Is regionalism all set to return?

Some patterns are too familiar in Indian hockey that cannot escape one’s eyes. These keep repeating, never fade.

For instance, like whenever a new coach is appointed one can easily predict whom the players he will recall — and definitely whom he is going to drop.

If some officials get access to power, similarly, one can equally foretell what will be his priority — demand for a foreign jaunt, dropping or propping up of a player of his region.

Indian hockey derives its existence from a small pool of officials and former players (who assume the role of selectors, coaches and managers). This is veritably a minscule group but surviving for long, leading to all familiar predictability. Since there is no mechanism to check and counter check activities and ambitions of these people, the trend flourishes.

If a particular coach gets a say in the national team, one can firmly assert which region’s players or institutions’ players will form bulk of the team!

So, this commonsense derived from most common occurrences, push me now to feel resurrection of one of the vices of Indian hockey, the regionalism. I definitely fear now regionalism is all set to germinate and dominate Indian hockey for some time from now. The uni-headed hydra is rising its ugly head. Despite having a foreign coach, there are clear signs that regionalism is at play in the present scenario.

Those who know Indian hockey over a period of time will vouchsafe that the decline of Indian hockey was accentuated by a twin factor called R & R

What is R & R factor in Indian hockey?

This is not the all familiar Rehabilitation and Resettlement that hogs the limelight in developing India.

But, Region and Religion.

For about 16 years after India’s Independence, no Muslim players were selected for Olympics. This is all bout first R.

A former police chief, who ruled Indian Hockey for 17 years, had to go after he pushed 10 players of his region in a single Olympic team!

This is all about second R.

R & R formed the character of Indian hockey till the 70s.

Administrators of 80s and 90s never went by the RR factor but purely by their ego.

Hall mark of hockey administration in the 80s through till now is ego, and utter lack of vision and competency. RR factor really went for sabbatical.

However, lobbies within the team, the so called Selection Committee, tried to play their part well, keeping alive the RR factor here and there.

For instance, when Indian team went for a namesake tournament in 1993 to Austria, a Selection Committee chief wielded total power. With a result, coach, Deputy Coach, Umpire, observer and captain all were from particular religion. Not to mention it was as that of the Selection Committee chief’s.

This is not to say regionalism went to back seat. It was there, but was not so dominant in altering the outcome events.

A long survived IHF Secretary pushed players of his region pre-mature into Olympics and Champions Trophy teams. It’s a footnote in the history, not history itself unlike the 1968 Olympic team which had 10 players from a region.

Regionalism feeds local chieftains. They survive on this. If a player from a particular region gets into a national team, with or without the region to play any role in shaping him, the local chieftains readily appropriate him; brand the player as their property and puppet.

In some ways brownie points are garnered in local elections, some are even won or lost on number of players they appropriate even without the knowledge and consent of the players in question.

So, this type of statistics is their sustenance. Or one of the pillars on which their claim to chair is fostered.

Now, the prevailing situation in Indian hockey administration provides perfect setting for regionalism. Because, there are at least three claimants to the chair every state, each one can win a publicity war if they can show they managed to put more players into the national or international teams.

A year ago an age-group team went to Burma. There were 8-10 players from a particular region. It was hailed as the success of a particular faction. The team failed utterly. But no one bothered because the popularity of the person behind such a regional lobby was on rise! He was slowly clutching up to the ladders of power.

Who bothers why an Indian age group team failed to even reach the semis of an Asian event?

So, it is reality. The selection of team for the China tour does not inspire confidence. However, it has to be conceded here the situation is so complex, and is still developing, nothing can be conclusively said.

We can only pray and hope people in the power keep nation’s interest first.

Having watched everybody who have a say in today’s hockey selection and administration, this writer is worried. An old vice is coming back to haunt Indian hockey.

Whatever, our future focus of Indian national team will be Regionalism, that much is sure.