The Quagmire of IOA

The Imperious and Bizarre Mindset of the IOC: Will Jacques Rogge Wake Up!

The imperious manner in which the IOC is bullying the IOA and the Government of India, in the procedure to be followed for the upcoming elections to be held for the office bearers in the executive committee of the IOA, must be resisted, at all cost by the GoI and wait for the outcome of this defiance and for how long. It is most bizarre that, the IOC, while having the provisions for regulating the age, duration and tenure of the members elected to the executive committee on a 70, 12 and 8 model in its own charter and constitution, is expressing umbrage and interpreting a similar practice by the IOA in keeping with the government’s sports code, as interference in the autonomous functioning of the association. Nothing could be more outlandish, ridiculous and vacuous on the part of the IOC to read into the entire matter, as one of imposing a government diktat upon the IOA, in contravention to its charter and constitution.

The whole story plays out like this, the office bearers of the NSFs and the SOAs / IOA were having it as good as it gets, by hanging on to their chairs in their respective executive committees, for near perpetuity and without accountability to the country and its sportsperson. Age, duration and tenure were of little concern to these sports administration and management aficionados, who were running the NSFs, SOAs and the IOA as their personal fiefdoms, without any regulation from an outside authority, more so the government, through its sports minister. The idea was to reign in these office bearers, who were making merry at the cost of the tax payer and the marginalised sportsperson. Sick with the goings on in these sports bodies, eminent and well meaning sportsperson came together to form an organization Clean Sports India (CSI), as a pressure group to prevail over the government and push it to do something about the goings on in the administration and management of sports bodies, wherein, sports had been largely politicised and management best practices were literally thrown out of the window. The erstwhile sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyyar , made an attempt to do this during the run up to the Delhi Commonwealth Games, but was axed from his charge owing to a fait accompli situation, which then prevailed and India’s prestige was at stake for failing to live up to its commitment to the Commonwealth Nations. The chairman of the Organizing Committee, the bombastic and hot air and nothing else Suresh Kalmadi, was mainly behind this change. It was then that MS Gill stepped into the shoes of the sports minister and saw the conduct of the Commonwealth Games, in an exemplary manner. However his halcyon days were short lived, and in the wake of the tomes of scams which emerged from the office of the Chairman Organizing Committee, he too was eased out from his ministry. It was MS Gill who had the proud distinction to be the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, smelled the coffee and accordingly introduced the government’s Sports Code, for implementation in the functioning and procedures of these sports bodies. Where had he faulted in articulating and codifying, what already exists in the IOC charter and its constitution? It was a management best practice, which had seen the strangle hold of Avery Brundage and Juan Antonio Samaranch, which ran for years and years, as the President / Chairman of the IOC come to a thankful end. This provided an opportunity to young and fresh blood to make a foray into the coveted office of the IOC, and which essentially brought in new ideas and practices, for the good of sport and athletes, round the world. The Delhi High Court upheld the contention of the government, when this was challenged by the IOA, who premised their argument and defence on the escape clause in the charter and constitution of the IOC; forbidding any government or third party interference in the affairs of the IOA. Therefore, while VK Malhotra, who has been heading the Archery Association for more than 40 years and had thus become ineligible on grounds of age and tenure, shot off a letter to the IOC headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland), informing them about the situation as it obtains and the elections being held in accordance with the government’s directive as enshrined in the Sports Code. This immediately evinced a response and reaction from the IOC, who averred this as government interference, notwithstanding the fact that the same model of 70, 12 and 8 is being followed in their own charter and constitution. A mischief had been played by this blubber nosed politician and acting president of the IOA. How? It also made Randhir Singh, who is the present Secretary General of the IOA, ineligible to contest for any office in the executive committee, owing to the embargo of duration and tenure, which he succumbs to. This brought in the corpulent Abhay Singh Chautala, a politician from the INLD party of Haryana and an associate of the NDA as well as the Chairman of the IABF, into the fray. Keeping in mind the muscle and money power, which is available to Abhay Chautala, all others who had a desire to contest for the office of President IOA, gracefully withdrew from the contest, leaving the field open for him to get elected un opposed, as and when the elections are held in the IOA. Randhir Singh, who is also an executive member of the Olympics Committee of Asia (OCA), is looking at the IOC’s threat to derecognise the IOA, to put pressure on the government and leverage his chances to get elected as the President. This is his only ploy to scuttle the wicked and gross act of VK Malhotra, who could as well work out an understanding with Chautala to let him contest for the office of the President, this time and then pass on the baton to him subsequently, when age will probably take its toll and have him tottering and unlikely to hold the same office.

