Open Letter To The Hon'ble Prime Minister Of India

H Thangzahao Haokip *

Prime Minister of India - Narendra Modi :: Pix - Media Cell, BJP, Manipur

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

As I learn from the media reports that you will be in Rio de Janerio sometime around 13 July for the final event of World Cup 2014 two things came to my mind – the first one is what will other Indians and people around the globe presumed to your proposed visit when Indian teams never got a representation in the world cup history; the second one is the courage you put up in visiting the greatest-ever world event in the absence of stakeholders from your country which I deeply adore.

Like many other Indians I, too hoped the best and finest thinking emerges from this visit of yours by setting up a robust team to represent India in the World Cup four years from now just to show 'we can' to the outside world who had a thinking unfavorable for India's representation in the World Cup and a time for fine-tuning and grooming a real India's team capable enough to win the World Cup twelve years from now, that too right during the days of your Prime Ministership.

One may called this assumption an impossible task but let us cheer up by the word of Napolean – the great French fighter who finds 'impossible' only in the fool's dictionary. If we keep on thinking India's representation in the World Cup as something difficult or impossible we will be a fool.

We have the potentials, we have the might, we have the resources, we have the capabilities and talents, our mental position is also always aboveboard to the rest of the world, then what really is lagging behind us that fails us to build up a good team for India till this time. This is just humiliating. Our failure to bring up a good team is our attitude. Morally, our attitude is down and very low – it cannot strengthen and sustain the spirit of a good teamwork.

When I talked about ATTITUDE it covers all the echelons of the sports fraternity – be it the central and the state government or the playing teams or a combination of both, which need to be free from favoritism, nepotism or even red-tapism when selections are made or when the team gears up for the playing-field. The arrangement need to be faultless to find adaptability of the players at all circumstances.

India's march toward grassroots development and high-tech arsenals and weapons improvement are stupendous but it became a SHAME when we cannot make a mark through partaking in the FIFA World Cup.

In the field of football our outstanding players like Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetry – the current Indian captain cannot do much to improve the Indian football team so is the all-time high Indian football player in the 80's Kiran Khongsai from Manipur did gets his leg injured from within, was maimed for life.

Despite all these hurdles and less-lucrative profession in India's outlook the enthusiasm in football doesn't died down. There are promising football players from the NE like Henry Gangte, Seikhohao Tuboi, Boithang Haokip etc – never a trained player yet they still create a name in the national stage. Mizoram is no exception to this. They have certain wonderful players like Malsawm.

A nation-fit in sports of all sorts is a robust nation. Giving the statistics of football players from NE the responsibilities to groom and build new Indian football team capable to take part even in World Cup 2018 can also be groomed from there.

For instance, if NE is given the responsibility our set-objective should be full funding the prize money at a competitive rates/standard as under the following heads –

A. Short Term Plan

Slno	Items	No of states/districts	Amount Allocated	Total Amount
1.	States	8	1,00,00,000	8,00,00,000
2.	Districts	–	–	–
a)	Manipur	9	50,00,000	4,50,00,000
b)	Nagaland	7	50,00,000	3,50,00,000
c)	Assam	18	50,00,000	9,00,00,000
d)	Arunachal	10	50,00,000	5,00,00,000
e)	Tripura	3	50,00,000	1,50,00,000
f)	Mizoram	2	50,00,000	1,00,00,000
g)	Meghalaya	5	50,00,000	2,50,00,000
h)	Sikkim	4	50,00,000	2,00,00,000
-	-	-	Total outlay	37,00,00,000

Earmarking a separate annual budget to the tune of Rs 37,00,00,000 initially can spearheaded the interest of the younger talents to a stronger force/vibrancy where we can pick the best talent when they play in the field not like the other time they played.

In the district level the district administration shall be the organizer of the tournament who will give away the prize money sponsored by the Centre to the best team. Similarly, at the state level the state government shall be the organizer of the state level tournament where district champion alone would took part to compete for the best team who will get the prize money sponsored by the Centre from the state government/organizer.

In such a way, of the 8 NE states that produce the state's best team a couple of best player from each team can be selected to further the formation of a strong national team.

When the national team are formed and gets its position consolidated they will be put up at an academy run by the Centre till it stands qualified for the World Cup. This is the short term measures – an ice breaking exercise for the World Cup.

B. Long Term Plan –

For the long term plan a patience planning starting from the scratch in the form of selection of pupil from 7yrs and above to impart the skills required for a successful footballer is needed. They should stay in a football academy to get requisite and timely on bound trainings.

The reason why I painstakingly choose NE states for a national football team is that they have a strong attitude – an important tool for the realization of dreams. The attitude of the people from NE states compared to those in the mainland India in terms of adaptability at rush hour during a play in the field were vastly different.

States of NE conducting a football tournament with a prize money above Rs 1,00,000 is never heard or is known so far. What is in practice or is known as of now is vying seriously for a prize money of less than Rs 50000. Yet their acumen and skills is not below-averaged. From this, we can just figure out that there is nothing at all except for the die-hard interest of the players that attracts attention of their interest – the love for football that is gaining momentum in the effort.

Basically there are many the players did not afford despite reaching such a scale of heights. It is only by dint of keen interest and the love for football that not owning a good meal or football boots or a daily balance diet becomes a hindrance. Though devoid from all sorts of luxury at the personal level and at the home front the enthusiasm of football players from the NE states never died down. This is an astounding marvel because with bare hands such a feat is able to be achieved.

Mr. PM, I therefore look forward that this august visit of yours – the closing ceremony of World Cup 2014 will bring beneficial results for India to start shining in the football world henceforth with a renewed vigour.

Admirably,
HT Haokip
L. Semoul Village,
Near District Jail,
Churachandpur – 795128
Manipur.

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* H Thangzahao Haokip wrote this article for Hueiyen Lanpao
The writer can be contacted at thangboi(dot)haokip(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was posted on June 25, 2014.

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