Even though since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the awareness surrounding mental health has increased in India, we still have a long way to go. A large part of our population, including many influential figures, does not understand mental health and often trivializes mental health illnesses. When a person of great social relevance such as Kapil Dev, jokes about mental health issues, it negatively affects the progress made by mental health workers.
According to Hindustan Times, in a recent event, Kapil Dev claimed that he doesn’t understand “American terms” like ‘depression’. He further added that if cricketers feel immense ‘pressure’ before the IPL, they should just opt out.
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“I hear a lot of times on TV that there’s a lot of pressure on players to play in the IPL. Then I only say one thing, don’t play. If a player has passion, there will be no pressure. I can’t understand these American terms, like depression. I’m a farmer and we play because we enjoy the game, and there can’t be any pressure while enjoying the game,” he said.
Kapil Dev further shared that when he made a visit to a school, students complained about facing a lot of pressure. He asks where is this pressure coming from as kids nowadays sit in air-conditioned classrooms and the teachers don’t even hit them.
“I remember going to a school where students of class 10 and 12 said they face a lot of pressure. I said, ‘So face pressure!’. You people sit in air-conditioned rooms with fees paid by your parents, and teachers cannot beat you up, then where is this pressure coming from? Ask me what pressure is all about. Teachers used to beat us up and then would ask where we had gone. Students need to convert this into pleasure and fun, pressure is a very wrong word.
Here’s a video of the incident:
Nailed it 👏🏽👏🏽 @therealkapildev pic.twitter.com/Wbs86nyEQh
— Aces Middle East (@Aces_sports) October 8, 2022
His words left several people disappointed. Many called him a ‘typical Indian uncle’ who doesn’t understand the importance of mental health and rejects the concept of depression.
As people gets older, there thinking capacity gets old as well. Kapil dev is an perfect example for this.
Its been almost 50 years since his played cricket , and he is talking about present day players mindset..1983 was fluke Wc win for india.. And he is an overrated in cricket— Smp Santoshhh mohann Phukannn (@SmpPhukan) October 9, 2022
Had this guy played in current era he would have learned the lessons of pressure,,
And about students, I never went to a school with ac and teacher who don’t punish Students, but I can guarantee those who study in such schools also feel pressure,— deathSTROKE (@UpAndOverAndSix) October 9, 2022
Get his point, but in general making fun of things like depression isn’t right because you just can’t understand what some else might be feeling… Equivalent to saying injury chodo yaar…jaake bowling karo Sab apne aap theek ho jaayega…
— Nitish Shukla (@dietStartsTom) October 9, 2022
This guy played in the 80s. The volume of cricket, the contract clauses of what obligations you have to carry as a professional player were so dilute at that time that it is incomparable to current world of cricket as a sport.
— Almighty but autistic (@CrossWeBear) October 9, 2022
He is absolutely wrong here. No wonder mental health is still the least priority in our part of the world…
— 𝙕𝙖𝙠𝙞 𝙃𝙖𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 (@mzakihaider) October 8, 2022
What did he nail exactly? All he does is trivialise people's mental health and problems instead of empathising with them. He might have been fortunate enough to have been able to deal with pressure effectively, but that doesn't mean that others don't need help, rest or support. https://t.co/aviJkSQMyy
— Prapthi (@prapthi_m) October 10, 2022
Disappointing from Kapil Dev. So out of touch with reality. What’s more worrying is the laughs and applause that follow. https://t.co/USmUEiXYZE
— Darren Caldeira (@darrencaldeira) October 9, 2022
Typical Indian parent. I respect Kapil Dev — the greatest Indian cricketer — for his contributions to the sport. But he’s got this one terribly wrong here. Mental health issues are real. I pity those who clapped at Kapil’s rhetoric take on such a sensitive issue #CricketTwitter https://t.co/7qyCmcBSzX
— Ramachandra.M/ ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ.ಎಮ್ (@nanuramu) October 9, 2022
Not something we needed ahead of the World Mental Health Day on October 10. I hope an expert drills sense into Kapil. Nothing prevents a legend from becoming a boomer. https://t.co/oZtMf2Z7up
— T.N. Raghu (@tnrags) October 9, 2022
This is why no one chooses to talk about mental health in India. It's treated as a taboo. Unbelievably poor from this great man. https://t.co/QmZBwwAFZb
— Jaanvi🏏 (@ThatCric8Girl) October 9, 2022
What is even more alarming is that the huge audience clapped and cheered when he said all these things. It goes on to show how most people still don’t understand the seriousness of mental health illnesses like depression and anxiety.
What are your views on Kapil Dev’s statements?