Frustration of a sports lover !

Post-Independence, the only thing that we have done with keen interest is to ruin all our national symbols. Be it national bird, national animal, national monuments, and more recently the national game !

Poachers are killing peacocks and we stay silent. The number of tigers are decreasing day by day. I need not highlight on the condition of the national monuments. And the situation in hockey is not hidden from anyone.

Hockey players had to go on a strike to get their dues back. Just before the world cup, the national hockey team had to strike to get their demands met. And the government is still silent.

Hungry warriors never won any battle. And hungry warriors have always revolted. So did the hockey players. I stand with them. The stand they took is totally justified. I don't understand one simple thing. The government has NO money to save what they call their NATIONAL game? Isn't it shameful that the players who represent the country on the international level are not paid and the bureaucrats enjoy on their expense. Wow ! Welcome to India.

Every sports body is dominated by politicians. Lets take the example of Mr Sharad Pawar. Sorry Mr Pawar, but you being the boss (indirectly) of the richest sports body of the nation had to bear the brunt ! So, Mr Pawar is indirectly the boss of the BCCI. He's set to be the next President of the ICC. So he can not devote his entire time to one thing. He has to take care of his party matters. He has to take care of the BCCI. He has to take care of the Agriculture ministry, So while multitasking, one makes mistakes. And so did Mr Sharad Pawar. He has been in foot-in-mouth situations quite a few times. Recently his 'I-am-not-an-astrologer' remark on the rising prices of commodities had made an impact.

There are numerous examples of politicians in sports. To some extent, its good. But as it is said in Hindi : "अति हर चीज़ की बुरी होती है... ". So my dear netajis, since you guys can't devote your VALUABLE time to the sport, please back off ! And let the former sportsmen come forward and govern the sport. After all, its their cup of tea ! You shouldn't be poking your nose everywhere.

Mr Pawar should either become a full time sports administrator or a full time politician. So that either cricket is benefited or the common man is benefited. You know what I mean. Even the Prime Minister should tell him to concentrate on the ministry to reduce the price of per head thaali of a common man.

I'd like to quote another famous Hindi line over here :

हर शाख पे उल्लू बैठा है, अंजाम-ए-गुलिस्तां क्या होगा...

Actually, this line suits the current scenario. Isn't it?

There was a time when India was numero uno in hockey. There was a time when  players like Major Dhyan Chand were national heroes. But today we ponder over it and only say "there WAS a time". Today is the time when hockey is doomed.

I'll ask you all a few simple questions :

• How many hockey players' names and faces do you remember?
• Who's the current captain of the national hockey team?
  
• Name the last five hockey captains of India.
• When did you last watched a full hockey match? Okay.. add the words "on TV" to this question.

Well, I know 99.99% of the readers won't be able to answer it. But if I replace the word "hockey" with "cricket", everyone would be ready with their answers. There lies the difference. We keenly watch cricket, but we don't have any interest in hockey.

We roared when we watched Indian women's team winning the world cup in "Chak De ! India". But we forgot. And we moved on ! Even Shah Rukh Khan forgot. He went on to buy a team in the IPL, just because he saw his profits there. Why just blame him. Everyone's selfish. You. Me. Everyone !

Well... I got carried away. Sorry for that. But all I meant to say is that its high time. We must wake up ! The least we can do is watch the sport ! And we must cheer our national hockey team.

The hockey players are not beggars. Let them get what they deserve ! If we can't respect our own nation, don't expect others to do the same.

CHAK DE !