‘It’s a relationship of convenience between Bureaucrats, Politicians and Coaches. It is tough to get money or Govt. support for a Coach to organize a championship meet. For Bureaucrat, it is a good opportunity to cut a ribbon, be seated in the front seat along with similar others, shout at his subordinates for not managing the resources well, and go home thinking that he helped the sport. For politician, it is the eyeballs, a chance to polish his upcoming speech and recruit for his gang of booth-capturers. What ends up happening is that most Bureaucrats become part-time sport administrators and Politicians take higher up posts. Thus, the sport is administered pretty much like our country; an ill-fed elephant of whom we want to be proud but end up getting frustrated when it doesn’t move. ‘
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The text attached to the pic – ‘To be close to an elephant’, I took is excellent. Have a read.
Oh, to be close to an elephant, that creature grand and elegant, that wrinkled skin craggy and gray with a big heart beating like a drum, next to it I’d feel no ill nor glum. I want to be close to eyes searching man’s intent, eyes that see how often we’re bent on imposing our will and truss all the things surrounding us. I want to be close to mighty feet that do not trample for idle pleasure, I want to be close to such a measure, a treasure of true dignity. How can it be that such being here we see that posses’ so mighty a power yet is not inclined to mindlessly devour all that is in its path? It does not “throw around its weight”, does not easily fall into a provoked state. To such a creature I want to be near for there is no fear that it would ever crush the things I hold dear.
© Thorsten Becker
‘…My father rarely asked me while I was growing up, what I wanted to become. He usually didn’t know what year of studies I was in when asked. His awareness was same for my brother and two sisters.
It’s not that he didn’t care. He did. He was very proud when I became the first graduate of our family. He talked about my ‘good’ second class for years after, since my younger brother barely scraped through college.
Today, when I see parents in Talkatora Stadium dropping off their kids for an early morning tennis practice, I can’t help but smile to myself thinking what my father would have said. His Chaudhary heart cared for all village kids’ well-being equally and such individual kid attention would have made him laugh. I personally have, for years, struggled with the balance of being an affectionate father and a stoic coach. Only when I am turning Grandfatherly that I am listening to the father inside me more.
In Bhiwani, I spoke with my Asst. Coach, who was at the last held trials, about Jasbir. I wanted to find out why I felt some bitterness in Jasbir’s voice when I congratulated him…..’
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I am working on a book. It’s a story of an Indian Boxer. I still don’t have a title. I am posting this to see initial reaction on it. I am still not sure when I will be able to finish it but it gives me something to work on during my idle time or plan my travels and meeting for it.
I will be posting some more excerpts as and when I make progress. Till then any kind of feedback is welcome.
‘…I could see the same restlessness to transcend the norms of life that is expected out of a village lad in Jasbir. Later when I found him in a Boxing ring, the angry eyes made sense to me.
Anger is the anchor for boxing. Hitler and Gandhi were both very angry people and knew how to express their anger. One wrote a bloody history while the other spoke of only peace and non-violence. If they had chosen to box, they would have made great boxers. However, both knew words and pens were bigger weapons than fists.
Yes, anger to change the world is what makes a great boxer. And Jasbir was a very angry young village boy endowed with a great physique….’
