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Young UP bureaucrats scripting change, garnering goodwill

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , ,

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH  :

Lucknow  (IANS)  :

A young ‘collector saheb’ sipping piping hot coffee and munching ‘laiyya-chana’ at a chaupal with wide-eyed villagers, a young woman IAS official cradling infants at an Aanganwadi centre, a district magistrate riding pillion on a motorbike to check open defecation at a Varanasi village.

Dispelling the myth that bureaucrats are only meant for office comforts, a band of young officials in Uttar Pradesh is scripting a new chapter wherein not only are the people being benefited but the state’s tainted bureaucracy is also getting a long due makeover.

Perahaps taking a leaf out of the ‘chai-pe-charcha’ campaign that Prime Minister Narendra Modi used to the hilt for political success in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Gonda district magistrate Ashutosh Niranjan has kicked off a ‘coffee with collector’ wherein he randomly selects a village panchayat, drives in with his officials for a cup of coffee and problems of the village are discussed and settled then and there!

The first edition of the event was held recently in the Paraspur development block at the panchayat of Mijhaura where, over steaming cups of coffee, village head Vipin Kumar Singh, the lekhpal (revenue official) and the panchayat secretary deliberated upon a host of issues ranging from roads to potable water to power supply.

It was also decided that the gram pradhans would very soon host a similar meeting over lunch with the lekhpal, panchayat secretary, beat constable and other grassroot-level workers. “The idea is to strengthen the panchayat system and setttle many issues like land disputes at the grassroot level,” Niranjan told IANS.

Varanasi district magistrate Vijay Karan Anand is setting a similar example wherein many-a-time he hitches a motorbike ride to reach far-flung locations to “catch up with reality”. Only recently, he rode pillion at 5 in the morning to physically check issues like cleanliness, the power situation and sewerage.

He found the situation in neighbourhoods like Dayanagar Malin Basti and Sigra “pathetic” and was quick to order immediate course correction. He has also been visiting villages very early in the morning to dissuade people from open defecation.

“It is amazing to see such officials; it is a reassuring feeling,” said Vivek Singh, who works with a telecom company in Varanasi.

Moradabad district magistrate Zuhair Bin Sageer has done some exemplary developmental work in the villages. Not only did he step out of the confines of his air-conditioned office but was also instrumental in creating a mobile application for monitoring work in what are designated Lohia villages, where affordable housing is being developed for the poor.

Kinjal Singh, the district magistrate of Faizabad, is still remembered for her good work during her previous stint in Lakhimpur Kheri, wherein she not only got special sheds made as dining areas for school children for their mid-day meals but also initiated a process to assimilate the marginalized Tharu tribe into the mainstream.

Pilibhit district magistrate Masoom Ali Asgar has almost cleared the high-profile political constituency of encroachments. He is also credited with beautifying the tiger reserve here.

Suhaas LY, the district magistrate of Azamgarh, the parliamentary constituency of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, has scriped a unique method of beautifying the city, its roundabouts and major roads. Through the PPP model, the young bureaucrat has ensured beautification and lighting up of all the city’s major intersections.

Lucknow district magistrate Raj Shekhar is also creating waves. From ensuring restaurants are freed of child labour to clearing a whopping 1,000 acres of encroached government land, Shekhar is also known for his modest style and easy accessibility.

“We all have been assigned a job by the government and we are just doing it to the best of our abilities,” Shekhar told IANS.

(Mohit Dubey can be contacted at mohit.d@ians.in)–   IANS /   md/vm/tb

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India

Begum Hazrat Mahal: The Pari Who Became a Revolutionary

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , , ,

 

BegumHazratMPOs01jun2016

Awadh(Lucknow), UTTAR PRADESH :

June, in particular is a good month to remember Begum Hazrat Mahal who led the first war of independence against the British in Lucknow. This Begum of Avadh had defied British forces of the East India Company in the great uprising of 1857.

