Spadework at grassroots

This weekend at the Shivaji Stadium there will be a tribe of hockey players trying to find their roots on the astroturf. Twenty-four all-adi...

This weekend at the Shivaji Stadium there will be a tribe of hockey players trying to find their roots on the astroturf. Twenty-four all-adivasi teams consisting of players now settled in the Capital will compete for the first prize of Rs 10,000. This is a far cry from the tournaments back home where they all grew up playing bare-feet for the modest top prize of either a goat or a fowl.

While Punjab is seen as the hockey heartland, the contribution made by their poor cousins from Jharkhand and Orissa is quite significant to neglect. India’s first captain Jaipal Singh, who began the golden trail in the Olympic arena at Amsterdam in 1928, was an adivasi. Over the years, players like Michael Kindo, Dung Dung and the present national crop like Dilip Tirkey, Ignace Tirkey, Bimal Lakra have kept the tribal presence alive.

Though such tribal tournaments have been played in the past, the stepping in of the YMCA for the first time will give an organised look with a handsome prize money to boot. The reason for YMCA’s involvement, according to the president of Delhi wing Elwin Nathaniel, is: ‘‘Through this tournament our effort would be to give a chance to the underprivileged adivasi players to excel in their traditional game.’’ While YMCA will be footing all the bill, the New Delhi Municipal Council will be chipping in by making the Shivaji Stadium available at a heavy discount. The previous organisers too are pleased with the interest in tribal hockey. Sushil Barla and Dr Cecil Khakha, who have organised low-key events in the past, agree that a pro-touch was needed for this tournament.

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Dr Khakha says, ‘‘Even if one player emerges on the national scene it will be a great day for all of us.’’ And adds with a smile, ‘‘It will be a fitting tribute to Jaipal.’’

The competitive mood on the field will be in contrast to the atmosphere in the stands. Since the adivasis are a close-knit community, the atmosphere in the stands is bound to be festive. Since all the games will be played on weekends it will be hockey carnival with women and kids coming in droves.