Clean the System, For Good of Sports in India

A KNOCK OUT PUNCH TO INDIAN BOXING

It was in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games that, India came closest till then, to win a Bronze medal in boxing in the Light Heavy weight category, when Gurcharan Singh of the Indian Army, who in the quarter finals and in the last round was leading his Russian opponent by 1 point, with just about 30 seconds left for the bout to end, but gave away his lead and lost. He was heartbroken as was the Indian contingent and sports lovers back home in India. But, the positive which came from this defeat was the hope, which discarded the thought of sporting performance being majorly dependent on genetic endowment alone and Indians by and large not up to it at the World and Olympics level, in power sports and games. It was in the reality of this national disappointment and pain of winning just one Bronze medal by Karnam Malleswari in women’s weight lifting that, the then Chief of Army Staff, General S Padmanabham, who was pleaded with and goaded by none other than Lt Gen H B Kala, who was then the General Officer Commanding in Chief, Army Training Command with its HQ in Simla, tasked the Army Sports Control Board in the Army HQ to launch Mission Olympics with the aim of winning medals at international levels, including World Championships and the Summer Olympics. The Army true to its character and purpose, within a challenging span of a year and by mid 2002, established the Army Sports Institute at Pune, as also four Nodal Centers of Competitive Sports in the disciplines of Shooting, Sailing, Rowing and Equestrian. Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore, who was honed as an international Double Trap shooter as part of Mission Olympics, did the country proud by winning an individual Silver medal in his event at Athens in 2004. It was indeed a very long wait of 100 years, since the commencement of the modern Olympics, that an individual Silver medal had been won by an Indian athlete. This validated the belief of Paddy (as the Chief is fondly known in the Army and Hira Kala) in our sportspersons having it in them to make it big, even if it is the Olympics. This achievement was bettered by Abhinav Bindra in the Beijing Olympics, by winning Gold in Air Rifle Shooting and Vijender Singh and Shushil Kumar a Bronze each, for the first time ever in Boxing and only the second time after a more than 60 years wait in Wrestling, respectively. The myth of the Indian sportsmen not having the ability to win individual medals in the Olympics was thus dumped forever and the past forgotten in the emerging horizon of the glorious future, which sports in India was looking at.

The Army, as part of its sporting culture and professional demands of aggressiveness, courage and marksmanship, has a history of exposing its trainees, soldiers and officers to boxing and shooting, not only as mandatory activities but also as part of its recreational physical training. Therefore, the army and the forces have not only contributed sportsmen in handsome measure to these sports, but also provided the management and administrative bulwark for the running of the National Federations, which govern and control these sports. In recent years, Brig Desmond Devine Jones, Capt Adjania and Brig P K Murlidharan Raja had given a vision, solidity and momentum to amateur boxing and all those pugilists who actualized their potential at the Asian, Commonwealth, World and Olympics levels. These aficionados, by their dedication, commitment, diligence and love for the sport had done all the spade work, which today provides the platform for our established and budding pugilists to perform at the apex level of competitive sport. Many army achievers at the Asian, Commonwealth and World level after they hung their gloves took to coaching and training of sub juniors and juniors and eased them into Opens competition. It was a consequence of the tireless efforts and visionary direction given towards developing elite boxing in the past, that in the recently concluded London Games of 2012, India fielded a very rich crop of about 8 boxers in the men’s and the celebrated Mary Kom in the women’s category respectively, in which she won a Bronze medal. The credit for this to a very large extent goes to Brig P K Murlidharan Raja, who like an ant worked for the winter when it was summer and for the summer when it was winter. Single minded devotion for the ten years that, he was the Secretary General of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF). Raja and I served together in the Army HQ for three years and he was like a devil possessed who was bowling from both ends, to borrow from a cricketing analogy, for advancing the standard of Boxing, which was aimed at getting as many qualifiers for the Olympics. His effort did yield the desired results with the unprecedented number of qualifiers in the London Olympics and the first individual Bronze medal in the women’s category.

While Brig Raja’s motivation and inspiration was excellence, the President of the IABF Abhay Chautala, whom he served as his Secretary General, was the chair of the President Indian Olympic Association (IOA). This, after another scamster and self proclaimed sports aficionado Suresh Kalmadi, who as the then reigning President of the IOA, had cooked his chips by being charged with huge corruption in the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 and was incarcerated in the Tihar jail. Thus, this was the window of opportunity for Abhay Chautala to give finality to his life’s yearning ambition of becoming the President IOA. Be that as it may, Chautala also wanted to continue calling the shots in the IABF and in an unprecedented move amended the Federation’s Constitution, to have him installed as its Patron and only yielded his vacant slot of President, to his brother in law in a sham process of elections. The rules were brazenly flouted and the minions of the IABF fell in line, to accommodate the diktat and desire of Abhay Chautala. After all, with him certain to become the President IOA, who had the courage or else the stupidity to challenge his writ? But, sadly for Chautala and the good of Indian sport, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not play ball with him and arm twisted the IOA to hold fresh elections, precluding tainted and corrupt people from contesting for offices in the IOA. The axe of the IOC fell on Chautala and his election as President IOA was quashed.

