'Grassroots sport isn’t charity, it’s nation-building in its purest form'
Siddhartha Upadhyay, Founder and President of STAIRS, speaks about grassroots sports and Olympic ambitions
In a nation where cricket chants echo louder than school bells and politics often takes centre stage, there are a few who see beyond the headlines. Siddhartha Upadhyay is one of them. To him, sport isn’t just a game. It’s a philosophy. A civic sermon. A tool for transformation.
As the Founder and President of STAIRS (Society for Transformation, Inclusion and Recognition through Sports), he has spent 25 years chasing a singular dream: to give every child in India the Right to Play. From the narrow lanes of Majnu Ka Tila to sprawling public parks in rural Bihar, STAIRS has reached over 500 districts, nurturing athletes, fostering community spirit, and more importantly, offering hope.
In this interview, Upadhyay speaks about grassroots sports, social equity, Olympic ambitions and why India’s real medal potential begins with a decent neighborhood park.
What was the original spark that led you to start STAIRS?
It’s actually very simple. No one has to be inspired to play, play is natural. It unifies people without needing conversation, reason or ideology. I saw this as a kid and a teen, the joy, the discipline and the silent togetherness sport brings. When I was finally in a position to contribute, I knew I would use sports as a tool to bring communities together and catalyze social growth.
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