She was one of the nine divorced women of Wajid Ali Shah, Lucknow’s last ruler.

“When the king left Lucknow on 13 March 1856 he took with him as well as his mother, three of his wives including Khas Mahal and Akhtar Mahal. An unknown number of wives were left behind in Lucknow as well as nine divorced women including Hazrat Mahal and her young son,” writes Rosie Llewellyn-Jones in The Last King in India.

Begum Hazrat Mahal took charge of the city despite her divorce from the king and her supporters included Raja Jailal Singh, a former Nizam of Azamgarh. It was Raja Jailal who fed support to the rebellion from the suburbs around Lucknow.

The other supporter defending Lucknow was Nana Sahib, a Maratha soldier and childhood friend of Rani Lakshmibai. Nana Sahib led the revolt against the British in Kanpur. Like Begum Hazrat Mahal he too retreated to Nepal after the British regained Lucknow in 1858.

Wajid Ali Shah was forced to leave Lucknow for exile in Calcutta, by the British. Lucknow was one of the most bitterly contested cities during this first war of independence against the British.

Between the exile of Wajid Ali Shah in March 1856 and the first war of independence in June 1857, Lucknow was defended by Begum Hazrat Mahal and she ruled as regent for 10 months. Her 12 year old son Birjis Qadr was crowned in the Baradari at Qaiserbagh, the palace built by his father.

After the British overpowered the freedom fighters, Begum Hazrat Mahal refused a pension and continued gorilla attacks on British military centers till November 1859. She spent the rest of her life in Kathmandu, Nepal and was buried there in 1879.

It may be recalled that fighting broke out at the end of June in 1857 against the British after soldiers mostly from the Avadh region heard that their mild mannered ruler was unceremoniously stripped of his throne and his kingdom by the British on grounds of mismanagement. Their first reaction was one of disbelief. Their second reaction was of anger. soldiers in different parts of north India took up arms and in Lucknow laid siege to the city’s British Residency where English and Anglo Indian inhabitants were hiding for four and a half months between July and November 1857.

But before Begum Hazrat Mahal transformed into a revolutionary she was a fairy. It may be recalled that apart from official wives and temporary wives there was yet another category of women, the pari or fairy who was often taken on as a temporary wife if the king found her pleasing and talented. The fairies were certainly an innovation of Wajid Ali Shah, poet prince and were recruited from the lower classes, including courtesans who lived mainly in Chowk, in the old city.

These women were not educated but after tuitions some of them acquired sophistication. Some fairies went on to become expert singers or dancers while others proved to be good for nothing.

Begum Hazrat Mahal’s maiden name was Muhammadi Khanum, and she was born in Faizabad. Her father was a slave called Umber owned by a Ghulam Hossein Ali Khan. Her mother was a Muslim mistress of Umber. A courtesan by profession, Muhammadi was taken into the royal harem after being sold by her parents.

She was later promoted to a fairy and was called Mahak Pari by the king. She became a begum after being accepted as a royal concubine of Wajid Ali Shah and the title Hazrat Mahal was given to her after the birth of their son, Birjis Qadr.

For some time Wajid Ali Shah was completely smitten by Hazrat Mahal. writing many poems for the dusky beauty.

Soon the king moved on to other women but in 1845 when he learned that Mahak Pari was pregnant, he immediately put her into purdah and gave her the title of Iftikhar-un-nisa or pride of all women.

Now this beautiful fairy, brave freedom fighter and pride of all women is immortalised in a documentary film directed by Mohiuddin Mirza and produced by the Films Division that was screened in the city by Lucknow Expressions Society in the presence of Kaukab Qadr Meerza, great grandson of Begum Hazrat Mahal and Manzilat Fatima, the warrior queen’s great great grand daughter.