By now, the World Body of Boxing, the Amateur International Boxing Federation (AIBF), which was watching all the wrong doings happening in the IABF, took stock of the situation and issued a fiat demanding transparency and equity in the election process of office bearers. It gave a firm and resolute warning to the IABF to amend its Constitution and make it to conform to international best practices, as obtain the world over. When, the IABF hesitated in complying with the AIBA direction, it was threatened with de recognition from the World Body. More feet dragging by IABF, finally resulted in its recent expulsion from AIBA and de recognition. A very sad day for Indian boxing and all those pugilists who were looking forward to a Golden period, wherein their aspirations would fructify into a personal sense of achievement, sporting glory and National pride and honor. The desire to control and manipulate the National Sports Federation turfs, by the likes of Chautala and the disgraced and ousted erstwhile President of IOA, Kalmadi have not only disgraced the country among the brotherhood of World Sports Federations, but also hurt the interests and ambitions of all those sportspersons who train with their sweat and blood for the pursuit of excellence. The politicians and their cronies have done irreparable damage to the management and administration of National Sports Federations, wherein achievers have won despite the System and not because of it. One feels immensely pained and hurt at what Kalmadi and Chautala have done to the untiring efforts of all those sports administrators, trainers, sportspersons,  sports scientists, corporate houses, institutions etc who have continued to chip in with their abilities, organizational capacity, funds, skills and commitment to enhance National pride through sports achievements at the World and Olympics levels.

The AIBA has indeed given a knockout punch to IABF, only because of the greed and avarice of our politicians, who use their position as Heads of various National Sports Federations, to further their self serving interests only and nothing more. While Modi screams and rants from every dais, which he occupies while making his pre election speeches by saying “India First”, Chautala believes in only ‘I first’. I think, with the way things are in the National Sports Federations, eminent sportspersons and genuine sports administrators /managers need to come together and provide a viable option to the expedient shenanigans of the politicians, who have done to sports what they have to the country. The sense is conveyed by a monosyllable and which is ‘Pathetic’.

Brig S D Dangwal                 

Chief Minister, Are You Listening

RESPECT THE CHALLENGE BEFORE OVERCOMING IT

The change in the political leadership in the State on 01 Feb 2014, with the grass roots Congress worker and subsequent leader Harish Rawat, who was rightfully deserving of the position immediately after the Party had gone ‘first past the post’ in the Assembly elections, has rung in frenetic governmental activity comprising essential, much needed and overdue, and some populous schemes aimed at the restoration, growth, development and administrative gingering up of the bureaucracy in Uttarakhand. All of which is welcome and necessary, more so in the wake of the devastation that visited the upper reaches of the hill districts, from which the affected districts are still limping back to normalcy. Rawat, was anointed as the leader of the executive by the Party authorities, primarily to give the requisite impetus and momentum to the snail paced relief and restoration work, that has punctured the Congress image here and is likely to adversely impact its chances of returning the four Members of Parliament that it presently has in the 15^th Lok Sabha. With the reins of the Congress having been handed over to Rahul Gandhi, who as its Vice President and the youthful leader charged to take the Party to electoral victory in the coming General Elections, the challenge is more than Herculean and probably beyond the realm of possibility. But, political astuteness demands putting up a brave front, be imbued with hope and bank on an advantageous cross voting pattern, imposed by the national and regional parties, which are in the electoral fray. In a worst case scenario, should victory not be in sight then the endeavor is to threaten and stop the Modi juggernaut from coming into power and staking claim for the formation of a government in the Centre. When winning is not an option, then be a spoil sport and ruin the other’s chance. The CM is considered to be the best that the Congress has in its fold in Uttarakhand, to deliver on this political strategy. The change of guard, with just three months before the process of going into elections is a calculated and desperate attempt to operationalize this stratagem and win all five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand.

