‘The grip’ against sexual harassment

Gestures matter. More and more sportspersons, past and present, are being vocal about being ‘distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled’. This was part of the statement issued by the country’s first Cricket World Cup-winning team led by Kapil Dev that includes legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath in response to last Sunday’s ‘police-clearance’ of protesters seeking action against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of wrestlers. Among those dragged away in the full glare of cameras were India’s international medal-winning wrestlers. The joint statement also urged the wrestlers to ‘let the law of the land prevail’ and not do anything drastic like dump their ‘hard-earned medals’ into the Ganga.

To underline the seriousness of their endeavour, the protesters have the right to peacefully demand action against Singh, even as investigation into the charges against him is currently underway. But keeping the ‘law of the land’ to do its job in mind – which the protesters have been since January – another type of gesture could be invoked that can keep the drum beating till justice is delivered whichever way.

The ‘Gable Grip’ – a classic wrestling grip achieved by locking the palms of one’s hands together in a tight clasp – can become the symbol of togetherness, firmness and a variation of the ‘heart’ sign made by cupping one’s hands as a powerful symbol in support of the wrestlers seeking justice. Like ‘taking the knee’ that started in the US to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, ‘doing the grip’ can be a message against not just sexual harassment in the sports arena but well beyond. Hands together tight for justice.