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India’s most renowned commentator recalls his golden days
By Paritosh Pramanik
SOME names need no introduction. They became a synonym for their trade. Anyone who grew up listening to Hindi music would not need an introduction for Mohd Rafi, Kishor Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. They were institutions by themselves. One such name, Jasdev Singh, though not related to Indian film industry, is in the same league but in the business of commentary.
In his several decades old career, Jasdev has been decorated with several titles — ‘Voice of India’, ‘The King of Commentary, ‘Pioneer of Hindi Commentary’, ‘Guru of Hindi Commentary’, A Broadcasting Legend’ and ‘Mr Commentary India’. Every Indian has spent several winters listening to his Independence Day and Republic Day parade commentaries.
One might not be listening to him since past few years but as the name Jasdev Singh pops up during discussion, memories of his commentaries, be it of Independence Day, R-Day or hockey matches or athletics refreshes one’s minds. ‘Mai Jasdev Singh bol raha hu’, one immediately starts imitating his style. It was the way he used to present live pictures through his voice when radio was the only medium of information.
Indians have grown up listening to the emotional, touching, euphoric, joyful voice of this commentator and today also he is remembered as one of the finest of Hindi commentators India has ever produced.
At 81, his hands might be quivering but even today his voice is the same as it used to be several decades before. The Delhi based Jasdev feels today’s crop of commentators are not getting proper training thus the art of commentary was losing shine a bit.
“Training is most important. Today, with so many avenues, commentators need a bit of training. They should prepare hard ahead of any assignment,” said Jasdev, while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ at his relative Dr Sanjay Bajaj’s residence.
“When I used to commentate, I would stay awake whole night. I would prepare, update myself for the next day. I used to jot down a few sentences on a piece of paper,” revealed Jasdev, who was conferred with the prestigious Padmashree award in 1985 and Padma Bhushan in 2008.
Talk about his days with microphone and Jasdev gets nostalgic. His never-ending but interesting incidents forced this scribe to unwillingly interrupt him in between.
“Once I was described by a French paper as a person who eats, sleeps and drinks commentary,” said Jasdev, who is the only Indian commentator to win the prestigious Olympic Order in 1998 at the hand of then IOC president Juan Antino Samaranch.
Recalling his early days, Jasdev said he fell in love with commentary when he was 16 years old.
“It was on January 31, 1948, the day when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, I decided to make career in this profession, that too in Hindi. I heard Melville De Mello’s, my idol, commentary on Radio. The way he presented picture of Gandhiji’s death forced me to fall in love of this profession.
“My mother first laughed at me because I studied in Urdu school and my Hindi was far from being a commentator,” mentioned Jasdev, who has covered nine Olympics, eight World Cups and six Asian Games apart from live commentaries on Independence and Republic Day for 50 years.
Jasdev did his first R-Day parade in 1961 and continued for several decades. He was promoted to Deputy Director General (Sports) from Doordarshan in 1987. He retired from the same post in 1989 but continued to force Indians fall in love to his commentary. Jasdev, who joined All India Radio in 1955 in Jaipur, said his first sports assignment at 1964 Tokyo Olympics was the most memorable one. “That was my first Olympics. I was very excited but not nervous,” he recalled.
Jasdev felt that technical terms in sports should not be converted while commentating in Hindi.
“I am against changing technical terms. We should use those words as in English but why call a shuttle cock a ‘chidiya’ while commentating in Hindi. It makes no sense,” he clarified.
Jasdev says he feels overwhelmed when people still remember his voice.
“The way people respond when they recognise my voice is something overwhelming. Some remember me for my hockey commentaries, some for the R-Day or I-Day ones,” he concluded.
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, July 24
THE shooters might be having problems at the Games Village with reports coming in that sportspersons are being forced to share a toilet among four, and sometimes even with six athletes, but for Indian hockey’s ‘goal machine’ SV Sunil there is no such issue at his “dream home”.
Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ from Games Village in London, Sunil said the atmosphere is awesome and he is enjoying every bit of it.
“The atmosphere is awesome. It (Games Village) is like heaven. I can’t describe it. I am enjoying every bit of it,” said Sunil.
“You can see all the top stars of the world walking past you. It’s unbelievable,” added Sunil, who will be playing his first Olympics.
Like his team-mate Tushar Khandker, Sunil, too, wants to meet 17-time Grand Slam champion Switzerland’s Roger Federer. “Who else? Roger Federer,” replied Sunil when asked about his desire.
Sunil, who is sharing room with defender VR Raghunath, said he is enjoying Indian food at the Village.
“It’s daal, roti and rice for me. The food is delicious. I am enjoying it. We don’t have any problem regarding toilets,” said the Indian forward.
One thing that is on the mind of Indian hockey contingent is engraving the Olympics ring on their body and Sunil has also planned to do so. But that will take place later as the first priority is to perform well at the Games.
