The fittest survives. There is no question of two fittest in any environment. The new sports minister of India, however genuine he is, seemed to have forgotten this crucial portion of the evolutionary theory.

Ajay Maken, the minister, has been trying to pacify and bring about a merger sort of thing between the out-lived Indian Hockey Federation and the surrogate Hockey India.

He may be right in his attitude and approach.

Today, he was about to announce the ‘merger’ plan, the press has also been invited for the ‘grand’ achievement.

But things got struck. A talk between the member of the IHF who participated in the talk and a former IHF bigwig, that took place moments before what seemed to be the official announcement of merger, spoilt the show.

This site has been maintaining a studied silence on the issue of merger. We have not confused our readers, nor created a hype. It was not without reason.

All the three parties directly involved in the hockey meddle – IHF, HI and mysteriously the FIH – have played their negative role to perfection – still they are doing it. It suited them all. Hockey India, a paper organization to seize power, the FIH to walk away without making public of World Cup balance sheet, and the IHF which is extinct and outlived, all have vested interests.

When everyone involved is so self-centered, self-serving and wanted to perpetuate their acts for future needs, no question of hockey being at their heart.

Why on hell the FIH has to bother about Indian hockey when the whole world is at its feet unless and until it serves some purpose?

Why on earth one Narindra batra has to bother about Indian hockey when he enjoys good life with cricket being a treasurer of a State cricket body?

Why on earth, of all the persons KPS Gill, who liquated Indian hockey and brought to the pass that we did not even qualify for the Olympics has to bother anything beyond ego?

I am really surprised about Indian media which goes moon after each merger talk. It’s the media that built up a non-existing merger.

It followed the positive attitude exuded by one or two officials who regularly attend the meetings, which reflected their persona rather than what transpired inside the boardroom.

In short, when all the parties involved in the merger has so much ego and things to gain, the question of merger is no there.

Indian hockey lives by the doles of government of India. It is not sustaining because of HI, IHF or even the great FIH.

None of them cannot even give a pair of shoes to the Indian players.

Indian players are fed by the government; stay in government quarters, practice on the turf provided by the government, the same govt foot the bill of foreign tours.

Still, the Govt bends backwards to bring a reconciliation. Its hockey that suffers for want of reconciliation, so all other three contributors to the hockey mess, remain adamant. For them self-service comes before hockey.

Government has got all the powers thanks to Rahul Mehra’s PIL, creators of Hockey India are behind bars, the IHF is bankrupt.

Its therefore right time for the ministry to realize its true potential — and stand counted. It thought of making a Federation of its own a month before, and if my information is correct they are ready with the constitution also.

It has to come out with that now.

Its futile to flog the two dead horses. Even if they succeed that won’t guarantee any good for hockey. People in HI and IHF are former colleagues, none can say a section of them is saint now.