So how does the scenario, unfold itself, in light of the calculus which exists in the IOA? Jacques Rogge the Chairman of the IOC is hell bent on bullying the Indian Government and behaves in a most imperious manner by arm twisting it by the threat of de recognising the IOA, and to follow its policy on non interference in the affairs of the IOA, even when its take on the matter of age, duration and tenure is congruent to what the Sports Code encapsulates. VK Malhotra, the wily old fox of politics, is licking his jowls on the sidelines to see what happens and give him a very probable and likely chance to become the President of IOA. Chautala is keeping his cards close to his chest and is planning on how to upstage both Malhotra and Randhir, depending on how things play out in the National and International domains. And, the shameless, Lalit Bhanot has his fate in the future executive committee, very closely linked to the fortunes of Chautala.

I, would rather prefer that, the government dig its heels on the issue and see how it can manage the crisis which engulfs Indian Sport. When a push becomes a shove, it demands of our government to show its strength against the colonial mindset of the IOC. Should the government give in to the most unrealistic appeal and action of the IOC, it would have surrendered an excellent opportunity to cleanse Indian Sport of rampant politicking and unscrupulous politicians, who exploit the forum for expediency than genuine love for sports.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

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The Mess in the IOA

The Destruction of Sports in India

Ever since Suresh Kalmadi, the disgraced and criminally charge sheeted erstwhile President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), made his foray into the management and administration of first the Indian Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) and subsequently the IOA, the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the State Olympic Associations (SOAs) were politicized and made into the personal fiefdoms of politicians; who did little else than exploit their charge for making their presence in their political constituency, for political gains and advantage. The other minions who bent over backwards to please and help sustain these pseudo sports leaders for near perpetuity, enjoyed the loot that was on offer as a quid pro quo for the trust reposed in them through the instrument of the vote cast in their favour, in the democratic dispensation that governs the constitution of sports bodies. The present imbroglio which has ensnared the elections to the offices in the executive committee is a disaster which was waiting to happen, sooner than later. The corpulent and vernacular Abhay Singh Chautala, who is the sole aspirant to the post of President IOA and is most likely to be elected unopposed in the elections, as and when these are held in the immediate future, is himself involved in a controversy for the arbitrary manner in which the elections in the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) were held, wherein his brother in law has been passed on the baton for a period of four years to preside over the future of the pugilists, who will train and compete under the aegis of the said federation. Not only that, to add insult to injury, he has supported the candidature of a tainted person, who made national headlines by philosophically espousing different hygiene standards of Indians and Europeans, during the turbulent build up to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, 2010. He is none other than the scam embroiled Dr Lalit Bhanot, who is contesting un opposed for the office of the Secretary General IOA.

Like the politics of the country and its disgraced politicians, the fate of the IOA and the NSFs / SOAs is no different, wherein criminals who were lodged in the country’s Tihar Jail, continue to take shelter behind the facade of not having been proven guilty in a court of law, which moves like a donkey in dispensing judgement. While a judgement awaits promulgation, the interim period is used to advantage by the accused, under the labyrinthine tenets and provisions of law. The argument is used to justify assertions of little minds, which hide behind the canons and procedures of Indian jurisprudence. The political leadership of the country is replete with examples of such lumpish persons, who become a precedent to quote when arguing in favour of venality in public life. Lalit Bhanot and his future first executive in the IOA are persons who flog this argument to their positional advantage. What has sports management and administration in the country come to? Where the country is at a loss to find such suitable persons to tenant the pivotal offices of the President and Secretary General of the apex body, IOA. There couldn’t be a bigger shame to engulf the country’s sport, at a time when things are looking bright for its sportspersons in the wake of their performance in the just concluded London Games. The prospect of the IOA being de recognised by the international conglomeration of national sports associations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and being debarred from participating in events held under its aegis, is a loaded possibility that stares Indian sportspersons.

Having anticipated the existing situation as it seizes Indian sports today, I as the Secretary of the Army Sports Control Board (ASCB) had put up a proposal to the Chairman Integrated Staff (CIS) to the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CSC), way back in 2004, to restructure the sports organization within the Armed Forces and make an attempt to seek affiliation of each of the Services, viz Army, Navy, and Air Force to the NSFs and the IOA. This would enable the Services to leverage its interests within the federation and the association and take control of the happenings, as these would affect and impact sports and sportspersons. By making this happen, each of the Service would have had three votes in the election process to any of the office bearers in either the NSFs or else the IOA. In a democratic dispensation where numbers and correspondingly votes is an imperative ingredient to acquire authority or else enable to make a good choice of people to steer sports bodies for the larger good of sports and sportspersons, ours would have been a major presence to contend with. But it was most unfortunate that, the proposal was dropped for considerations which emanated more from the colour of the uniforms than any objections to its inherent merits. Well, that is how many a good suggestion or else a recommendation is dropped, only because it stems from abject parochialism than a larger good that encompasses the interests of the multitude. And history is replete with such instances, which spring up from time to time, only to be ignored by those who could have shown some sagacity and vision for a noble cause, which serves the interests of a much larger spread of people. Had we exerted our will at that point in time to go with the proposal of seeking individual affiliations for the Army, Navy and The Air Force, ours would have been a conglomerate which would have called the shots in cleansing the Augean Stables of Indian Sports.

