On paper it appears that hockey is run by Indian Hockey Federation and Indian Women Hockey Federation for men and women, respectively.

On the face it, yes, these two orgnizations run hockey. But in fact whenever the question of important decisions crop up, it is not IHF or IWHF, but some others are forcing decisions.

Two recent developments gives unassailable clues to the existence of third force that decides the fate of hockey in vital areas.

It is the bureaucracy.

Its bureaucracy that decided Richard Charlesworth ‘not worth’ to train Indian hockey. Sports Ministers who head both Sports Ministry and its Sports Authority of India (SAI) is commander-in-chief of these bureaucratic set ups. Its some lower run officials in the Sports Authority of India who decided the fate of Ric. Don’t think Ric is not here because of KPS Gill or Suresh Kalmadi, the ad-hoc committee chairman. It’s the decision of the bureaucrats which their commander-in-chief accepted with a glee.

Now, in the issue of Kaushik also its Director General of SAI, with input from his band of babus, decided to keep Kaushik for women’s training. They took this decision because they like paper work and it was done by the IWHF!

It’s not our scope to discuss the pros and cons of Kaushik in men’s or women’s domain, but the point is who took this decision.

Its bureaucracy.

In the past, whenever controversies arose, ministers used to listen both sides. Their decisions used to come in the end. But, now here is one MS Gill, who first expresses his view even before anyone else takes it up. Since the minister’s view is open, and it is going to count, everyone in the consultative process (stake holders, media, opinion makers etc) are forced to toe minister’s line.

This Gill’s concern is less controversies on the newspapers and channels. He is concerned about his ministry not getting bad name and if so avoid it quickly, rather than issues sorted out on the basis of merit.

He takes up all the issues that are reported in the newspapers very next day. Its is good he is taking media seriously – that’s why KPS Gill is not IHF president, as MS Gill took the sting very seriously – but always go by what mammoth bureaucracy under him says. It is not surprising trait in him because, he himself was a bureaucrat for his bread and butter in all through his life.

The problem with bureaucracy is, they pick up a word or a phrase on some papers and twist the things the way they want. They don’t go by the essence or spirit of the things. In the Kaushik issue, most important things was what’s Kaushik’s option – men or women team coaching. Kaushik opinion was not central to the decision the bureaucrats have taken. That’s why the decision they have taken is going to defeat the purpose.

I remember vividly, during the Junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad, all questions regarding Charlesworth was posed to Suresh Kalmadi. This minister virtually pulled the mike from Kalmadi and started lecturing on patriotism, etc, and declared Ric is not needed in India.

So, the point is that major issues are decided this way.

Why do the legal guardians, the IHF and the IWHF, allow this happen?

Because, the IHF and the IWHF, have money for everything except bearing the cost of conducting trainings camps and paying coaches.

They have money, but they prefer to spend on other avoidable aspects like election, lavish parties etc.

Unless these two governing bodies of hockey stand on their own, use their resources for team building purposes, like any sports bodies are supposed to, things won’t improve.

Now just think over a point. Had Ric continued in India would have we come across another episode of absurdity?

Let MS Gill says in every forum that Indians will manage their own show, meaning no use of foreign coaches — thereby trumpeting his patriotic credentials — but as far as hockey is concerned, without genuine foreign coaches, there is no dawn for hockey.