Coming together for a cause,sportspersons including Olympic boxing champion Mary Kom,former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha,English billiards Geet Sethi and actor and rugby player Rahul Bose shared insights and inspired to propagate change under be the change initiative. In an attempt to inspire students to follow their instincts and bring in a change in society,these eminent personalities shared their struggle and turmoil with them. For a woman coming from a tribal community from a small place like Manipur,following boxing as a profession was not an easy decision. Then I took a sabbatical for my children and came back into this sport. After becoming a mother,women as well as the society force them to think that they are physically weak and cannot do anything. I wanted to prove this wrong. So,I only want to say that if I can,why not you, said Olympic boxing champion Mary Kom,while addressing a gathering at Ahmedabads National Institute of Design (NID) campus. Accompanied by her husband and children,including three-month-old boy,Mary said that she is excited about her biopic movie which will star Priyanka Chopra. Other sportspersons who shared their stories were Geet Sethi and Viren Rasquinha who are also promoting a venture called Olympic Gold Quest,which is committed to supporting Indian sportspersons with Olympic medal-winning potential. Sethi and Prakash Padukone have co-founded the non-profit sports foundation while Viren is its CEO. The inspiration to bring about change comes from the feeling. Until you feel for something,you cannot let it happen, said Sethi. From solving problems about litter to changing attitudes towards education,children have realised they can solve problems to make their lives better,whether those problems are big or small, said Rasquinha.
