In 2001, when Narinder Batra visited the Indian Hockey Federation Office, he was shocked to see letters being typed using manual or electronic type writers. India may have been hailed by many as the IT power across the globe, but the IHF has no qualm in being primitive. So he immediately presented a computer system, which ironically being used nowadays to counter his cases! Anyway, he then put the IHF on the path of modernity. Now, for once, on the path of democracy.
One can doubt his claim to the IHF top chair, but not his arguments. The sudden election of office bearer was direct result of his impact. The present set of officials, emboldened by the backing they got at Hyderabad AGM, advanced the election to score two fruits in one arrow. Their own re election and unseating of Batra from the vice-president chair.
Gill has twice told in live television shows that he won’t contest next IHF election. Why a leading personality of the country did not care to keep up his words is a mystery.
But Batra, who at no point of time has the majority of IHF college backing him, has outsmarted the ruling group. The court order to keep the results under ‘wraps’, means he will continue to be the vice president till court clears the president election. One of the agenda of ruling group thus failed.
Second, which is more important is, Batra has put the IHF on a democractic path. Ballot papers were never heard of in IHF elections, at least after Gill entered the fray. Gill has his guile way of winning election – see that nobody contests. Due to law and order situation created by the IHF election, MP chief minister Dig Vijay Singh intervened in 1994 and convinced his Member of Parliament, Guffran-e-Azam to step down from the contest.
In 1998, it was widely believed the rival group’s leader was a dummy set up by ruling group. He declined to contest at the last moment. May be true or not. But, for the first India engagement after the election same Chander Sekhar was the Manager!
Election 2002 was akin to 2005, the timing of election gave no chance for the rivals to group or make their strategy.
Not only that. Once Gill was elected, he nominated all other office bearers in all three previous occasions. This happened in India, the world’s biggest democracy! Before that every post witnessed contest. Before 1994, every post in the IHF hierchey witnessed election.
Batra now put the process back on the rail. A symbolic victory for him.
The ruling Group at one point of time even claimed Batra can’t even get nominated and seconded in the event of a contest. One even told this author he won’t even get to enter the AGM this time. Muscle flexing was in full flow in the run up. Yet, within three days after the Court refused to stay the election, the loner Batra thwarted every such move.
But what worries is the situation obtaining in the country’s hockey scene. See this. Gill is president of Himachal Pradesh, a tiny state adjoining Punjab. Has hockey improved in HP because it has a high profile Gill as its president? It’s shame HP was not represented in the 1999 Nationals. What about Batra’s Sate? Till recently he was president of Jammu & Kashmir. Has he made the state a leading hockey entity? Absolutely no. Then on what claims these biggies come to hockey and fight hi profile elections? Why then elections are held in a manner that put even the battle hardened political pros into shame?
The reason is simple. As I said in a television show the other day, it was because they are fighting for something that they don’t deserve.
Because, the Indian playing community, ready to give statement to press, never rise to occasion nor tries to be part of State or District level elections. One or two players who were part of this Kolkata election is also dubious.
Gurbux Singh might have been a great player in his days. Many hail him as the architect of 1964 victory. But his role in the IHF, as the secretary of the Bengal Hockey Association, has been some what suspect. Whenever the Ministry pulls up IHF for improper selection or mismanagement, the IHF relies on him. He invariably rescues them. He is one player who never never condemned any IHF actions. In fact, in the guise of Selection Committee, he made quite a few jaunts, justifying everything IHF did. If only player who is secretary of a State Hockey Association behaves this way, what else we have to say about?
If one views the whole things in a proper perspective, it appears Batra could achieve more than what players as a whole could have. Here is one personality, who played couple of Nationals, stood against the might of Police, both on the AGM and also on the court of law. Good going Batra.