The Dark Knight

Yesterday I went to watch a movie based on a true story of India’s boxer and five times world champion Ms. Mary Kom. The story was well woven with scintillating songs. The redundant spices which are otherwise deliberately put up in order to gain more outreach among masses were kept at bay. I must appreciate Priyanka Chopra for not only performing the act but also for the mammoth physical efforts she underwent to fit herself in Mary’s shoes. Mary’s story is an inspiration to all the women across India. Every woman in our male dominated society would associate themselves partly or fully with Mary’s struggle story. Be it troubles of initial days to convince her parents for opting boxing as a profession, dealing with the bureaucratic politics without surrendering, marital life, pregnancy or parenting twin babies. But what was more appealing than these struggles was her determination to reenter the arena not succumbing to the mockery of people and overcoming the post pregnancy limitations.

Although movie exhibited Mary Kom’s boxing brilliance profoundly inside and outside the boxing arena; a man behind the curtains of her fame, glory and victories just couldn't go unseen. Onler Kom. In today’s world it’s a general tendency that  men make the money while women are left with no choice but to stay back home looking after kids, in-laws; disregarding their personal goals and dreams. Women's feelings are always ignored and ambitions are suppressed. Men don't consider their women as free individuals with free will. It is always a woman who takes the rear seat and stoically accepts all the sufferings. Onler was an exception. He stood rock solid by her in her both good and bad times. He always supported her. There was a time when Mary had given up on boxing. It was Onler who reignited the fire within her. He volunteered to take care of their twin babies sacrificing his own football passion. On top of all these challenges, he pocketed the insult when society mocked him for letting his wife fight while he enjoyed home-stay with kids.

But this act of sacrificing personal goals ahead of his wife’s dreams needed guts only the strong ones can possess. Some people might say that he was a weak, coward and henpecked husband; while in fact he was a brave man and a caring husband every single woman would respect by heart. He was a harbinger of change. A change every man should bring within himself to support and take care of his wife and her dreams. He was a hero, a hero who was not glorified publicly but a hero who was deeply admired and respected tacitly. Onler reminded me of batman. a silent guardian.. watchful protector.. THE DARK KNIGHT!!