photo

Boris Johnson has Done Modi a Favour

UP Farmers Book.

8 UP Farmer Leaders Booked under Goondas Act; Police Continue to Thwart Protests, Put Leaders under House Arrest

Kisan Movement Counters Corporate

‘Will Stay Right Here Until Centre Repeals Farm Laws’

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share

Related Stories

Tikender Singh Panwar

Modi’s Central Vista: Justice Undone

14 January 2021
The protest at Capitol building in Washington on January 6 was unequivocally condemned worldwide.
Suhit K Sen

MHA 2020 Review: Exemplar of Fabrication and Authoritarian Pride?

14 January 2021
On 7 January, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released its review for 2020.
Ronak Chhabra

Folklore Behind Lohri Strengthens Farmers’ Resolve at Tikri Border

13 January 2021
Bahadurgarh: It is hard to th

Pagination

  • Next page ››

More

  • 100 Former Civil Servants Raise Questions on Transparency in PM-CARES Fund

    100 Former Civil Servants Raise Questions on Transparency in PM-CARES Fund

  • Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur Farmers Protest Against Real Estate on Land Acquired for Industries

    Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur Farmers Protest Against Real Estate on Land Acquired for Industries

  • Too Little Too Late: Former MP on Chit Fund ‘Moghul’ KD Singh’s Arrest

    Too Little Too Late: Former MP on Chit Fund ‘Moghul’ KD Singh’s Arrest

  • Bihar: Thousands of Truck Join Indefinite Strike Against Govt Policy

    Bihar: Thousands of Truck Join Indefinite Strike Against Govt Policy

  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with
about