Wed Oct 02 10:55:39 UTC 2024: ## Gandhi Opposed Pentangular Cricket Tournament Due to Religious Division and Wartime Grief
**Mumbai, India:** On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary, a lesser-known story of his opposition to a prominent cricket tournament in Mumbai has resurfaced. In 1940, Gandhi vehemently opposed the “Pentangular” tournament due to its segregation of teams along religious lines and the somber atmosphere brought on by World War II.
The Pentangular tournament, a popular event in Mumbai, featured teams categorized by religion: Hindu Club, Muslim Club, Parsi Eleven, and a European Eleven. Gandhi, deeply disturbed by the sectarian division and the global war, deemed the tournament inappropriate.
During a meeting with the Jimkhana Cricket Club’s management in December 1940, Gandhi expressed his support for those seeking to cancel the tournament. He emphasized the somber mood caused by the war and its devastating impact on Europe and Asia. He further condemned the religious segregation in the tournament, urging for a change in the sporting culture to eradicate such divisions.
Gandhi’s stance on the tournament underscores his belief in a society free from religious discrimination and his deep empathy for the suffering caused by war. His words remain relevant today, urging us to reflect on the role of sports in fostering unity and inclusivity.
First Piper 