Spirit of boxing
A generation ago in Kinnaur, when motorable roads were few but the people’s grit was immeasurable, daily life tested strength and endurance. While the challenges remain, they’ve transformed—today, it’s sports like boxing that pushes the boundaries.
Storyteller : Adit Negi
Himal Prakriti Fellow
Village Kupa, Kamru Panchayat, Kinnaur District,
Himachal Pradesh
Read this story in Hindi
In Sangla Valley, boxing has captured the imagination of young kids, especially girls. Over the past few years, many have brought home national and international medals, helping to create a thriving boxing culture.
Some like Neetu,—a former boxer-turned-coach, is now channelling her passion into shaping the next generation of athletes. Once dreaming of going pro before an injury cut her career short, Neetu shares her journey, marked by inspiration, setbacks, and achievements.
Through her eyes, and the stories of others like Dikshita, a tenth grader who once knew nothing of the sport, one can witness the valley’s unyielding spirit. Today, Dikshita aspires to become a professional boxer. With a soft yet determined voice, she reflects on her achievements and failures, aware of the fierce competition ahead. Her mother, Kalavati ji, unwavering in her support, accompanies her to training every day, ensuring that her daughter’s dreams, and the “Spirit of Boxing,” continue to flourish in the valley.
Despite challenging weather conditions and limited facilities, the kids, coaches, and parents press forward, united by a passion for the sport. This video shares the ups and downs of their journey, told through their lived experiences and personal interactions. What started as curiosity for me has become a powerful lesson in resilience, revealing both the possibilities—and challenges—of pursuing dreams in this part of the Himalayas.
Meet the storyteller
Adit Negi
Adit Negi is a post graduate in Film Studies from Ambedkar University. Having lived most of his young life in the cities of the ‘plains’, he is making his way forward in life by going back to his village Kupa (Kamru) in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, where he has been living now for the past 3 years. In his quest to engage with the rich cultural heritage of this region, he has chosen to be physically present and live and learn in the moment.
अदित नेगी ने अंबेडकर यूनिवर्सिटी से फिल्म स्टडीज में पोस्ट ग्रेजुएशन किया हैं। अपना अधिकांश युवा जीवन 'मैदानी' क्षेत्र के शहरों में बिताने के बाद, वह हिमाचल प्रदेश के किन्नौर जिले में अपने गांव कूपा (कामरू) वापस जा, वहां पिछले 3 वर्ष से रह रहे हैं। इस क्षेत्र की समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक विरासत के साथ रूबरू हो, वह अपने गांव में रहकर सीखने और खोज करने में अपने आगे की दिशा ढूंड रहा है।
Voices of Rural India
Voices of Rural India is a not-for-profit digital initiative that took birth during the pandemic lockdown of 2020 to host curated stories by rural storytellers, in their own voices. With nearly 80 stories from 11 states of India, this platform facilitates storytellers to leverage digital technology and relate their stories through the written word, photo and video stories.
ग्रामीण भारत की आवाज़ें एक नॉट-फ़ॉर-प्रॉफ़िट डिजिटल प्लैटफ़ॉर्म है जो 2020 के महामारी लॉकडाउन के दौरान शुरू हुई थी, जिसका उद्देश्य ग्रामीण कहानीकारों द्वारा उनकी अपनी आवाज़ में कहानियों को प्रस्तुत करना है। भारत के 11 राज्यों की लगभग 80 कहानियों के साथ, यह मंच कहानीकारों को डिजिटल तकनीक का प्रयोग कर और लिखित शब्द, फ़ोटो और वीडियो कहानियों के माध्यम से अपनी कहानियाँ बताने में सक्रीय रूप से सहयोग देता है।
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