A day in the last week was well spent. Olympian MK Kaushik, who is now Deputy Director (Sports) with Haryana Government, invited me to witness some of the hockey centres being developed by his department.
The first centre we visited was Lakhan Majra, a hamlet about 20 km away from district head quarters Rohtak. A Sports Officer and a research student from MDU University in Rohtak, accompany us. While travelling, the discussion was mostly either on Mamta Kharab or Romesh Sharma, who bowled the last over in the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. Both belongs to Rohtak. Both were also very recently offered a high-profile Deputy Superintendent of Police post. Mamta has already resigned from the Western Railways and has just assumed the post.
It is not a big village, but has a good school, community centre, and now the Haryana Government’s simple but impressive programme of creating sports infrastructure.
As our vehicle enters the village Lakhan Majra, what strikes the eyes is a very large size mammoth places of workship coming on the village. As we cross a Gurdwara and a Radhaswamy Satsang, the Sports Centre under construction catches the eyes.
It is interesting to note team game like hockey is in the priority of the Govt. which has earmarked a space for developing hockey ground in these centres. In Lakhan Majra, the girls turn up in big way. The boys were not at Majra that day, but were training in the MDU University college grounds, as Majra’s ground is dug for renovation.
Building materials and dug out mouds of earth
do not seem to damphen the spirit of the girls.
They have assembled for playing and will do so whatever the ground conditions are. As some of the images displayed here would vouchsafe. have you shown them the Chak De film? I asked. They are yet to see. The enthusiastic sports promoters promised they will show the film to these girls next week end.
(Pic above is Surender Rathee)Unmindful of gathering enthusiasts talking about sports, this little girl moved to a distant place and started dribbling with the ball. What is the motivation of these boys and girls to take up hockey? I enquired. Surender Rathee, a teacher, who takes enormous interest in the hockey centre, said: “Villagers are great watchers. They see a boy or girl from neighbour got a admission into a nearby sports hostel, or got a job because of hockey, they are all motivated and take up the games in a big way. This is actually what they see for themselves, which works. From this village some boys got promotion, i mean, joined Gurgaon Sports Hostel, and it simply inspired the children. Normally, parents also know the things and they don’t come in their way”.
After spending about 12 hours in his company, the time including travel from Delhi to Rohtak, I felt there is a great enthusiasm among the rural public and the sport of hockey is on the ascend. Pic above shows Lakhan Majra boys team as they practice at the MDU College grounds.