Cricket Dbq

Just like many other sports cricket is often seen as “just a game,” but it has made a much bigger significance than one might expect. Cricket and politics were deeply intertwined in 20th century India. Cricket helped symbolize and influence political tensions between India and both Pakistan and England, along with other religious rivalry between ethnic groups. Despite this, matches fostered togetherness and became a source of both religious and national pride.

Cecil Headlam, an English cricketer and historian, once said in 1903, that Cricket was used as the final step in British colonization. It “(united) the rulers and the ruled,” and made cultural integration much smoother (Document 3). Through this, the British were better able to establish

After the subcontinent of India was freed from their colonizers at the end of World War II, it was split into two independent states: the Hindu dominated India, and Muslim dominated Pakistan. These religious affiliations created tensions and conflict within the subcontinent. Bal Thackery, the Indian founder of a Hindu nationalist organization, was quoted saying, “When Pakistan wins a cricket match and my country is defeated, why should Indian Muslims celebrate?” (Document 9). Members of the Indian subcontinent often held stronger ties with those of their same religion, rather than country. The Quadrangular Tournament of the early 1900s consisted of many teams, all grouped by religion, who competed in cricket. This tournament really symbolized the religious divide, and people began to realize the political tensions cricket was creating during the late 30s and early 40s. An editorial in the sports journal, Indian Cricket, observed that the tournament had “degenerated into religious rivalry,” and “(stirred) up religious fanaticism” (Document 7). The great leader, Mohandas Gandhi, also found dissatisfaction with the tournament. He couldn’t comprehend why teams would be formed based on religion, as opposed to ancestry or institution (Document 8). Cricket

The power held by the British before World War II was clear in the segregated Cricket community, but matches were also a source of equality when on the field. Conflict between the separated nations of India and Pakistan often was portrayed in Cricket matches, and even more so by the religious factions that made up either country. The Quadrangular Tournament fostered religious rivalry, but at the same time promoted togetherness and pride in one’s religion. All in all, Cricket was not just a game throughout the 1900s, and even maintained meaningful and influential ties to