Harish Rawat, is a long standing politician who has made a niche for himself in the State by the sheer dint of his hard work, Party allegiance and loyalty to the Gandhi family. Therefore, while he has a very appreciable understanding of the social, cultural, geographical, economic and local issues which abound and exist in the 13 districts of Uttarakhand; he also has the administrative acumen to lead his cabinet ministers and the bureaucracy towards meaningful governance. The same cannot be said about his predecessor, who wasted much of the time he had in the interregnum between the devastation in Jun 2013 and up to Jan 2014, to provide the much promised relief, restoration and re building required to bring normalcy to the affected regions. Aware as we are, that the lines of communication as these exist in the hills are solely road bound, therefore their state and condition is imperative for the desired connectivity, which these provide to the people for their sustenance and survival. The roads are the lifeline of the people and their access to food, health, education, agriculture, water, social demands, provisioning etc. Moreover, with religious tourism being a major source of earning and commercial activity of the local people here, they are hugely dependent on the successful conduct of the ‘Yatra Season’. The roads leading to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Hemkund, Gangotri and Yamunotri have all been severely damaged and washed away at places. The bridges, where these were earlier are no more there and the road alignment at places has changed all together. With the timeline for the portals of the Kedarnath temple to open at 6 AM on 04 May 2014 is a huge challenge which the CM faces, to open the road axis for the pilgrims. Similarly, the other shrines are equally affected and access to these is far from ready. Harish Rawat has made the building of those roads and bridges, which serve these shrines as a matter of prestige and honor for his Government, with an eye on the coming elections. He realizes that the political spinoff of this achievement will be huge and will boost his governance ability among his colleagues, as none other. But sadly, what is important for him is also to understand that the mountains have become extremely fragile and any attempt to undertake reconstruction activity, without the use of adequate modern technology, which goes into the making of roads here is pregnant with danger and waste of time, money and effort. Mr Rawat, it will be well worth it “should you first respect the challenge, before you try and overcome it”. It is rather surprising that now the CM has tasked the PWD, DIG Martolia and Col Ajai Kothiyal, Principal NIM, Uttarkashi to work towards this objective. To me it seems a disastrous decision, which will be replete with construction flaws, inconsistencies, leadership failure and foolhardiness to challenge nature and discard commonsense. With the weather being erratic and the ecology being extremely sensitive and delicate, it is any bodies’ guess that what will be constructed and made will be sub standard and vulnerable. The government may have to pay a huge price in their eagerness to push through their ambitious agenda, of challenging nature and its several ramifications in attempting to do something which should not be done at all. The desperation of the CM is evident in the fact that, the PWD has been tasked with the job in the absence of the DGBRO and a police and an army officer from the infantry, have been co opted in a civil engineering specialized road building undertaking, even if as task force commanders. I, wonder if it is the right thing to do in the existing circumstances. Rather, the CM should have the courage to take a political decision in the matter and not rush things up to meet the astrological deadline of making the roads accessible to the pilgrims, when the portals of the various shrines are ordained to open.

Brig S D Dangwal       

THE HAND THAT GIVES

UTTARAKHAND EX SERVICEMAN LEAGUE – A JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF THE STATE

The people of the hill districts of Uttarkashi and Karanprayag who suffered great loss of life, animals and property in the devastating deluge that gripped the geographical territory of these regions, swear by the trust that they have in “the hand that gives” and is officially designated as the Uttarakhand Ex Serviceman League (UESL). The outstanding work done during the crisis by the troops of Garhwal Scouts, 9 Independent Mountain Brigade, 6 Mountain Divison, Uttarakhand Sub Area, Para Military Forces, Central Armed Police, Uttarakhand Police, Indian Air Force and staff of Nehru Institiute of Mountaineering (NIM) Uttarkashi, under the daring and inspiring leadership of its Principal Col Ajay Kothiyal, SC, KC, VSM has been etched into the hearts of the hill folks, who consider them to be their saviors. It was in the aftermath of the rescue operations and in the second phase of the effort of rehabilitation, that the UESL under the stewardship of its core group and the “go ahead” given by its President Lt Gen H B Kala, PVSM, SC, AVSM seized the initiative to reach out to the ill fated people, who were consumed by the unfortunate tragedy and calamity. Driven by an enduring passion to help and provide succor to those members of our society who are distressed by circumstances and natural catastrophe, Brig R S Rawat, VSM and his dedicated band of a handful of officers, mobilized funds and resources through voluntary donations from the Ex Servicemen Community (ESM), Corporate Houses, NGOs, Charitable and Welfare Organizations etc and provided relief material to include composite rations, blankets, lanterns, stoves, water filters, sweaters, balaclava caps, socks, mittens and copies and writing material for students. These stores and materials were transported to the afflicted areas, which had been identified earlier by a network of deputed ESM who live there and distributed through the conduit of the Gram Pradhans and Block Pramukhs. The UESL continues to remain committed to garner more funds through its dedicated fraternity of ESMs and provide more and more relief to those who are in need, in the upper reaches of this Himalayan region.