“The aim is to never forget how the entire city had united under the leadership of Begum Hazrat Mahal to stand up against the British irrespective of religious and gender differences,” said an organiser of the event.

source: http://www.thecitizen.in / The Citizen / Home / by Mehru Jaffer / Monday – May 30th, 2016

Film on Begum brings Avadh’s queen to life

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, Travel & Tourism, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , ,

Lucknow:

It will be a royal evening for Lucknow coming Monday when in the company of the last Queen of Awadh, Begum Hazrat Mahal, the city will come face to face with its past. In the 137th death anniversary year of the Queen, an unsung hero of the first war of Independence of 1857, a documentary on her will be screened on May 30.

Claimed to be the first ever film on the Queen, the 26-minute documentary has been directed by national award-winning director Mohi-ud-Din Mirza. Commissioned by the Films Division, the film will be screened by the Lucknow Expressions Society along with the UP Tourism department. Prince Kaukab Qader Meerza, great grandson of the Queen, will also be coming to Lucknow from Kolkata for the day.

The screening comes with an aim to enlighten people about the sacrifices of the freedom fighter for the motherland. Documenting the history of Begum Hazrat Mahal as also including her direct descendants, it shows the Queen in her role as one of the first women revolutionaries in India’s independence struggle.

“It is for the first time that a film has been made on my great great grandmother who is someone that we have grown looking up to,” said Manzilat Khan, a direct descendant of King Wajid Ali Shah and Begum Hazrat Mahal. Khan will also be in the city on the day. It was after King Wajid Ali Shah was exiled to Matiaburj in Kolkata that the Queen fought valiantly against the British troops annexing Awadh, defeating them in Alambagh. She later took refuge in Nepal where she died on April 7, 1879.

“At the time when the independence of women was just a notion, she had a vision for the country’s freedom from the British. She chose to fight and take it on herself. Not many know about her struggle and the film will rightfully do that,” added Khan.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / May 26th, 2016

SNACK TRACK – Meaty bites of goodness

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Travel & Tourism, , ,

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

Fanoos' beef roll PHOTO: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Fanoos’ beef roll PHOTO: SUDHAKARA JAIN

The legendary beef sheekh kabab rolls of Fanoos is one of Bengaluru’s most sought-after rolls

The air sizzles with the smell of grilled meat, the heat from the tandoors is warm, yet not suffocating, and the crowd that has gathered remained calm, yet excited and hungry as they wait patiently to bite into goodness.

The roomali rotis are spread on clean, slick steel counters, the steaming hot meat piled onto them, the chopped onions and lime juice thrown in and the rolls are deftly wrapped in tissue paper and handed over to eager customers. Welcome to Fanoos – the destination for the one of Bengaluru’s tastiest rolls.

The bustling Johnson Market area in Richmond Town is the abode of one the city’s most spectacular roll joints.

The heavy traffic on the Hosur Road, the melee of people in the market area and the jostling crowds pouring in to buy their choicest rolls from the counters does not deter Bengaluru’s foodies from making sure they get what they come for – the legendary beef kabab rolls of Fanoos.

While the joint also serves chicken and mutton variants, it’s the beef rolls that are to die for. Coming in a range of sizes from the humble single roll to the enormous mogambo roll, Fanoos is the place meat lovers swear by.

What started in 1975 as a small footpath kabab joint by the late Ajaz Hussain is now a booming empire in Bengaluru. Taken over by his three sons after his death, Ajaz’s motto of serving only the finest for his extended family of customers is still kept strongly alive. Shakir Hussain and his two elder brothers firmly believe in keeping their father’s legacy alive and left their studies to keep the establishment running. “It was our dad who introduced the concept of sheek kababs from a recipe he modified from his mother. Even the terms like jumbo, mumbo, Rambo and sambo for the size of the rolls were coined by him. As the next generation, we brothers came up with the next size of rolls called mogambo,” says Shakir.

He adds: “It’s not just about food in Fanoos. We have many stories here. We have friends who come here to meet up after several years. It is also a place for lovers to meet. This is the perfect combination of food, friendship and fun with our extended family of customers.”

