India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [10] Cricket and other sports

India: 60 Years: 60 Words: [10] Cricket and other sports

[India has competed 60 years of independence and to mark this, I am presenting this series of Articles, about the words, that are meaning a lot for the progress of the country. If you feel I missed some thing [For listing of words see the first article “India: 60 Years: 60 Words”] do inform me at premputar@gmail.com I will try to include that at the end of series]


Sporting arena is the only faculty where even after becoming the economic and commercial super power Indians will be legging behind the rest of the world. Individual Gold Medals is the unrealized dream of Indians since so many years. It was a time when India was the undisputed king of hockey and created many team and individual records, some of which are still a challenging achievement for others. As more and more bureaucrats and politicians started to change the hands in the administration of this national game so the playing standards started to decline. “Failure is born orphan” saying seems to be practices and today we are in the huge country have only a few astro trough a basic facility of modern hockey. Playing rules at international levels also proved for making the decline more and deeper as the concept of power hockey was not matching with the skills and talents of the Indians. Thanks God even all the unfavorable conditions not resulted in youth getting diversified from the game. A considerable good and fairly large chunk is of talented Indian youth still keeping the betel on and hopefully in near future India will regain the position of world champions in the hockey. Who can say it was not possible, if in the 80’s when Astro concept was introduced, might India opted for investing 100 carores in the hockey for preparing 100 such grounds, India might have the same status in hockey also which the Indians are having in the present cricketing world.

Unexpectedly India, under the inspiring and illustrating captaincy of Kapil Dev Nikhanj went on to win the 1983 ODI championship of the cricket beating the mighty West Indians. It is fact that this victory brought the glory for the nation and is the strongest reason of the present cricketing passion we Indians have but surely is also among the probable reasons of decline in the national game of hockey. Glamorous atmosphere and huge economic gains succeeded attracting the Indian youth for cricket, most than any other sporting faculty. The natural result of all this is though India emerges as the strongest cricketing nation but went on to become poor competitor in most of other sports. The fact can be reflected from the India’s world raking [above 100] in the less expensive game of football.

Fortunately India has huge population and diversified cultural atmosphere and habits hence the hope lamp is kept on the burning and few talents like Amritraj brothers, Pace, Bhupati, Sania Mirza [Tennis], P.T. Usha, Anju Bobby george, Milkha Singh [Athletics], Karna Maleshwari [Power weight lifting], Captain Rathord, Abhinav Bindra, Jaspal Rana [shooting], Get Sethi, Pankaj Advani [Billiards and Snooker], Vishawnathan Anand [Chess] and Bachendari Paul [Mountaineering], Prakash Padukone, Aparna Popat, Phullela Gopichand [Badminton], Dingko Sing [Boxing], Arjun Atwal [Golf], Bula Chowdhury [Swimming], Chetan Babur [Table Tennis], chuni Goswami, Baichung Bhutia [Football], Dola Banjree, Limba Ram [Archery], Kartiyekan [Motor Racing] etc. [the list includes many many more names] has not only shown the diversified sporting talent present in the country but also proved to be the oil for this hope lamp of Indians. The good thing of these 60 years that Indians started to realize that supremacy in the sporting faculties is most important aspect of world leaders in the modern times and the progress in the direction is the indicative of India emerging as the strong sporting nation in near future.

Infra structural and other sporting facilities are developing in the country at vigorous rate and hopefully in near short future India might go for becoming the host for the Olympic games, which surely will prove the most needed inspiration and will lead the country to turn into strongest sporting nation and lead the rest of world. Changed attitude of Indians is also reflecting from the recently released Hindi movies like the Iqbal and Chak De India based on the sports.

Cricket and India

Cricket and India


Look at the recent statement of Shri Sharad Powar, President BCCI; we were agreed to play Twenty-20 only because we don't wish to be left alone on world platform. It was beyond imagination that India, with so many youngsters and even with inexperienced captain Dhoni will go on winning the ever first world cup. Enthusiasm of Dhoni and his boys proved a high mountain to cross even for the strongest teams like the South Africa and Australia and proving wrong to every expertise view India won the twenty-20 world cup. As was expected a grand celebration started in the cricket passionate country and this was sure to go on most grand scales especially after the early exit of India from ODI world cup at West Indies early this year. It is natural to celebrate wins but the felicitation of twenty-20 world cup winner team has brought two important issues at the central stage of discussion.