It was very heartening to notice during the Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) of the UESL held at Regent Hotel on 25^th Feb 2014, the resolve of the House to complement and support all efforts of the State and Central Government machinery, to alleviate the sufferings of the people who constitute the indigenous population of the Hill State. While there is no gainsaying about the Armed Forces being the last bastion of the Nation’s integrity and security, it is a truism that the veterans who abound Uttarakhand and elsewhere are equally up to the challenges which civil society faces, in times of natural disasters and manmade tragedies. This is not done as part of a financial compensation received for any and all services rendered, but instead exclusively done as an intrinsic self less commitment, as a payback to society and its less fortunate people. There is character written all over this dedication, without an ounce of expectation or else reward. Nation building is a process in which the ESM is always willing to contribute and enhance, because of their inherent sense of patriotism, discipline and having a sound mind in a healthy body. It was in such an emotionally elevated and surcharged atmosphere of patriotic fervor, that the House was subsumed by the narration of the scant respect and regard, which the bureaucracy and the political leadership of the State have for the veterans. The hurt and pain which flowed from the voices of many representatives who had come from far and wide in Uttarakhand, was an apt testimony of this sentiment. The Secretary to the Chief Minister (CM) did not do himself proud when he had the impudence to tell the President of the UESL, that he did not have time to arrange for a meeting of the latter with the former. Neither did the previous CM show any sense of punctuality, dignity or courtesy as is his wont, when he arrived 25 minutes late for a Vijay Diwas function, to celebrate the victory of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 Indo - Pak War and did not even greet the senior most officer who was present there, the President of UESL, Lt Gen Hira Ballabh Kala (retd), PVSM, SC, AVSM. How sick and pathetic can the bureaucracy and the political leadership of the State get? There were others who expounded on the ongoing controversy regarding the unauthorized sale of army lease land in Pattharchatta Farm, in which the State Government and its executives are in cahoots with the real estate mafia to make a financial kill, aimed at lining their deep pockets from the sale of this swathe of land. The spirit and motivation of those who are in the know of this subterfuge and manipulation and are firm in their stand to prevent the authorities from this willful loot and plunder, are none other than ESM who live there about. It was by and large a very sad commentary which unfolded itself in the House and evoked some very passionate and strong responses. Nonetheless, it goes to the credit of the UESL that, notwithstanding the scurrilous manner in which the bureaucracy and political leadership of the State exposes itself and treats one of its most valued human resource, the ESM that, there was an unanimous consensus on putting our shoulders together and contribute in whatsoever manner we can, to come to the aid of the lackluster political leadership and confused and arrogant bureaucracy, in times of a State crisis. This is what we are and will always be, without pretensions.

It was also heartening to see Brig R S Rawat, VSM the force behind the relief operations to those afflicted in the recent tragedy that visited Uttarakhand, to be unanimously elected as the President of the UESL. It is he who has reiterated that, in the event of something unfortunate happening in the future also, we will not hesitate to seize the initiative and do all that we can to mitigate the sufferings of the people, to which we remain committed. The ESM fraternity does sincerely hope that, with the new Chief Minister in office, who has the reputation of being more rooted in the hill culture of humility and modesty, will give due consideration and just hearing to all such matters as impact and assail its dignity and interests. It is to remind the indifferent political leadership and pompous bureaucracy of Uttarakhand that, when the veterans are not respected and given their just place in society, which they are entitled to, then it is the State that is shamed and insulted and not just it’s ESM. We would definitely not want this to happen and are more than reassured that with Brig R S Rawat, VSM at the helm of the UESL, such a situation will not arise.

Brig S D Dangwal, VSM   

How Should AAP Play It in The Centre

AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME – PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY

The manner and intensity with which the enthusiasm of the youth and others is evident in support of the Arvind Kejriwal lead AAP in the urban and semi urban spread of the country, it is most likely that there will be an extremely fractured mandate given to the national and regional political parties in the coming 2014 General Elections. This, though a welcome indication, of the people of the country having at last found their spine by identifying with the most people friendly and honest political option, which the AAP has given to the near moribund and desperate Indian society, must be understood in the context of ‘ who should form the government in the Centre’? The outcome of the Delhi assembly elections and the formation of the state government with Mr Arvind Kejriwal as its hon’ble chief minister, has become the driver of the national upsurge of support for and identifying with the ideals and philosophy of an anti corruption AAP, in an enduring spirit of participatory democracy. This people’s wave and political movement in support of AAP, which could definitively impact the outcome in the share of seats in the Lok Sabha, which the two major national political parties will get, will pose a problem for the BJP and its allies in the NDA to form the government, with Narendra Modi as its Prime Minister. It is very unlikely that the BJP and its pre poll allies will be in a position to make a claim for the formation of a stable government, even while they may emerge as the largest alliance. There is a likelihood of a déjà vu at the Centre, as it happened in Delhi in the assembly elections, where BJP despite being the single largest party was unable to get a simple majority and prevent Arvind from becoming the chief minister.

