More than just a game?: Grass roots cricket and development in Mumbai, India

Abstract

Increased attention has been given to the concept of ‘development through sport’ in international development literature over the past decade. Within this literature, however, there has been little discussion of the implementation of ‘development through sport’ initiatives in India, and less still on the use of cricket. With the immense wealth, power and cultural importance attached to cricket in India, highlighting its potential for development, this article explores emergent themes from the ‘development through sport’ literature, and those more established within development theory, in the context of development initiatives in India which explicitly use cricket for wider social purposes. Drawing upon key informant interviews, focus groups and content analysis, the article examines how and why cricket is being used in two community level initiatives, the Parivartan Programme and ‘Youth against AIDS’, both of which operate within one of Mumbai’s most underdeveloped municipal wards. In doing so, the article offers a critical assessment of the effectiveness of cricket in development in India, from which conclusions as to its future implementation are drawn.