There is something about Mary : Putting perspectives in line
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 25, 2012 -

Unfortunate is the word that comes to mind, for poverty of vocabulary on our part. This is not about the media in Manipur, or more specifically the Imphal based media houses versus a five time World Champion, an Asian Games medallist and most notably an Olympic medallist, MC Mary Kom.

A hero to many, though now there may be quite a number of people who would not agree with this tag.

This is also not about 'community favouritism' either as Mary Kom purportedly put it while speaking to the media at Aizawl.

Reading anything along this line would compound the 'unfortunate' part of it all. This is the reason why The Sangai Express put the news report that came from Aizawl on October 21 on page 9 and this again is the sole reason why the clarification issued by Mary Kom at the Manipur Press Club was put on page 3.

This is another reason why we did not publish the picture of her breaking down, on being quizzed by the media. This is also the reason why we have desisted from having our say on the matter all these days.

But the need to put certain points in perspective is in line and hence this commentary.

As an individual, Mary Kom has every right to speak out her mind. Engaged as we are in the profession of journalism, this is all the more reason to toe this line-give everyone the space to speak out his or her mind.

Truth may not always come in black and white for it may depend on the position from which one looks at it, as in 66 being seen as 99 from the opposite direction.

But then 1 will always look 1 irrespective of the position from which one looks at it. This is the line that Mary Kom failed to recognise.

In as much as the story that came from Aizawl shocked the sensibilities of the people, the picture of her breaking down in front of the media should shock our sensibilities too.

This is not about a witch hunt. This is not even about whether Mary Kom spoke the truth when she said she was misquoted by the media in Mizoram.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would know where the truth lies.

In a sense The Sangai Express and Mary Kom, the boxer, grew up together.

Founded in 1999, the first issue of The Sangai Express hit the news stand on September 12. Mary Kom on her part first stepped into the boxing ring as a competitor in 2000.

We do not need to go to the archives to confirm this. It is there in the recess of our mind.

Going back to the archives may amount to settling scores, and of course, Mary Kom would be knocked out in the first round if this recourse is taken to.

The Sangai Express is mainly interested in what she does inside the boxing ring. Unfortunately the boxer in Mary Kom seems to have been 'pygmied' by the sudden, new found fame and glitz.

Saina Nehwal another Bronze medallist in the same Olympic is now back on the circuit and has gone on to win the Denmark Open Super Series.

There is a lesson here that Mary Kom should learn, if her eyes are still trained on Rio, four years hence. The crown of stardom should not be too heavy a weight for a boxing champion.

Or does this reveal a chink, an Achilles heel ? A young girl who fought against all odds to emerge a champion now finding herself blinded by fame and adulation does not exactly paint a pretty picture. Get back to the basics, Mary.

Punch do not blabber about community favouritism or 'discriminated for being a tribal', for these are based on false premises. Land punches inside the boxing ring.

This is based on the right premise.