In the event of this most expected likelihood in the outcome of results of the General Elections, which could force another election on the country, it will be in the best interests of all stakeholders that AAP extend support to the NDA, from within or without. The choice of this could well be left to the situation as it stands real time, then. The presence of elected AAP members who could well be first time parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha, will not only bring in fresh faces but a vibrancy that rejoices in the splendor of probity and an endearing spirit of selflessness and servant hood. This attitude will emphatically rub off on others in the treasury and opposition benches of the House, who are cynical about honesty and simplicity in public life and will therefore usher in a much awaited change, whose time has come. Given Mr Narendra Modi’s credentials and experience in governance as also his ability to establish a connect with the masses, who are influenced by his rhetorical oratory and loaded innuendos on the ruling government and its ministers including the Prime Minister, is a Hobson’s choice which must get exercised. It is too early for the AAP to be burdened with the onus of forming the government in the Centre, consequent to the 2014 elections. The opportunity should instead be used by the AAP parliamentarians to evolve and learn the nuances and the nuts and bolts of governance from the council of ministers and the craft and wiles of Mr Narendra Modi. This learning curve would stand the AAP members in good stead in the years to come and for the coming elections. Moreover, the seats which are won by the AAP candidates will engender the performance and chances of the party in the state elections, as and when and where these are held in the coming years. The Lok Sabha elections should be used by AAP not only for ushering in a climate of probity in governance but also to enhance their chances of forming

governments in those states where elections are due. It is the credibility of AAP and its acceptability across the length and breadth of the country, which will get substantially influenced and impacted by the outcome of the results of the Lok Sabha elections.

With the governments in the states being from political parties other than AAP, with the exception of Delhi, the thumb rule for the prospective candidates who contest the elections for the Lok Sabha should be to trumpet the ‘mantra’ of cleaning the system of the virus and cancer of corruption in most walks of public life in their respective constituencies. This is the most cogent and desirable slogan pronounced with conviction and sincerity, which the people are waiting to hear from their representatives. This is not the time to factor in local issues in their pronouncements and speeches, because these are actually quite beyond their control and ambit in a substantial manner, given the presence of existing legislators not willing to yield their turf to anyone. Any sign or show of exaggerated enthusiasm to address local issues and make a promise to resolve these, which essentially are not within their charge, will tantamount to making false and motivated claims, that when not delivered as promised will snowball into distrust and a loss of faith and be detrimental to the interests of AAP. The AAP candidates must maintain their exclusivity to address the issue of corruption as it obtains within the tiers of both the polity and the bureaucracy, in their respective parliamentary constituency. Because, it is the virus of corruption, which has essentially derailed the system of governance in most walks of public life and is the biggest affliction that irks, frustrates, angers and disgusts the people.

With a view to put a premium on our National interests, it will be best for AAP to support the NDA in the formation of a government at the Centre and use this opportunity to not only rein in corruption but also make its views, opinions and statements in stopping of Corporate Funding to  Political Parties, the Economic Development and Agricultural Growth of the Country, Investing in Infrastructure Development, Water Management, Energy Security, Poverty- Human Deprivation and its Alleviation, Fighting Terrorism, National Security, Centre – State Relations, Relations with Neighboring Countries etc. India is poised at the intersection of hope and despair, which participatory democracy and a tight leash on rampant corruption can slowly transform into a situation, which actualizes its potential and capacity.

Brig S D Dangwal  

Sena Bahulya Pradesh - Shashan Mein Bhagidari

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH GET GOING - LOK SABHA ELECTIONS IN UTTARAKHAND

It was some time back that, in my correspondences with Arvind Kejriwal about the state of things as these obtained in the country and the pathetic rhetoric and acts of realpolitik, which had besieged and overtaken any meaningful and visionary politics in the national domain, that he was confident and optimistic about a revolution and a change happening. My disgust and cynicism was premised on my understanding of the helplessness,  which had taken a bone crushing grip on the people of the country who were ensnared by the political system, that had embedded and entrenched itself in the past 64 years since independence and become a precursor of doom than hope. The only way, which gave hope to me was the outbreak of anarchy and a revolution, which settled with a military takeover or a dictatorship. But, Arvind and his courage to take the political satraps of the two national political parties in the elections for the assembly in the National Capital Region ( NCR) of Delhi, was the revolution and change that he was confident about. He, when challenged to enter politics and bring about the change, which he and his supporters were demanding from the political leadership of the country from the outside as citizens, took the dare and launched his own party, AAP. His gumption was steeped in the support and will of the people of an inclusive society comprising the poor, the underprivileged, the marginalized minority, and the burgeoning middle class as also the well heeled and rich who were equally suffering from the arrogance, political subterfuge and callousness of the government. That, the AAP has formed the government in Delhi with Arvind as its chief minister is a political miracle, which none had ever expected but is now history.

