Amarjit Singh Kiyam, who captained India in the FIFA U-17 World Cup three years ago, and has now made a place of himself in the senior national team, is back to his roots amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Back at his home in Manipur, he has been helping his family with farming at the paddy field on the outskirts of Imphal.
"There's no shame in going back to your roots and help your family on the paddy fields," Amarjit stated. "My family has been farming for generations. But I myself have not paid much attention to farming since I was a kid. I was always too much into football," said Amarjit.
"I find peace on the fields."
The Blue Tigers midfielder may have come a long way in the world of football over the last three years, but when he is back home with his parents and siblings, Amarjit is still a man who likes to stay connected to his roots.
"Normally, I don't get to be home for a long time. Even when the season is over, we have been going on some exposure tour or the other with the junior national teams," he averred.
"So when I do eventually get to come home for a few weeks, it's generally not the season for cultivation.
"Now I have got the time on my hands to actually go out there and reconnect with my roots. I feel proud. I've learnt the different aspects of farming, and I can tell you it's quite a draining activity," he quipped.
"But I feel quite refreshed after every few hours on the field."
(Photo Credit: AIFF Media)
'I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THE HARDSHIPS'
Apart from reconnecting with his roots, farming is also something that Amarjit believes has helped him give something back to his family.
"Since I'm not always here it's mostly my parents or siblings who are doing all the farm work. Now that I do have the time on my hands, it does feel great to give something back to them," said Amarjit.
"They had given me so much and sacrificed so much to help me become a footballer. The least I can do is help them out on the paddy field. It also gives me the opportunity to bond with my father. It makes them happy to see their son helping out in the farm.
"This is my way of showing that I have not forgotten the hardships we have all faced together previously. If we all work with each other, we all can overcome anything."
In the hectic domestic and international season, there is barely any time for a footballer to take up any activity other than the ones that help them improve themselves. However, Amarjit believes that he has found farming to be an activity that has helped him gain a lot of knowledge about the land.
"It's always nice to have some sort of activity as a hobby -- something that helps keep your mind off football for a couple of hours every day. I think farming has done that for me," he said.
"The amount of knowledge about the land and the crop that you acquire while farming is something that I would never have realised before taking up the activity myself. I'm really enjoying this activity."
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