Kapil Dev Questions Why Students Have Depression, Calls It An “American” Word. Why Are We Brushing Mental Health Under The Carpet?

By Priyadarshini Malavia Updated October 10, 2022 3:26 PM

As someone who has had mental health issues for almost a decade and is still in therapy for the same, I am pretty vocal about mental health and its importance. And luckily, slowly but surely, people have gotten more open about mental health issues, a lot of Indian uncles and aunties are still very ignorant of these topics. For example, today I came across this video of Kapil Dev who spoke about the sportsmen and students of today talking about being under pressure and having mental health issues wherein he didn’t understand why they would be under any pressure. Not gonna lie, his ignorance, while common for someone from his generation, irritated me.

Two minutes of gold from Kapil Dev. pic.twitter.com/3gDMVvexua

— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) October 9, 2022

Let’s first discuss what exactly did Kapil Dev say. He first talks about the newer generation of cricketers who tell him that they are under a lot of pressure because of the likes of IPL to which he simply says that they shouldn’t play in these leagues if they feel pressured because of them. He then said he fails to understand how they can feel pressured if they has a passion for the game. Kapil also said that school-going children talk about feeling the pressure too. To this, he said that today students have AC schools, their teachers can’t hit them and their parents pay their fees, so what kind of pressure must they have, he wondered.

Also Read: Rakul Preet Singh Brings Out Her Sporty Side As She Plays Golf With Kapil Dev And Sadhguru In Washington DC

Much as a I like him, this is horrible from him. I really doubt he would have the guts to say no to IPL in this day and age. It is a marquee BCCI event, you just don’t say no to them if you wish to be in their good books.

— Karan Bakshi (@bakshikaran91) October 9, 2022

Now, I believe that Kapil Dev is emulating almost everyone from his generation, just because they had different struggles, they don’t even try to understand the struggles of the younger generation. Let’s start with this: the competition in today’s day and age is far more, worse and cutthroat as compared to how it used to be back in their time. Let me give you an example, when I was in school, there were multiple students who were top scorers simply because they were brutally physically abused by their parents if they scored less. If that isn’t pressure, what is?

Also Read: NCERT Mental Health Survey Reveals Female Students Are More Anxious Than Male Students. We Can Totally Relate!

That example of making fun of children facing pressure due to studies is even worse. This is not the 70s where you become a tehsildar by clearing 10th board. The IITs and IIM entrance exam selects probably top 2 or 3%, you have to be very very good.

— Karan Bakshi (@bakshikaran91) October 9, 2022

The other day I passed by a banner advertising a coaching class where they were flaunting how one of their students score 99% on their board exams. Now tell me something, doesn’t that put unrealistic expectations on every other student? In a country like India where marks are given more importance than the basic concept of education and learning, how is it fair that every child is measured by the yardstick that one kid has set? So the only thing I would like for Kapil Dev to understand is: yes, you had your own struggles back in your day which is completely valid, and maybe the people from today’s generation might have a more comfortable life. But just like when you were young, we have our own set of struggles and pressure. With inflation being at ou throats and the disparity between wages and costs increasing, the younger generation has a lot to worry about which might I add, was caused by Kapil Dev’s generation in the first place.