The first issue that seating arrangement at Wankhede stadium, during the public felicitation of team brought under discussion that, who are more important the players of winning team or the politicians and officials of sport administrative body? The ideal seating for such a felicitation was that president of association and Deputy Chief Minister of state [Who was chief guest of function] were seating in front row along with members of winning team but we had totally opposite picture if we leave the captain, other players from the winning team were almost non visible to millions of people who were gathered in the stadium for the felicitation of team. It has also put the fact under questioning why should not the politicians banned for acquiring an official post in any sporting association. If you look it at reaction of Shri Sharad Powar, who is also agricultural minister in the central government, about the sudden price rise of onion, "I don't know the matter as I was out of my office". I am a great admire of Powar sahib, his political vision, his dedication towards the nation and above all his eagerness to work for the deprived classes of the society but this has also forced me to ask Powar Sahib, is he politicians first or a sport administrator? It is politics or the sport administration is on the priority list of Powar Sahib? Surely it is fame of politics that fetched Powar Sahib, post of president of BCCI and it is heart breaking in true sense that a leaders and minister like him is not aware of difficult situations which a common man is facing? Surely this is happening because politicians are busy with other activities. My question is that to avoid this why should it not be made mandatory that politicians are not supposed to acquire any official position in any of sport administrative body? India is much more vast country in experience and ability than any other country, if the other countries are finding specialists to run the sports associations, surely it will be not a tough job in India.

The felicitation of twenty-20 world cup, underlined the neglected attitude towards the achievements of Indians in other sport disciplines. For instant recently India won in Hockey very conveniently but neither the hockey association nor any government, State or Central had announced any additional financial benefit for the players of winning team, even the corporate world was in the silent mood. Pankaj Advani, Vishawnathan Anand and many more, who, by their individual efforts always succeeded to bring glory for the nation, are also complaining about the partial and bias treatment in announcing the rewards. Why it is always the cricket player are the front runners for the financial benefits even after being paid most handsomely? The probable reason is that cricket is not just another game in India; it is a passion, a life style. The players are more than human beings and we Indians are, extremist in the expression of our emotions, It must be remembered that the people of Jharkhand, Ranchi, Who today feel it proud in saying Dhoni belongs to them [State government had announced highest public award "Jharkhand Ratana" for Dhoni] are the same who had taken the funeral procession of Dhoni and demolished his under construction house in Ranchi, when Indian team exited early from the ODI world cup early this year. I don't wish to say that other players and their family members should under go such painful and insulting experience before asking the equality for the financial benefits. I just wish to underline the fact that we are living in the world of finance and the related person will get financial benefits according to earnings. If the cricket is the highest earning game, player are bound to get more financial benefits but surely government, state or central must behave with equality.

If we look at the cricket it was just another game till the 1983, it was the World cup win by the team lead by Kapil Dev, which boosted favorable atmosphere for cricket and started to make it odd in the sporting world of India. Professional attitude of players and officials of cricket associations of the country had insured the flow of money into game. If the people like Jagmohan Dalmiya and others are succeeded in doing this for the cricket, why the other sport associations are not able to do the same? We can't punish others for our failure. It was time, when India was undisputed king of hockey field but where are we today? Surely not among the top six teams of the world. Let the hockey players, associations and all other sports associations and players develop the professional attitude for brining glory for the nation more frequently surely this will work in bringing the needed mental attitude change of public and corporate houses and this inequality will not be visible more. The state and central government can help these associations by providing facility of live telecast of sports on Doordarshan at low rates to make these sporting events more popular. This will also help to see India figuring in the top list of Medal tally at Olympics.

Impacts of Victory

Impacts of Victory

Often we come across "Success has thousand fathers while failure is born orphan". Victory chariot journey of twenty-20 world cup winner Indian for covering the distance of about 35 km between airport and stadium at every step was the true representation of this. Since the moment of catching the sky towering ball by Shrisanth, celebrations are on, every one is coming forward to have own share of this success cake. BCCI, at the moment announce a US$ 2 millions award for team. It was strange to hear BCCI is going to give a cash award of Rs. 1, 00, 00,000/- to Yuvraj Singh for his world record 12 ball half century and six sixes in one over, how poor memory, in the victory celebration BCCI almost forget it was failure of same Yuvraj in the final was sufficient to write an Indian defeat in the score books, thanks to brilliant bowling display by R.P. Singh and Irfan Pathan and more importantly eagerness and non patience of hard hitting batsman Misbah-ul-haq , which not only prove curtain for Yuvi's failure but also the written the history pages with Indian victory in ever first Twenty -20 cup. I am neither denying the over all contribution of Yuvraj nor is against his special felicitation my objection is that performance of Irfan and Rudra in the final and tournament were matching with that Yuvi, why these two are not given the special reward? Even M S Dhoni, for his unique style of captaincy deserves to be rewarded with a special recognition.

