top of page

By:

Ruddhi Phadke

22 September 2024 at 3:47:54 pm

From Scarcity to Sporting Glory

Part - 1 Name: Neeru Dhanda Where: Jind, Haryana Neeru Dhanda’s historic Asian Games triumph is not just a story of sporting excellence, but a reminder of the talent India can unlock when opportunity meets determination. For Neeru, the road to two historic Asian Games gold medals did not begin with sophisticated training facilities, expensive equipment or years of uninterrupted preparation. It began with a borrowed Indian-made gun, a tin used as a makeshift target and a dream that came from a...

From Scarcity to Sporting Glory

Part - 1 Name: Neeru Dhanda Where: Jind, Haryana Neeru Dhanda’s historic Asian Games triumph is not just a story of sporting excellence, but a reminder of the talent India can unlock when opportunity meets determination. For Neeru, the road to two historic Asian Games gold medals did not begin with sophisticated training facilities, expensive equipment or years of uninterrupted preparation. It began with a borrowed Indian-made gun, a tin used as a makeshift target and a dream that came from a small village in Haryana. Her remarkable journey from those humble beginnings to the biggest podium of her career is as much a story about resilience as it is about sporting achievement. The 26-year-old shooter has been making headlines after creating history at the Asian Games. She became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold in the women’s strap shooting event. In the final, she hit 28 of 30 targets, smashing the previous Asian Games record of 24. The next day, she went one step further, winning gold in the mixed team strap event and helping India secure its first-ever gold in the category. Two gold medals in two days made her achievement even more remarkable. Ten days before the tournament, Neeru had spent three-and-a-half weeks in hospital. She had not trained and had been unable to eat for five days. She travelled to Japan without anything close to the preparation an elite athlete would normally expect before a major international competition. Yet she delivered when it mattered most. Hailing from a small village in Haryana, her father is a farmer and her mother is a homemaker. Shooting is an expensive sport, requiring firearms, ammunition, coaching, equipment and regular access to training facilities. Neeru began with an Indian-made gun borrowed from her uncle. With no conventional target available, she used a tin as a makeshift one. The story of how her family learnt about her historic victory is equally striking. On the day of her match, her mother was on her way to collect wheat under the Below Poverty Line ration scheme when she received the news that her daughter had won gold. It is a powerful contrast: on one side, a mother collecting essential food support for her family; on the other, her daughter standing on the biggest sporting podium of her career. And that contrast raises an important question: How many more Neerus are out there? How much talent are we yet to discover simply because the means to nurture it are missing? Neeru’s gold medals are a moment of pride. But more importantly, they should become a moment of purpose.

Gun Violence in America

Writer: Vishwas Pethe
Vishwas Pethe
Dec 27, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Jan 2, 2025

Gun Violence in America

On December 16, 2024, tragedy struck Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where a 15-year-old student, Natalie Rupnow, fatally shot a fellow student and a teacher before taking her own life. Six others were injured, with two in critical condition. This devastating event is a grim reminder of the United States' ongoing struggle with gun violence, particularly in schools.


A Long History of Gun Ownership in America

The issue of gun violence in the United States cannot be discussed without acknowledging its deep-rooted history of gun ownership. The right to bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1791, which states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”


Initially, this amendment was intended to empower citizens to form militias for self-defense during a time when standing armies were distrusted. Over the centuries, however, the interpretation of the Second Amendment has evolved. Today, it is often cited as a justification for individual gun ownership, a concept reinforced by landmark court cases such as District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), which affirmed an individual's right to own firearms for self-defense.


Gun culture is deeply ingrained in American society, with nearly 400 million firearms in civilian hands—more guns than people. This level of accessibility, coupled with a powerful gun lobby led by organizations like the National Rifle Association (NRA), has made significant legislative reform difficult.


Gun Violence in Numbers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firearms cause approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the United States—equivalent to 109 deaths per day. This figure includes homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings. Among children and teenagers, firearms are now the leading cause of death, surpassing motor vehicle accidents.


School shootings are a particularly horrifying aspect of gun violence in America. Since 1990, there have been over 800 incidents in K-12 schools, resulting in more than 500 deaths and over 1,000 injuries. High-profile tragedies such as the Columbine High School massacre (1999), the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting (2012), and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School attack (2018) have shocked the nation and the world, yet meaningful reforms remain elusive.


A Global Comparison

The United States stands out among developed nations for its high rate of gun violence. In countries like Australia, Canada, and much of Europe, strict gun control measures have significantly reduced firearm-related deaths. For example: By contrast, the firearm-related death rate in the United States is 12.2 per 100,000 people, significantly higher than other developed nations. The prevalence of guns and the lack of uniform gun control laws contribute to this disparity.


Challenges in Addressing Gun Violence

Efforts to reduce gun violence in the U.S. have faced significant obstacles. One of the most notable is the prohibition of federal funding for gun violence research. In 1996, Congress passed the Dickey Amendment, effectively barring the CDC from studying gun violence as a public health issue. Although the funding ban was partially lifted in 2019, its legacy has left the country with a limited understanding of the causes and solutions to gun violence.


Advocates have long called for measures such as:

• Universal Background Checks: Closing loopholes in gun sales to ensure that all firearm purchases are subject to background checks.

• Safe Storage Laws: Requiring gun owners to store firearms securely to prevent unauthorized access.

• Bans on Certain Firearms: Prohibiting the sale of assault-style weapons, which are often used in mass shootings.


The Debate Over Gun Rights and Reform

The debate over gun control in the United States often pits the rights of gun owners against the need for public safety. Opponents of stricter gun laws argue that restrictions infringe on constitutional rights and fail to address the root causes of violence, such as mental health issues. Proponents, however, point to the success of gun control measures in other countries and the overwhelming public support for policies like background checks.


A Way Forward

Despite the challenges, there is growing momentum for change. Grassroots organizations, survivors of gun violence, and some lawmakers are advocating for comprehensive reforms. The Madison school shooting serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of these efforts. As the nation grapples with its gun violence epidemic, it must look to both its history and the experiences of other countries to find a path toward a safer future.


(The author is a resident of US. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page