How can a country settle as vexed as issue as merger of two long standing associations, in 15 days? Was the FIH not aware of the difficulties? Was the FIH unaware of confederation set up existing in some other countries? If there were any other demanding situation, FIH need to enlighten us.

Giving such short ultimatum, to me it appears, is hurting. The tune and tenor of the letter is an insult to any independent thinking nation My gut feeling is that such hard wordings would not have originated without anticipating a positive nod from the receiver.

A strong IHF leadership would have rebuked and acted differently against such a ultimatum, which in some respect an ideal PR tool to a certain faction

It looks like some body wanted it that way and got supplied it the same way. This is a tailor made for ruling faction.

Insistence on quick merger raises some pertinent questions.

Leave the merger, how many countries who form the FIH electoral college, in the first place, have women hockey teams? We will applaud the FIH if it would disaffiliate the National Federations if they don’t have women teams? Why to pressure a country that has well established and thriving men and women teams?

Common man or hockey fan in India is not bothered about nuances that bother you and me. They give a damn to who rules hockey, election, merger etc etc. Their concern is World Cup in Delhi.

Politicians know what works in the mass. Hockey is not cricket that is so popular and keenly covered by media that administration comes under thorough public scrutiny. No, Not at all. Many people in India think that after KPS Gill, the IHF is run by Aslam Sher Khan, Ajit Pal and Dhanraj Pillay!!! Please believe me.

It is hockey, which survived because of government funding and institutional patronage (read employment to players) not because of its own resources or public patronage.

That’s why the role of FIH assumes significance of high order, it should be vigilant, being the sole guardian of cherished ideals of governance of hockey.

By and large, the government, judiciary and all arms of the society accepts whatever is the world governing body would say in matters of concern. Unfortunately, this FIH has taken sides, hugely favoured a third party in the feud between two true stake holders. This impression is gaining ground now as each passing day.

Therefore, the 15-day deadline (FIH Letter dated 5th May, the same date FIH president was in Delhi) is surprising, not in sync with stated positions of involved parties. I can even say it is bad in taste. It changed everything in India. IOA says it is forced to act (to form the Hockey India) and justified every acts of malfeance, swept away time honoured practices under the carpet of deadline.

It actually turned out to be win win situation for both IOA and FIH — certainly not for Indian hockey and its glorious institution called Indian Hockey Federation. I will be delighted if am wrong in the future, but as of now I can’t be helped from getting this impression. This is what sequence of events led me to believe.

If the Gender equality was what the FIH wanted to achieve, it is not going to happen with this fictious ‘Hockey India’ mechanism.

The mere fact that there is only one lady among the seven office bearers of the mechanism that will bring gender equality is enough proof for the kind of disaster waiting to happen.

The IHF and IWHF never sat together to decide the merger issue, but a member of wrestling, boxing, bodybuilding, all and sundry did, then decided to form a new organization! Now, the funny of all, is that the new entity invites IHF and IWHF stake holders to join, with a firm message if you don’t we will generate a new one.

Then the new dispensation will have sweeping power to accept or reject who are part of IHF or IWHF, the very units that that sustained the IHF and the IWHF for so many decades.

It actually boils down to nothing is everything, and what we thought everything so far (80 years since the IHF was formed) is nothing.

This is antithesis of merger. I followed the merger process of men and women associations of various countries as it took place in the late 90s. They occurred between the two federations concerned, no third unit was invented to invite other two units!! FIH should know that.

That’s why we oppose the tearing hurry with which the Hockey India was given recognition.

How the recognition changed everything and how balanced the Hockey India constitution are the stuff for next dispatch.