First Prize in the State level extempore speech competition by All Kerela Balajanasakhyam

At a time when anti-immigrant sentiments and jingoistic nationalism are on the high, the World Cup is a win. It is a win for all those humans whose lives were branded illegal, who were made 'the other' for the colour of their skin, their cultural practices or their faith, who were denied the right to live with dignity. It is a win for all those who had to swim across oceans of discrimination and marginalisation to build a life for themselves. The success of almost all European teams, were built on the toil and hardwork of innumerable immigrants- from Mbappe and Pogba to Luka Modric and Romelu Lukaku. And a team composed of 78% immigrants winning the world cup was just an icing on the cake.

This world cup was not just about football. It is a call for inclusivity. It is a call to accept and accommodate. It is  a call for respect.Let us not pretend to ignore it.