Musician James Prabhakar says he and his band spend their Sundays every week after practice at Fanoos. “It’s almost a tradition for us and our default buys here are the sheek kabab rolls. The green apple sodas from the Madeena Stores opposite to Fanoos are an added bonus that makes it a complete meal. Fanoos also serves as a place for us to catch up with friends and chill out amid the smell of sizzling, mouth-watering meat.”

The Iranian cuisine joint customised for Bengaluru also serves shawarmas, veg rolls and a variety of other flavours and even the popular Haleem during Ramzan, but nothing comes close to their beef sheek kabab rolls priced between Rs. 45 to Rs. 185 depending on size.

So what are you waiting for? Head over and dig in.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Allan Moses Rodricks / Bengaluru – May 30th, 2016

The waza from the Valley

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel & Tourism, , , , ,

Jammu & Kashmir :

BashirMPOs31may2016

Bashir Ahmad Concha on how to dish out the traditional multi-course and meat-rich Kashmiri wazwan

Ask most visiting chefs about their tryst with South Indian flavours and they’d wax eloquent about their love for the crunch of a crispy dosa. But not waza (traditional Kashmiri chef) Bashir Ahmad Choncha. He’s more likely to scowl and say, “The flavours are too unfamiliar.” For, compared to our fluffy idlis, rich coconut chutney and spicy sambar, his familiar food — the spicy and salty lahbi kebab, rich curd-based nadru yakhni and melt-in-the-mouth minced mutton ball in creamy gushtaba — feels decidedly different. Yet, the wazwan is a treat for anyone curious about the possibilities of the unfamiliar.

The wazwan, considered the pride of Kashmiri cuisine, is rich, to say the least. It is made during special occasions, and traditionally served in a large plate that’s shared by four. Most dishes are curd-based and all of them are made with liberal amounts of ghee. To top it off, the spread is meat-heavy. Mutton, mostly, as most Kashmiri Muslims prefer that. The chef’s favourite is the tabak maaz, a mutton appetiser that’s deep fried in ghee. “What can I say? Most people in Kashmir are rich and they want to eat rich food too,” laughs waza Bashir, even as he insists that the ghee will only make one strong, not fat.

The most challenging dishes to make, he says, are the light and spicy rista and the heavy yogurt-based gushtaba, for which the meat needs to be pounded by hand for half an hour. The vegetables have a distinct flavour, as do the spices from the region. It is for this reason that the waza says he brought 400 kg of ingredients for the ten-day Kashmiri Wazwan food festival at Spice Haat, Hyatt Regency.

Waza Bashir learnt his culinary flair from his father, chef Noor Mohammad Choncha, by watching him cook eversince he was eight years old. “My father would have never allowed me to become a waza if he were alive. He never wanted me to come into the family business.” But when his father passed away, Bashir took over the kitchen at 25. For the last 20 years, he has been at the helm of things at ‘Concha Foods’, a restaurant in Srinagar and also, a manufacturing outfit that packages and exports spices from the valley. “There’s a big market for Kashmiri cuisine. Every month, 1,000 kg of tin-packed rista and gushtaba are exported to places around India, the United States and Gulf countries.”

His fame in the packaged food business soon saw him plate up flavours from the valley at food festivals in Bangalore, Pune, Chandigarh and other places.

However, he says, wazas taking the road is rare. Even though his father had close to 1,000 students, most of them have set up their own restaurants in Kashmir. “The wazwan is a big business in Kashmir. A typical Kashmiri indulges in the wazwan about once a week. One plate is priced at Rs. 2,500 even in a small shop. It’s a very exotic spread. So it’s very rare that people leave the valley to make wazwan.”

