It so happens nowadays the s2h had to write against legends of India in order to piece together the truth – bitter truth as it exists. S2h has written enough of legend in the sphere of terrorism, namely the IHF chief KPS Gill. Then even launched a campaign of sorts against another legend in sports Joquim Carvalho, who missed the Dronocharya, an award given for best coach by the government of India, by a whisker even before training Indian team single day.

Now it is the question of legend in another sport that the s2h perforce has to confront. The legend in question is Sunil Manohar Gavaskar. He is highly regarded in the world of sports, and a sports magazine even declared him the best sportspersons of Independent India, much ahead of All England Championship winner Prakash Padukone, world chess champion Viswanathan Anand etc.

The batsman might deserve all the kudos that came in his way, we have no opinion on that and plead no expertise on cricket, even at a long shot. However, even those who keep him at the helm agree one bad thing about this gentleman cricketer – that is his regionalism.

He has never seemed to have come out of the virus called regionalism, though often he highlights how Indians should not be overawed by the ‘whites’. He is often hailed as our knight against racists. That is his carefully nurtured image.

We have hardly come across gavaskar taking any interest in hockey. Certainly not on national level even if it is there in Mumbai, we have no idea. However, recently, in his column he said the following about the present state of affairs of hockey. We found his views are bit off truth. His views and s2h’s replies are given side by side.

GAVASKAR: One wonders how these people would react to the threat of the FIH to take away the 2010 World Cup from India, unless Indian totally accepts project ‘Promoting Indian Hockey’ that was being proposed by the FIH. How and why should the staging of the world be linked to a development project is hard to understand, but that kind of bullying does not raise any comment, presumably because it is coming from Europeans, while the BCCI Standing behind its player who was wrongly accused of racist comment is looked as strong-arm tactics.

S2h: Many in the FIH, which obviously located in Europe, have made it clear the holding of World Cup is related to getting Sponsorship and not much to do with the ‘Promoting India Project’. However, Gavaskar might not be aware the IHF has given go ahead to Promoting India Project, a joint exercise by the FIH and the International Olympic Committee. If the IHF does not cooperate, it is against its own commitment given to that effect. Many do not raise any comment because many know the truth — and the reasons why a country like India where hockey is second popular sports had to be helped by the world body. Remember, the money for the project is coming from IOC not from the IHF. Gavaskar has to look at those who brief him on hockey matters. India did not even bid for the World Cup, but it is offered by the FIH under peculiar circumstances in which Indian hockey is in. This is the goodwill gesture from the part of the FIH.

GAVASKAR: The hockey scenario that is unfolding is also an indicator of how people form overseas look upon India to get some easy dough. Its not just in cricket, where the IPL coaches have been signed from all over the world for what presumably are lucrative fees. The IPL has been a golden opportunity for these smooth takers to come and earn some easy money, and if their team don’t do well, it will be explained in a smooth way as well.

S2h: As we already explained half the bill of Charlesworth comes from the coffers of IOC Solidarity Programme and Government of India. Because the IHF chief has often cried he does not have money to hire foreign coaches. Cricket and hockey operate in different set ups, and for that Gavaskar need to do more homework. Does Indian hockey have as much money as cricket and so hockey fraternity is flocking to India to milk it? I think he directly correlates the clout BCCI enjoys in the world with hockey.

GAVASKAR:Coming to hockey, it is apparent that Ric has set his eyes on becoming the coach of the Senior team. Joaquim Carvlah worked only for about 11 months with pretty good results till that one bad game in Santigao. Charlesworth as technical consultant, will get many times more than what Carvalho got, and with more technical support as well. If he is really keen to do something for Indian hockey, he should accept the challenge of working at Carvalho’s salary and showing results by getting India to the gold medal at the commonwealth Games.

