Dear Mr. Barve,
I have sent a copy of the below letter to goanet and some other goa related
groups and also to the local English dailies. You are free to translate the
same and submit to other newspapers.
Warm regards
Sandeep Heble
St. Inez, Panaji-Goa
Mob: 9326129171
The Goa State Chess Association Controversy
I have read the press note issued by Samir Salgaocar, President of the Goa
State Chess Association(GSCA), the contents of which will leave an extremely
bad taste in the mouth and show the association in extremely poor light.
Unlike most other sports associations which are mismanaged, the “GSCA” is one
of the better run ones and I had literally sung the hymns in awe of Samir
Salgaocar while speaking to a friend of his just a few days back, for all the
good work he has been doing as its President. To my utter shock and disbelief,
the President now drops this bombshell.
In the said press note, Mr. Salgaocar has criticized Mr. Barve’s “so called
outburst” against the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and has even gone to
the extent of convening a meeting to discuss the same.. I am not a professional
chess player but am an avid chess enthusiast, I do follow the game closely and,
as a member of JCI St. Inez, we regularly organize Chess Tournaments for school
children. Though I do not know Mr. Shrikant Barve personally and never had the
opportunity to meet him, I remember, on one occasion a couple of years back,
when we had an unpredictably huge response of participating children for our
tournament and we did not have enough chess boards to meet our requirement, we
called up Mr. Barve who instantly obliged without even a second thought.
Mr. Barve’s contributions to Chess in the city are second to none. Today, any
avid young chess enthusiast will have the name of the “Taleigao Chess Academy”
on his or her lips. If my memory serves me right, there were close to 300
children in the most recent tournament that the Academy organized in the
International Center at Dona Paola, such is the magic and hype he has managed
to create and the impact he has on the game in the State today.
The contents of the press note will surely raise a few eyebrows and will make
one wonder whether we are really living in a democratic country or not, whether
we really have democratic set-ups in our institutions or not. Mr. Barve made a
few observations on the game in his independent capacity, which is his due
right as a sportsman and more importantly as per the fundamental rights of
freedom of speech and free ex-pression that he enjoys as a citizen of India.
In fact, he has hit the nail right on its head when he has pointed out the
glaring disparities between cricket and other sports, in this case Chess. Isn’t
it a fact that on the International arena, the achievements of our cricketers
would pale in comparison when compared to those of our Chess Players like
Vishwanathan Anand or even our own 8 year old Ivana? And if Mr. Barve wants the
Chess Coaches and Players to earn more money, what, may I ask, is wrong with
that? Isn’t this a sincere demand made having the interests of the players at
large? Has the power of office gone to Mr. Salgaocar’s head to such an extent
that he thinks he can take away the fundamental rights vested to every citizen
by our Country’s Constitution?
Or do we see some hidden agenda here, the stink being kicked up for some other
reasons? Is Mr. Salgaocar, who presently occupies an important post in the
present managing committee of the “AICF” using this incident to boost his own
image in the eyes of his bosses in the “AICF”, as he has his own eyes set on
the highest post? Is Mr Salgaocar singing these tunes for his own supper?
Cheers
Sandeep Heble
Panjim-Goa
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