BCCI decided to welcome and public felicitation of victorious Indian team. The team was taken to Wankhede Stadium in open bus from the airport on Wednesday but it left some questions unanswered, was it felicitation of winning team? If it was so why the players were seated in back rows? Where were the members of 1983 world cup winning Indian team? Why the past captains of Indian team were not invited for the function? Leave apart the reasons but don't the statement of BCCI official "Rajiv "beyond understanding, and tells another story? As this function was arranged in haste so BCCI was not with time of inviting all? As there was Ganeshoutsav so it was not possible to make the stage more spacious to accommodate players in the front row? Who will believe that in this era of communication and information it was not possible for BCCI to inform the past players? It was not possible for World's richest sport organization to make suitable and sufficient arrangements for the function and even if it was so who were the personalities of the moments BCCI officials or the cricketers? Any way what happened can't be taken back but it was ideal situation members of 1983 world cup winning team [only time in the past, when India won the world cup] being present at airport and welcomes the new champions, who brought the glory for Nation after 24 years .


If we try to turn the history pages, It will be overseas wins over the England and West Indies by the team lead by Ajit Wadekar laid down the foundation stone of grand celebration in the Indian cricket. Emergence of little master Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev has given a new meaning to cricket arena of India and 1983 world cup victory under the captaincy of Kapil Dev had shifted the game to middle class economy of India. The doors of this princely game were opened for masses, cricket instead of being yet another game started to take shape of passion, life style and something more important even than religion in the lives of Indians. The middle class parents of metros start not only thinking but also encouraging their children to choose sports as their carrier. A new all to gather different younger Indian generation start visible. If we look at the present winning team, it is surely an extension of this thought way, which is now started to found roots in the minds of parents even from the smaller cities like Ranchi, Rohtak, and Barodra etc. Surely this win is going to boost this thought process and provide more favorable situations for its becoming a tree in near future. The huge money available in the cricket is going to change the life style of Indians even at the village level and is bound to start a sport mentality among the Indian youth.

It is unfortunate that in India, often cricket and sports are used as single term. This not only ceases the development of other sports but also creates an emotion of inequality and feeling of being neglected in the minds of youth related with other games and sports. India is full of talent and dedication and this win of Twenty-20 World cup by young Indian team, with many players from the smaller cities, is making it easy for the corporate houses and sports authorities to explore and make India a powerful sporting Nation. It will be really interesting to see how the corporate houses and sports authorities are facing this new challenge in such favorable conditions.

India Won by 3-0

India Won by 3-0

India defeated arch rival Pakistan by 3-0 when this news headline hit to people many were surprise because neither of hockey nor of football any international tournament was on going any where. It was hard to believe for the people not following cricket very seriously. [It is a tough task find such people in sub continent] 3-0 and result of cricket match at first instant gives feeling of something missing but it is reality and is possible in the new version twenty -20 of the game.

In this shortest version of the game, to make the matches more result oriented this new "Bowl out" rule is included. In the case of tie of score sharing of points were allowed in the ODI but in twenty - 20 in those rare situations of score tied this "Bowl out" , designed on the terms of "Penalty Shoot Out" of hockey or Football will appear on ground to decide the match winner. According to this rule both team will select five of their players to bowl at stamps on a vacant pitch, the team whose players hits wickets maximum time will be declared winner. On the other day was this historic thing happened. India won and Pakistan loosed because Sehwag, Harbhajan and Uthappa succeeded in uprooting the stamps while from Pakistan Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi bowled to rest in the hands of wicketkeeper only. The result was not so effective on the tournament because both India and Pakistan both were have qualified for the "Super Eight" next round of this world cup, but Pakistan fail to avoid fifth defeat and register ever first win over India in any of world cup clash.

This "Bowl out" option is putting a question mark, if we consider a final of an international tournament we will not take it as easy as we are taking it now? What will be social life of the player who fails to hit the stamps in a country like India or Pakistan where cricket is not just other game but is a passion, a life style? I am surprised, where was cricketing wisdom of sub continent? Do they approve this rule without thinking about the end result on social life? Do they were giving space for the replica of famous Negi incident of Indian hockey [As shown in the movie "Chak De India" by the character Kabir Khan]? These are the some of the questions which are demanding a suitable proper answer from the ICC.

It is said that this "Bowl out" rule is inspired and have roots in other two team games Hockey and Football where for such situation there is provision of "Penalty Shoot out". Let me allow, in the Hockey and Football both rival teams are with equal chance and it doesn't seems that injustice has been done with the game? Can we say the same with "Bowl out" rule? Certainly it is injustice with the spirit with which cricket is played. Being a teacher I am with habit of posing so many questions about a given situation but as it is attitude of teachers that they try their level best to reach to solution for the given problem because for them life goes like this. I am also concluding this writing with a solution to this "Bowl out" so the future unwanted and hated social reactions can be avoided.