Kashmiri Food Festival at Spice Haat is open for dinner till May 29. There’s a Buffet is priced at Rs.1,550, vegetarian thali at Rs. 1,000 and non-vegetarian thali at Rs. 1,200, (exclusive of taxes), to choose from. For details, call 61001234.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Food / Raveena Joseph / May 23rd, 2016

Morocco: New Delhi Eyes Big Investments, Indian Vice-President to Visit Rabat

Business & Economy, Leaders, World Opinion, ,

KOLKATA (West Bengal) / UTTAR PRADESH / NEW DELHI :

REUTERS
REUTERS

The Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari is expected in Morocco from May 30 to June 1, a visit expected to highlight by the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoU.)

The Indian Vice-President’s visit is taking place few months after King Mohammed VI visited India to participate in the India-Africa summit held in October last year. The king was the guest of honor of the India-Africa summit.

During this diplomatic visit, the first in 50 years since the last visit of an Indian Vice-President, Ansari will hold talks with Moroccan officials on a wide range of issues including economy and UN Security Council expansion, Indian sources say.

“This visit intends to further strengthen the cordial relations between the two countries, further develop and diversify profile of bilateral economic cooperation and explore new avenues of co-operation and partnership on a wide range of issues of shared interest,” a statement from the Indian external Affairs Ministry said.

The Indian Vice-President will also launch, together with the Head of the Moroccan Government Abdelilah Benkirane, the India-Morocco Chamber of Commerce and Industry, according to Indian sources.

Besides the political dimension of the trip, a special accent will be put on the economic issues as India plans to expand market outreach of its cars and truck manufacturers.

MoUs will be signed in education, IT and communication technology sectors during the visit.

Several economic initiatives have been undertaken by both sides over the past months. Last month, officials of the two countries’ ministries of transports mulled in Mumbai the idea to launch a direct air link between the two countries.

Also in the course of April, a team of Moroccan business people visited New Delhi to study business partnership opportunities that can be established between India and Morocco.

source: http://www.northafricapost.com / The North Africa Post / Home> Headlines> Morocco / by Kamailoudini Tagba / May 27th, 2016

AR Rahman to get top Japanese culture prize

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, World Opinion, ,

Chennai , TAMIL NADU :

ARRahmanMPOs31may2016

Music maestro A R Rahman has been announced as the recipient of Grand Fukuoka Prize 2016 for his outstanding contribution to Asian culture through his music.

As part of the ceremony, Rahman has been invited to the city to give a public lecture on “From the Heart: The World of A R Rahman’s Music”.

The 49-year-old Oscar-winning composer has been chosen for the honour alongside Philippines’ historian Ameth R Ocampo (Academic Prize) and Yasmeen Lari from Pakistan (Arts and Culture Prize) by the secretariat of Fukuoka prize committee.

The annual award, was established by Fukuoka City, Japan, in 1990 with an aim to honour the outstanding work of individuals, groups and organizations working to preserve and promote the unique and diverse culture of Asia.

Rahman started his movie career with Mani Ratnam’s Tamil film “Roja”. Rahman’s first big break in Hindi cinema came with Ram Gopal Varma’s “Rangeela”.

He is now one of the most sought after composers in India with his brilliant compositions for films like “Bombay”, “Dil Se”, “Taal”, “Lagaan”, “Rang De Basanti”, “Delhi 6”, “Rockstar”, “Highway” and “Tamasha”.

Rahman has carved an impressive career in Hollywood after composing “Jai Ho” for British director Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire”, which earned him two Academy awards and a Golden Globe trophy.

Previous winners from India include distinguished names such as sitar player Ravi Shankar, dancer Padma Subrahmanyam, historian Romila Thapar, sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, Ashish Nandy, Partha Chatterjee, Vandana Shiva, Nalini Malini and historian Ramachandra Guha.

Other winners include Nobel laureates Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh) and Mo Yan (China).

source:  http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Entertainment / PTI / New Delhi – May 30th, 2016

Ph.D Awarded : Science

Education

Mysuru, KARNATAKA :

JSS University has awarded Ph.D in Faculty of Pharmacy to Umme Hani for her thesis ‘Novel Vaginal Bioadhesive Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Vaginal Candidiasis’ .