The threat which looms large and real over the horizon of Indian Sports, with the rot which has eaten into the vitals of the sports bodies and has not been stemmed, could have possibly been avoided, had our Lt Generals, Air Marshals and Vice Admirals not succumbed to the demons of the mind, which always prevent one from taking a bold and out of the box decision. An opportunity was missed and we continue to wallow in the sad state of affairs, which obtain in our sports management and administration culture. The IOA is obdurate and pig headed in not adopting the very same provisos of the Olympics Charter as contained in clauses 16 (3) and 19 (2 and 3), regarding the age and tenure criterion of office bearers and as reiterated in the Sports Code Bill, enunciated by the Government. Thereby, making a case for the IOC to interpret the matter as one of Government interference in the affairs of the IOA and hence not maintainable in keeping with its constitution. The IOC, should it come true on its veiled threat, will put to shame the country and assail the sports interests of the country’s youth. What a pity that such a mess, has been given as a legacy by these unscrupulous politicians, who have been playing this joke on the people of India for far too long.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

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A Story of Valour, Recollected and Narrated

NURANANG DAY, 17^TH NOV HELD AT DEHRA DUN

The veterans of ‘Fighting Fourth’ Garhwal Rifles commemorated the 50^th anniversary of Nuranang Day, which was awarded to the battalion as the only Battle Honour for operations in the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), present Arunachal Pradesh; at the Defence Sainik Institute, Dehra Dun on 17^th Nov 2012. The gathering comprised a collection of senior veterans of the unit, their wives and the mother of the valorous Jaswant Singh Rawat, MVC (posthumous) whose deeds of dauntless courage and sacrifice are immortalised in the annals of military history. The event was presided over by none other than the nonagenarian ex commanding officer of the unit, Lt Col Inder Singh Rawat, KC who was given the onerous responsibility of putting it back on rails, after the ravaging happenings of the 1962 Sino – Indian war. Also present were the wife and daughter of Col Hasta Bahadur Rai, who had participated in the war and discharged his responsibilities as a company commander with great fortitude.

The proceedings were held in a very befitting, precise and solemn manner, as will do proud to any commemorative military event held anywhere. Rfn Jaswant Singh, MVC (posthumous) whose legend today lives on to inspire the ‘Garhwalis’ and others in service of their motherland, has immortalised himself in the memorial which exists in Nuranang, later re named as JASWANTGARH in his honour. The spirit which pervaded the event was full of unprecedented and singular camaraderie, while recollecting the saga of exceptional bravery, doughty courage and extreme professionalism; as was displayed by the unit in those very trying and difficult times and as recorded in the pages of the Regiment’s history. The veterans, who had come in large numbers from all over in Uttarakhand, resolved to make this commemoration into an annual event and approved the establishing of a Trust Fund, essentially to help organize it with due military propriety. It was a matter of great pride for all those who were present that, while they were here in a spirit of brotherhood and solidarity, the Colonel of the Regiment of Garhwal Rifles and Garhwal Scouts, Lt Gen Ata Hasnain, who is the Military Secretary and a principal staff officer to the Chief of Army Staff, was laying a wreath at the JASWANTGARH memorial in Arunachal Pradesh.

The unit had suffered very heavy casualties in this war, which included 3 Officers, 4 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), 148 Other Ranks (Ors) and 7 Non Combatants (Enrolled), killed in action. The battalion received the following gallantry awards -:

Maha Vir Chakra

Lt Col B M Bhattacharjea (CO)

Rfn Jaswant Singh Rawat (Posthumous)

Vir Chakra

2^nd Lt V K Goswami (Posthumous)

2^nd Lt S N Tandon

Sub Udai Singh Rawat

Jem Jatan Singh Gusain

U/P/L Nk Trilok Singh Negi (Posthumous)

Rfn Gopal Singh Gusain

Rfn Madan Singh Rawat (Posthumous)

Sena Medal

Nk Ranjit Singh Gusain

Mention in Despatches

Jem Gabar Singh Rawat

It will also be pertinent to mention here that 4 Garhwal Rifles, which has a proud history of gallantry, has also acquired for itself the singular honour of having represented the Indian Army in the CAMBRIAN PATROL on three occasions, which is held in England as a test of junior level professionalism in the Army’s of the world and won a Bronze and Silver medal. The battalion is surely a crowning glory of not only the Garhwal Regiment but the Indian Army.  

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

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