The success of AAP and the belief in participatory democracy, which it has brought into the heart and minds of the people, is the bigger narrative that is slowly and surely playing out in the country. With the coming general elections to the Lok Sabha scheduled in phases from April to May 2014, the youth and most other hapless and desperate people who have lost hope in the democratic system as it exists in the country, are simply gung ho on the likelihood of candidates of the AAP contesting from as many parliamentary constituencies and eating into the huge pie of 543 seats, that will be contested. The AAP being an embryonic political outfit must keep it simple and in keeping with what its national leader professes, servant hood with courage, humility and individual dignity. It is important that members and elected representatives of AAP do not get embroiled and inveigled into pontificating on various important, critical and sundry national issues and debates, which are aired in the public domain and are the electronic media’s oxygen, now. But instead wait, be patient with themselves and assert their integrity and intentions with solidarity and celebrate and share the belief of participative democracy, as best they can. After all it is not as if the country is going to come to a grinding halt in the absence of inputs from the AAP. The bureaucracy, technocrats, corporate houses and service providers who essentially are charged to run the affairs of the State and the Nation and do business, respectively will give adequate time and space to the new political dispensation to embed itself, grasp the nuances of governance, reflect upon policy making and take stock of the gaps which impact National interests and articulate effective measures to bridge these.

Uttarakhand returns five MPs to the Lok Sabha and it is an excellent opportunity for the AAP to contest all these seats in the coming elections. The massive and unfortunate disaster which befell the State in Jun 2013 and the suffering it has brought to the people of the hills, is a telling tale of the misgovernance and corruption, that the people of Uttarakhand have suffered at the hands of the two political parties which have steered its fortunes ever since its formation. None can come clear on this charge of lack of vision and humongous corruption at various levels of its political leadership and tiers of its supplicant bureaucracy. It is an open secret that, the previous and present governments have illegitimately profited from the coffers of the State and also from the dubious deals in real estate. The Disaster Relief Management Organization, which was to spontaneously act and help restore the situation during the devastation which struck Kedarnath, Rambara, Gaurikund, Guptkashi, Rudraprayag, Srinagar, Pithoragarh and Uttarkashi was more of a disaster itself and has been taken to the cleaners by many an informed persons.  Had it not been for the derring-do acts of the personnel of the army, air force, para military forces and the state police to some extent, the tragedy in loss of human lives could have been manifold more. When it came to the relief and rehabilitation work subsequently, many NGOs and civil society organizations and corporate houses as part of their responsibility towards society, put their best foot forward and are continuing to provide what best relief these can in terms of resources and material to those affected in the disaster. The Uttarakhand Ex Servicemen League (UESL) is one such organization, which is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and has done, and continues to do yeoman service for the afflicted people of the areas, which were struck by the unfortunate tragedy. The guiding spirit of this effort and initiative has been Brig (retd) Rajender Singh Rawat, Vishisht Seva Medal who is the secretary of UESL. There are many more such ex servicemen in the towns, villages and interior regions of Uttarakhand who have selflessly committed themselves to public service, without any obligation, expectation, monetary compensation or else favor. This is the spirit which identifies with the philosophy and thought process of the AAP and with which these veterans have performed for the good of their people. Therefore, it is people like these who risked their lives and who dug deep into their pockets which has only their pension to draw from, who should now participate in the political resurgence of Uttarakhand and make it fulfill the aspirations and ambitions of its people. The opportunity is huge and must be availed of, not for position, power or else status but simply service and providing a corruption free government. The State which is considered to be a ‘Sena Bahulya Pradesh’ must have a commensurate stake in its governance by these veterans, who are its shining glory. The outcome and the success of those who contest the coming Lok Sabha elections from the ex servicemen fraternity, will usher in a wave of desirable change and success in the Vidhan Sabha elections, as and when these are held. The AAP has a huge ground swell of support in the cities and upper reaches of Garhwal and Kumaon and all that is awaited is a deserving candidate from each of the five constituencies of Uttarakhand. Victory is assured, provided the AAP considers extending the date for the filing of candidature of those who are keen to contest and make it 30^th instead of 15^th Jan 2014.

The Ex Servicemen community of Uttarakhand is proud of the game changer in Indian politics, that Arvind Kejriwal and his team have turned out to be and put a huge premium on the participation of as many ex servicemen in the ranks of General, Brigadier, Colonel, Major, Captain and Personal Below Officer Rank (PBOR).

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

  

Voices from Uttarakhand

CAN WE RUN THE CLOCK BACK FOR UTTARAKHAND AND SAVE IT

The editorial team of Satish Sharma and Ashok Misra of Garhwal Post have done a yeoman service to the State by compiling and writing, Voices of Uttarakhand, a journal which comprises some excellently researched articles, penned by those who know and feel for the Himalayan regions of Garhwal and Kumaon. The articles essentially focus on the humongous tragedy that engulfed the State in the wake of the fury of nature unleashed upon it by the unprecedented rains, the argument over whether it was a human tragedy caused by man’s neglect or else God’s intervention, the ill preparedness of the State Government administration to cope with the situation, the fiasco of the Disaster Management Organization to address the emergency and the ubiquitous presence and sacrifice of the Armed Forces and the Para Military personnel, to prevent the mayhem from further escalating and exacerbating the tragedy.  Anyone, who is genuinely interested to learn about the circumstances, which actually brought about this situation and what can be done by the various stakeholders in the matter, to prevent a reoccurrence or else substantially mitigate the adverse consequences should it happen - then this is a must read. Unfortunately, what has undeniably emerged from the print of all the pages of the journal, without exception, is the callous, inefficient, incompetent, laidback, avaricious, apathetic and loathsome attitude of the Politico - Bureaucrat - Corporate nexus, which is loudly evident in the makings of the tragedy. The people too, to an extent were lured by the opportunity to make a quick buck by getting sucked into the quagmire of corruption, by being a party to it and seeking favours, which were illegitimate and in transgression of the rules which regulate real estate in Uttarakhand. The experts, who have written herein, are very apprehensive of the situation playing itself out yet again and again and the authorities, which should and must be responsible and accountable to the people; do not seem to be serious about the matter at all. 