S2h: Gavaskar seems to have lot of sympathy for fellow mumbaikar Carvalho. Gavaskar did not pass single comment when more illustrious players than Carvalho were simply kicked by the IHF president after a single tournament or two ? I do not know where was he all these years. None in the media world raise a finger at the likes of Gavaskar because you are holy cows. But the fact remains fact. It is easy to advise others to work at Carvalho’s salary without even knowing what Charlesworth gets in India — which is far less than what his deputies get in the other part of the world. When Carvalho was given charge, Gill made it clear he comes for only one tournament. Carvalho still accepted. No outside coach, even if he is Gerrad Rach (Hope Gavaskar knows about him, but that is not my immediate worry), would accept this condition as our great Indian hockey Olympians have been shamelessly doing it for years. Please remember Ric has been brought to India not as a technical consultant but to coach the senior men’s team that has not been winning Olympic, World and Asian Games gold! By putting his name behind such a hopeless team as India, Ric is not getting any favour. You and your brethren might bracket me under ‘slave mentality’ –that will easily click with the masses– but that won’t hide the facts.

We want Indian flag go up in the international forums, that is what we call and feel patriotism. We don’t bother whether the men behind those moments are Indians or someone paid by the Indians. If our Olympians allow our pride to go in smoke in the international forums, I call them unpatriotic whatever it means to them.

Don’t give easy target for Charlesworth the Commonwealth Games gold, where the Indians have to beat only one team, that is Australia, for the gold. Your new found alley will again come up with ‘that one bad match’ theory and get away with it. I am curious that whether cricket greats at least know the value of Commonwealth Games gold in the world hockey. How many points will a Commonwealth Games gold give for India to help it climb up in the FIH ranking? I think Gavaskar should under stand hockey, we are not here to educate anyone, at least the one you who thinks about hockey at his conveniences not on the sport’s contingencies.

Gavaskar needs to have a good brain to brief him on hockey so that he never subscribes to the ‘one bad match theory’ which Carvalho hell bent on selling it to the world, at least to his president, KPS Gill. Please understand Carvalho has been in charge of the national team for 11 months just for that one match only. In that one match hung Indian hockey’s 80 year history. Carvalho, along with other Mumbaikar Olympians as Techncal Director, buried hockey in sand. his team did not even play well there, fighting it out is distant question. Carvalho cannot accept the failure, but has got a fairly acclaimed fellow mumbaikar to bat for him?

The whole world is baying for KPS Gill’s blood. Gavaskar said nothing against him even after a fortnight. When something goes against a fellow mumbaikar, he is all over and out with his wisdom. If you are so fond of Commonwealth Games gold, why did not you castigate the likes of Sachin Tendulkar who went Kuala Lumpur for the 1998 Commonwealth Games and returned medalless, not even showing any interest to fight it out for the sake of India. The whole cricket team’s eye then was set in cash cow in Sahara Cup, Canada, for which the team at CWG could not go. Come on little master, show your rightful wisdom, not the little one like batting for fellow mumbaikar. You are always castigated for Western Lobby in the cricket. Now I feel how much they could be correct.

On behalf Indian hockey lovers, I expect you to give your opinion on Gill before a hapless Charlesworth. And please, for heavens sake don’t compare cricket with hockey. Some whites might have insulted you somewhere, you may have problem with that. Please go ahead. Don’t try to colour the same with Indian hockey, where the FIH understands only problem with Indian hockey is its management. Do you agree to it or not. Or just happy you supported a fellow mumbaikar.

Those who take sides just because a person lives in the same state or city are more dangerous and injurious to Indian nationhood than political parties like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which advocates non-maharashtrians are unwelcome in Maharashtra.

If Gavaskar is really interested in hockey, he should immediately tell his BCCI boss Shard Pawar – he is mumbaikar he should certainly have a good rapport — not to fiddle with BHA hockey ground. Will he or won’t he. You and I know the answer.

Some Olympians propose to undergo fasting in order to save the BHA ground being snatched by the clout wielding BCCI. I hope Gavaskar, who seems to have hockey at heart, will also sit on the ground and fast in a show of solidarity. You and I know what he will do?