Canadian Couple Heroically Goes On A Hunger Strike Due To Pickleball Hazards

Ronald Martinez. Getty Images.

A Chilliwack couple fed up with the noise from a neighbouring pickleball court are going next-level in their protest. Starting Sunday (July 23), Rajnish and Harpreet Dawan say they are staging a hunger strike that will continue until the City of Chilliwack decommissions the courts at Kinsmen Park on Portage Avenue.

“As staunch followers of Mahatma Gandhi, we have decided to follow the path shown by him to deal with systemic injustice,” Rajnish wrote in a letter. “We would prefer death over continuing to live the life of second class citizens that we have been reduced to due to the callous and discriminatory attitude of the City.”

But when the pickleball courts were added in 2019, and resurfaced in 2021, the sound of plastic balls hitting plastic paddles became unbearable. Rajnish brought his concerns to the City 11 months ago, suggesting the courts were installed without consulting neighbours and were constructed without any noise studies.

I wanna hate this couple but Im not sure that I can. Sure it seems like having a pickleball court outside of your house would be a great time. Everyone likes to think of having a pickleball court as some sort of suburban oasis with the squad just ripping overhead smashes, little dinks and dunks, and spinning serves that make your eyes go cross like you were a 2017 Riggs. It is that but it's so much more. 

When it's you that is lacing the Kswisses up and enjoying the courts, it's fine. But when you're trying to settle down to watch a new episode of Shark Tank, you don't want all that damn racket from the racquets. You want quiet, calm, and sultry nights out on the porch with your beloved. You don't want faint grunts, groans, or glee disturbing you. Imagine missing why Cuban said, "and for that reason, I'm out," because some dork is arguing if a toe went over the front line. Nope. Not on a fuckin Thursday at 9pm. Some of us like a little shut-eye and peace. 

That being said, I respect this couple. Dropping, "As staunch followers of Mahatma Gandhi, we have decided to follow the path shown by him to deal with systemic injustice… we would prefer DEATH over continuing to live the life of second class citizens…" is such an unbelievable power move. My jaw dropped when I read it. And you know what? It's an IMPOSSIBLE thing to argue with. When someone says they are being treated like a 2nd class citizen over a game of pickleball, you have to believe them. You cant argue especially if they make it a life or death matter. Even if you try to make a great point, you look calloused. You look cruel. You look unreasonable.  

In this circumstance, you can't say, "oh no. We actually are treating you like a first-class citizen." Everyone knows that would be a lie and even if you were, it sounds like you aren't if you say that you are. This town is in a real-world of hurt because I don't know how you get outta this one. Maybe a press leak? Is that what the township is doing? Did they leak this story to the press so we can see how unreasonable this couple is being? If that's the case, it's genius. Genius. It really might be the only way outta this mess without a lawsuit. 

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A pickleball war of worlds. A pickleball social justice experiment. A pickleball adjustment to civil unrest. Perfect. It's so perfect I'm not sure whose side I'll be on.