The mistake that happened in respect of the ill-fated State of Uttarakhand was its statehood as and when it happened. The NDA government, which midwifed the birth of Uttarakhand in 1999, committed a grave error of judgement by granting full statehood to it. Rather, it should have been on the lines of being made a Union Territory, governed and administered by a Lt Governor and his advisors. It was and is the politics of Uttarakhand, which has brought the State to such a pass, where hope is the only constant that enthuses belief in governance. With the bounty of nature, the presence of the four places of Hindu pilgrimage, the rivers and the adventure tourism potential it offers, Uttarakhand is a blessed land that awaits world recognition. The incisive and brilliantly researched and presented articles of Dr Raghunandan Tolia, Sanjeev Chopra, Dhirendra Sharma, Prof B K Joshi, Pawan Jain, Dr V K Bahuguna, Avdhash Kaushal and others is a valuable treasury of ideas for policy formulation and adoption, which should be given continuity, irrespective of the political party which forms the Government. The problem is not that there is a dearth of good and implementable ideas, but instead of realpolitik hijacking these in the political reality which obtains in our democratic system. It is the politics of this State which is its worst enemy and the bête noire of its indigenous people for whom the State was supposedly formed and created. By plunging into statehood right away, instead of travelling the path of a development curve, sustained by the aspirations and interests of its people, which were futuristically hand held by the continuity of a dispensation in a Union Territory, has become our nemesis. If the ideas of people like Dr Raghunandan Tolia and Sanjeev Chopra, who illumine the Indian bureaucracy and have a comprehensive understanding of the ‘Nuts and Bolts’ of the culture, topography, weather and climatic conditions, agriculture and cropping patterns, problems of connectivity etc could only be implemented, the story of Uttarakhand would have been different and its people much better, healthier and happier.     

The challenge, which we face today, can be overcome should there be a consensus among its leaders at a grass roots level to ask for a referendum on reversing the decision of state hood and instead demand the status of a Union Territory, for Uttarakhand. It is only then that some good can come from what is left, because otherwise time is running out fast and furious for this Himalayan Region and the next few monsoons could as well spell a disaster, which will be beyond the capacity and capability of even the Armed Forces and the Para Military Organizations. While I may not be an Oracle, who foretells the doom of my beloved Uttarakhand, but the in your face indications and premonitions, which one gets to see and experience, respectively are definitive and very scary in terms of the human tragedy it will invite, sooner than later. The problem of this State is its very poor polity, difficult conditions, poor economy, lack of an industrial base, scarce agriculture potential of cash crops, corruption and a very mediocre bureaucracy. This gets further compounded with a lacklustre leadership, subservient bureaucracy, growing mafia nexus of the triumvirate and migration of youth from the hills in search of jobs and life enhancing opportunities, in the developed townships of the plains.

The picking is for the people to make, who have the freedom of choice of their actions but not the consequences thereof. Choose now or be prepared to perish in the years to come. The people of the plains will continue to flourish and prosper, but those who are its indigenous habitants will pay a very heavy price for sheer survival. Can Dr R S Tolia and those of his merit and ilk, stand up for the people of the hills to make this happen. 

Brig S D Dangwal 

Pathetic, To say The Least

HOW UNFORTUNATE TO LIVE IN ARBOREA AND SUFFER ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Arborea Luxury Homes, a residential housing complex on the Mussoorie – Sahastradhara byepass road, developed and constructed by Conscient Infrastructure Pvt Ltd Gurgaon, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, in the recent past. That, the owners and the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) have gone to the Consumer Commission, Dehra Dun and filed RTIs with the MDDA against Conscient, to redress the perceived wrongs, which they continue to live with, was reported in the print media sometime back. The owners have expressed their anguish and deserving umbrage at the litany of complaints, which they have regarding various matters of poor construction, structural defects, failure to deliver on the promises made in the sale’s brochure, maintenance issues, transparency in the accounting of interest free maintenance fund etc. Thereafter, followed two FIRs lodged with the Rajpur Poice Station and the Camp Office of the SSP, Dehra Dun by Brig and Mrs Neelam Dangwal, in the matter of an implied threat given to the veteran officer by a property dealer who lives in 9 Curzon Road and also has an apartment F – 402 in Arborea; and in the case of assault and affray with a lady by the gym attendant, on 17^th Oct 2013, in front of the complex facility.