The present "Bowl out" rule up to selection five bowlers is o.k. but I wish see addition to this; both rival teams will select two batsmen to face these five balls bowled one each by five different bowlers, with no field restrictions. Team which scores more runs will be declared winner by that difference of runs. This will not only keep the victory style intact but also will do justice with cricketing spirit.

Hidden Cameras

Hidden Cameras

What the beautiful and splendid turn has the situations have taken; hidden cameras are at the central stage. One who were exposing, are looking and searching a shelter to be away from the eyes of politicians, elites and even the common Indian citizens so can be safe guard self from the hot discussion going for setting the norms of use of hidden camera for so called exposures and truth search operations sponsored and carried out by the media.

Recently we had celebrated sixtieth birthday of our democratic set up which mean we had crossed not only our childhood but also the adolescence stage and are quite suitable for pronouncing as the mature adults. It is unfortunate that our social atmosphere is neither reflecting nor illustrating this. Technology has added enormously in the style of news hunting, coverage of events and presentation of happenings. We had crossed the print media, though it is still relevant; saw the broadcasting era of media, living the telecasting media and preparing for the entrance into web based media. Question that brought hidden cameras to central stage is does we are tackling the situations in mature way and presenting the conclusions in a responsible manner? Certainly the answer is not a positive one. If it was so than what was the need of discussing all this? The pity is that even our use of visible camera is facing with the questions of reliability and relevancy. Before we go further look at just figures and facts.

It was Asian games Delhi to bring colour telecast in India and boosted the television industry in the country. If we go for the list of house hold appliances color televisions are finding the prime and first place of the list. Naturally the emergence of T V Channels got the way and nourishing grounds beside the entertainment and sports channels, News channels were not only got birth during last two decades but also started showing their exclusive present. This growing number resulted in natural war of existence for the channels of similar nature. The TRP [Telecast Rating Points] has started to play all important roles in the life of TV channels and actual trouble got the starting point here. The serials started with meaningful and educational "Mahabharat" the great Indian epic, "Subah" [?] a true representations of campus and honest attempt to tackle the drug problem of youth started changing their shapes to endless looking "Kiyonki " and campus means just love affairs of youth and humiliation of teachers.

News channels are also affected from this. Concept of "exclusive" was born and hidden cameras were assigned the duties of exposures. It my be the bribery operations during the years between 2001 to 2003 , casting couch operations related with Shakti Kappor and Aman Varma in 2005 or Asking of the questions in the Lok-Sabha [House of people] in the same year, it was hidden the cameras all the way. The war of existence and growing competition has forced news channels to add many non news programs in their daily schedules of telecast. If you look at the reasons given by channels for these inclusions you will found them even beyond the limits of being funny. The telecast of superstition, coverage of travel destinations, presentations about the programs of entertainment channels and Future forecasts can boost TRP of channel but at reality grounds they have nothing to do with News.

Time has come when not only we have to think and look at the matters with mature vision but also laid down the crossing lines to make our responses and behavior a responsible one. We can't allow doing anything to media under the slogan and laws of freedom of expression. Freedom of expression doesn't mean demolishing the social image of person or community, neither it can allowed to be used for creating misunderstanding and rumors. A few moments back I had finished watching Hindi movie "Chak De", how the press and media were responsible for spoiling carrier of a dedicated sport person. Though it was all imaginary but our real life is filled with many such incidents from which real life was scripted. Another thing which I wish to that does meaning of celebrity is loosing the personal life? If not than why the media seems too eager to look into personal life of celebrities? Personal life in itself means the territory prohibited for the trespassers, and ever time using either visible or hidden cameras either media or any other has to keep this all the times, in the mind. I don't recall where I read Rusian Waraninkav's statement "In our country freedom of speech doesn't give you right the brake the back bone of society and Nation. If any body attempt to do so he will be caught and send to Siberia for the rest of life." As we are living and love to live in democratic set up so we can't go in such harsh and undemocratic manner but surely it underlines the need of laying the guide lines for the electronic media. Government of India and Parliament needs to take note of all this and took it in the consideration while finalizing provisions of the "Broadcasting Bill" under the making.

It is natural there will be strong enough opposition from the TV channels after all it will limit their right of broadcasting anything and extending reach of their hidden cameras to any where, but before giving full stop to my this writing I wish to ask just one question. Is the media persons are free from the tendency of common man of falling pray to greed, anguish and ambitions and found being engaged in unmoral and illegal activities? If not than why these hidden cameras are not succeeded in catching them even at just one such incident?