Submitted under the guidance of Dr. H.G. Shivakumar, according to a press release.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Brief / May 29th, 2016

Only 5 Muslim MLAs in Assembly

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, , , , , , , , ,

TAMIL NADU :

But only one MLA belongs to a ‘Muslim’party

Despite accounting for six to seven per cent of Tamil Nadu’s population, only five Muslims have been elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2016.

While an identical number of Muslim members were elected to the House in 2011, what has changed is that only one MLA belongs to a ‘Muslim’ party. The other four belong to either one of the two Dravidian majors or have fought the elections on their symbol.

Thamimum Ansari
Thamimum Ansari

“If you take the population alone into consideration, there has to be at least 14 MLAs in the House. But, even electing 10 members to the House is becoming difficult without the support of bigger parties,” says Thamimum Ansari, who won from Nagapattinam, contesting on the AIADMK’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol.

Nilofer Kabil
Nilofer Kabil
T.P.M. Mohideen Khan
T.P.M. Mohideen Khan
K.S. Masthan
K.S. Masthan

The other members of the House are Labour Minister Nilofer Kabil, T.P.M. Mohideen Khan (DMK), K.A.M. Muhammad Abubacker (IUML) and K.S. Masthan (DMK).

Mr. Ansari urged the bigger parties such as the DMK, the AIADMK and the Congress to ensure adequate representation of the Muslim community in their list of candidates. “Though Muslims can be an influencing factor in up to 40 constituencies in Tamil Nadu, we cannot win those seats without the support of established political parties. Therefore, we need bigger parties to support us,” he says.

The lack of members from ‘Muslim parties’ in the State Assembly, save for the lone IUML MLA, Muhammad Abubacker from Kadaiyanallur, Muslim leaders think, might make it difficult for the community to let their grievances be heard in the Assembly.

“Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, which had two MLAs in 2011, was able to address the problems of the community. If you belong to the Dravidian parties, you might have to toe the line of the party leader and compromise on certain issues,” says M.H. Jawahirullah, leader, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, who was defeated in Ramanathapuram.

He says that Dravidian parties, which sometimes insist that smaller parties contest on their symbol, restrict the growth of the parties representing the minorities or depressed classes.

“In a genuinely good gesture this time, the DMK allotted 10 seats to the Muslim parties. They gave us a good representation. But unfortunately, we were not able to capitalise on it. I hope the DMK will speak for the community in the Assembly,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu /  Home> News> Cities> Chennai / Udhav Naig / Chennai – May 27th, 2016

A journey to cherish

Sports, World Opinion, , ,

Bengaluru,  KARNATAKA  :

Lack of proper scouting network has hurt the growth of swimming in India: Nihar Ameen

NiharAmeenMPOs30may2016

Nihar Ameen’s journey as a swimming coach began more out of compulsion than choice. The then 20-year-old Nihar had just one goal, to coach his sister Shanaz Shacoor when she was left floundering after being the youngest swimmer at the 1982 Asian Games.

“I was forced into it (being a coach) due to various reasons. I never thought it would turn out to so good,” says Nihar, recalling his early days.

“It was a short-term goal back then. There was my sister, 12-years-old when she competed at the Asian Games and she needed someone to train under. It was a learning curve,” he continues.

Thirty-four years have gone by since then. Nihar today is one of the respected and most sought-after swimming coaches in India. The 2015 Dronacharya awardee who has produced medal winners at the Asian Games level besides shaping the careers of many aspiring swimmers, Nihar has let his work speak for itself.

In a freewheeling interview with Deccan Herald, the 54-year-old coach discusses the upcoming Olympics, his two Asian Games medal-winning swimmers and the swimming scene in India. Excerpts:

Another Olympic Games is fast approaching and India’s swimmers are yet to clock the ‘A’ standard to assure themselves of a place at the Rio Games. How disappointing is it given that the qualification period ends on July 3?