   Notwithstanding this, what is more disturbing, shameful and a painful matter, is the poor and pathetic understanding of the latter incident of violence, which seized the understanding of the Executive Committee (EC) and made it to act in an inglorious and despicable manner by not being with and standing up for a fellow RWA member, in the horrific incident that has tarred the name of Arborea, when it happened on that unfortunate morning of 17^th Oct 2013, when a 57 years old lady, a Brigadier’s wife and a grandmother to a 9 years old grandchild was assaulted by an employee, the gymnasium attendant. Without showing any sense of due diligence and equanimity in their thinking, the President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Three Members and a Special Invitee to the EC meeting, while unanimously condemning the incident on 17 Oct, in a most strange turn around and volte face on their decision, completely alienated Mrs and Brig Dangwal by  not supporting them and refused to come together, in a show of deserving solidarity, on 18 Oct. The case was as transparent and clear as can be, assault on an elderly woman by an employee, irrespective of the circumstances which lead to it. But, unfortunately, in the stymied and facetiously loaded and prejudiced understanding of the esteemed members of the EC and the invitee member, it was opined that “It is considered to be a private matter of Brig and Mrs Dangwal and hence the EC does not wish to involve itself with the case” . It is a matter of extreme shame for the two women office bearers in the EC, who could not empathise with the pain and suffering of a fellow lady of the community, who had stood up for her self respect and dignity, in the face of extreme insolence and misbehaviour by an employee and was provoked and incited to slap him. And, at which, the gym attendant hit her back with his full force and might. The conduct, and wisdom or lack of it, of the men in this matter of assault on a lady; who comprise the EC and the special invitee to the EC meetings, is a very sad commentary on the state of the Arborea RWA, which has become so egoistic, insensitive, without moral and physical courage that, they consider a reprehensible act of violence against a lady member of the Society / Association, as a personal matter and not as a just cause to stand up for. It is most shameful that such men tenant office in the EC of the RWA of Arborea and another such man is called as an invitee to its meetings, for rendering profound and intelligent advice. Shame is a very mild and inadequate word to describe this act of such people, who have shamed the RWA and Indian Society at large.

 Mrs Neelam Dangwal, the lady who was assaulted by the gym attendant, has in the exercise of her judicial and civil society rights,taken all necessary actions to bring the guilty to book and have him sent to jail. Surprisingly, the vacuous and harebrained EC and the invitee member, in a most bizarre and ludicrous manner of becoming the investigating authority and the judge, a right which they never had and most gratuitously donned upon themselves, found Mrs Dangwal to be the errant party and hence completely disassociated itself from the matter. These men and women must understand that ‘Truth is its own Defense’ and does not require any evidence to either support it or else establish it. This is the travesty of justice at the routine and mundane level, when unintelligible, incompetent and mediocre people who do not understand the meaning of character and are without the requisite moral fibre to be just and wise, masquerade as self appointed adjudicators and conflict resolvers. The Indian society today is passing through a very precarious stage, wherein the ‘Khap’ style of justice prevails in the bucolic heartland of the country, in which they operate outside the boundaries and constraints of ‘Law of the Land’. The EC and its special invitee are no better or worse than the ‘Khap’. In fact, in the understanding of most people who respect women and show regards for their self worth and dignity; the despicable action of the EC and the special invitee is much worse than the self styled ‘Khap’ kangaroo courts, which are a disgrace to a civilized society in the 21^st century of a modern India.

One wonders, what has happened to the sense and understanding of all those who are literate but continue to remain uneducated. These are the upwardly mobile members of our society who are a stigma to its culture and heritage. We must surely protect ourselves from their shenanigans and not be carried away by their trappings of wealth and material indicators, which while providing them with superficial recognition, are no surety of their having the most rare of sense and which is ‘Common Sense”.

It is for the honourable members of the General Body of the RWA, to bring this matter in its next meeting and ask each and every member of the EC as also the special invitee, to render an unconditional apology to the House, for bringing it to disrepute and grave dishonour. I am certain and sure that given our culture and heritage, which idolises womanhood and respects women, wherein our literature and poetry eulogises a woman’s status in our Society by saying “ Yatra Poojte Nari, Tatra Ramante Deva”( where women are respected, the Gods live there); all sensible and unprejudiced people will uphold the dignity of a woman and castigate the EC for its disgusting, immature and pitiful understanding of their stand, as resolved in its Meeting of 18 Oct 2013.

I feel extremely sorry for the warped and pathetic thinking of all those who were party to this decision and PRAY FOR BETTER SENSE TO PREVAIL IN THEIR PERSON, FOR THEIR GOOD AND WELL BEING.

Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal

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