Sports Persons Get Undue Importance while Intellectuals and Scientists are Neglected

There is an old question remaining unanswered- Which is superior, the body or the mind? Power of the body or power of the mind: which is superior? There are supporters for both the body and the mind. But these days the supporters of the body forms an overwhelming majority over the supporters of the mind. Sports persons get undue importance while intellectuals, literary persons, scientists etc. get neglected.

Just ask your son what he wants to be in future, a Sachin Tendulkar or an Abdul Kalam. The answer will definitely be Sachin Tendulkar. The young boy might not have even heard of Abdul Kalam or his contributions as a scientist. So, don’t you think that sports persons are getting undue importance in this society? Do you think it is proper? If you put that question to me my answer would be, “I don’t think it is proper.”

Just think of the conveniences you enjoy in life: electricity, motor car, computer, air conditioner and a lot of other things that make your life very comfortable. Who conceived the idea behind all these? Whose brain worked behind the making of such technological marvels? Surely scientists and technologists were behind all these.

Then, why are they, who work with their brains, fail to get the importance, the respect, the fame and the wealth sports persons get. Is the society doing justice to intellectuals, scientists and the like who do not regard physical power as anything in comparison with the power of the mind.

Some years back there was a controversy about the India government ordering a waiver for tax for the super luxury car brought home by a highly placed cricketer in India. The car was given to him as prize in some overseas cricket tournament. This cricketer had plenty of money. He had already earned from cricket enough money which would be sufficient for many future generations of his family. Should the government give concessions like this? This just an example of how the sports persons get undue consideration in this society.

There are millions of poor people here. For many of them a single Rupee will be most valuable. Should the government and the society help these people who really need help or extremely wealthy sports persons? Is it necessary to pile up money in the form of cash prices on wealthy cricketers when they win matches when they already had made enough money through match prize?

The government or the society does not give such importance to scientists, literary persons or intellectuals. The body gets all the attention while the mind gets neglected. Is it proper? What do you say?