I won’t say it’s disappointing because no Indian swimmer has ever made an ‘A’ standard. We’re still trying and hopefully we can clock the timings.

Normally — in our case — a male and a female swimmer, who have clocked the ‘B’ cut goes for the Games (based on the universality quota). And if there’s something to cherish this time it is the fact that we’ve had the most ‘B’ cuts ever. I see this as a sign of some kind of progress.  Unfortunately the qualifying time is moving so far ahead that it has become difficult. Like in 100M freestyle, the qualifying time (48.99 seconds) is so close to Alexander Popov’s world record time (48.29 seconds) set in 1994. It stood for close to six years. So it’s a mixture of all these factors that have hurt us.

India’s presence at the international stage is very minimal. Our swimmers have found it hard to match the international standard, what would you pin that on?

I think it (the problem) begins with talent identification. We don’t have a system where we go out and scout for swimming talent. Right now, the best coaches in the country only have accesses to those swimmers who come to them. With a population of over a billion, the number of registered swimmers is very less. If you consider countries like China, the US and Australia, they have a huge number of competitive swimmers. China has close to 700,000 swimmers, the US has close to that number too. Australia has close to 1,50,000 swimmers. Quite frankly, I believe, the more milk you have, more cream you’ll get on the top.

Funding is another big issue. The kids who come to us (coaches) have to pay for everything. And that’s a big amount. Another aspect is the mentality of the parents. Like for instance, by the time a young swimmer reaches the 10th grade, a eureka moment hits them and suddenly everything stops and academics takes centre stage. And once the kid is in college, sport takes a huge backward step.

And above all is the fact that disciplines like track and field and swimming, which are considered to be the mother sport for an Olympic nation, struggle for money.

If you look at other countries, the Olympic committee pays special emphasis on these events as they have maximum number of medals up for grabs. But in India, unfortunately, these are the disciplines that struggle for funds.

You have been into the sport of swimming for over three decades now. How much has the sport changed and evolved?

It’s a completely different scenario now. We are a cricket-mad nation because of which Olympic sport takes a back seat on many fronts. If you look at nations like the US and Australia, how people perceive sport is totally different than how we do in India. Here it’s still a leisure activity, while in the west, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry. But having said that, I can see the scenario changing. Especially in the metropolitan cities, parents are now aware of the role sport can play in the overall development of their kid. But it’s not a country-wide (phenomenon).

Two of India’s medal-winning swimmers at the Asian Games, Virdhawal Khade and Sandeep Sejwal, have trained under you. What made them different from other swimmers?

They were extremely talented and a lot had to do with the lack of parental interference. Up to a point their parents were very much involved in getting them into the right programme. But once they knew that their kids were in the right programme, there was this essence of trust, which is very much lacking today. It was their talent accompanied by complete trust from their parents.

Sandeep’s parents were in Delhi and Veerdhawal’s parents were in Kolhapur. They trusted me completely and I ensured that they went as far as they could and that relationship worked like magic.

Karnataka has been a dominant force in swimming in India. Winning the national championships and churning out quality swimmers seem like an every day activity. What has been the winning formula?

Two things, first, it’s the coaching. We have some of the best coaches in the country who have been producing a number of top swimmers for the past 2-3 decades. Secondly, the infrastructure is being used properly and the State association is one of the more functional ones in the whole country. It’s the combination of these that has paid off.

You were presented with the Dronacharya award in 2015. How much does the honour mean to you and the swimming community in India?

I think it should mean more to the swimming fraternity than to me. While I am thrilled that I got the award, it’s just the affirmation of the 35-36 years of labour that I have put in to make it work in our country and produce quality swimmers.

But I really hope that the powers in the sports ministry wake up and take a look at what swimming and that the sport gets some recognition from this award.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Sportscene / by Naveen Peter / DHNS / May 29th, 2016