“Yes we all want Olympics tattoo on our body. But the main task is performing well at Games. We will do that when we come back to India,” replied Sunil.
Sunil confirmed that all players including Ignace Tirkey and Sardara Singh are fit and raring to go.
“All the reports (regarding Ignace and Sardara’s fitness) are not true. The entire team is fit and ready for the Games to begin,” Sunil
concluded.
By Paritosh Pramanik
NAGPUR, July 18
WITH London opening doors of the Games Village stars and megastars have started descending on the venue, which is larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town. The Indian hockey contingent, presently in Spain, too, will occupy their ‘home’ on Friday, brushing shoulders with who’s who of world sports.
Olympics is the only stage where stars could manage to meet the ‘megastars’, their idols, role models and alike.
Like many others, Indian striker Tushar Khandker, too, is looking forward to meet his favourite 17-time Grand Slam champion Switzerland’s Roger Federer at the Village.
Federer, who recently won the 5th Wimbledon title, will be in London for Olympics starting July 27.
“If I get time from my matches, training, and recovery, I will try to meet Roger Federer,” said Khandker, talking exclusively with ‘The Hitavada’ from Spain where the Indian team is playing pre-Games tournament.
The Indian forward, who would be making his debut at Olympics, said with the D-Day approaching there were butterflies in his stomach.
“Yes there are (butterflies) and it is very much true because it will
be my first Olympics. So I’m pretty much excited,” Khandker
admitted.
Games Village remains the talk of the event with views over the facilities, atmosphere, world famous athletes but despite being his first Olympics Khandker is not losing sleep over spending time in the ‘small town’.
“Frankly speaking I don’t have any plan for the Village because I’m going to London to play hockey and not for entertainment,” said the Jhansi-born player.
The camaraderie in the Indian team has been the talking point for some time now and players are gelling well with each other. On long tours like Olympics, where teams leave shores much in advance to get acclimatised to conditions, players share their joys and sorrows with those who are close to them, specially with room-mates.
Khandker does not have any problem in sharing his room at Games with any of his 16 team members. “I don’t know yet who will be my room-mate but I’m OK with everyone. I don’t’ have any problem with anyone,” said Khandker.
Khandker and Shivendra Singh are involved in numerous goal scoring acts but like his pal Shiva, Khandker doesn’t let his emotions flow after scoring a goal.
Asked whether he has any plans of celebrating after scoring a goal, the down-to-earth player said, “I don’t celebrate much so I don’t have any kind of thing like Shiva. I celebrate after winning.”
By Paritosh Pramanik
SINCE 1982 Omprakash Mundra and his wife Premlata have travelled across the globe riding on the tremendous love for sports and passion for Indian sportspersons. They have marked presence at various sporting extravaganzas including Olympics, Asian Games and World Cups. Unfortunately, they would not be part of the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Games starting July 27.
A lackadaisical response from Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has denied them tickets for ceremonies and other events in London.
The Nagpur-based steel businessman has now decided to go on his own and ‘beg’ for tickets in front of the stadium, which he has done before during the Athens Games. What is hurting the 61-year-old is the way the IOA “cheated” him.
In January 2011, Mundra requested IOA for tickets. In reply he was asked by the IOA to send a Demand Draft of Rs 2,72,080 for tickets of the opening, closing ceremonies, badminton, basketball, football, gymnastics hockey, swimming and tennis. Mundra sent a demand draft in July 2011 but to his surprise IOA allotted him tickets only for badminton, basketball and hockey.
“When I contacted IOA, they first refused to entertain me but later said there was paucity of tickets. They said, ‘If you want these tickets take them or else we would give them to somebody else’. I had no other option but to take those three event tickets,” a dejected Mundra told ‘The Hitavada’.
“I have booked my flight tickets and also the accommodation in London. Whether IOA gives me tickets or not, I will be travelling to London with my wife to cheer and support my country,” said Mundra.
“I will make placards and stand in front of stadium ‘begging’ for tickets. This I have done during the Athens Games where I was appointed a volunteer.
“Spectators had given me tickets to watch India’s tennis match. I am sure in London too, I would get someone who would help me out,” said Mundra.
The Mundras have served as volunteers in world events like 2004 Athens Olympics, 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, 2006 Qatar Asian Games, 2010 Vancouver Games, 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
n By Paritosh Pramanik
PUTTING a full stop to the controversy over legality of district hockey body, the Hockey Maharashtra, Pune, has granted permanent affiliation to Salim Baig’s Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association.
Till date Shiv Chhatrapati award winner Triloki Nath Sidhra’s body, also by the same name, was affiliated to Hockey Maharashtra. Interestingly, Sidhra never revealed his entire executive body. In his latest press release there were only three names — TN Sidhra (President), Suman Kapoor (Secretary) and Shrikant Neral (Treasurer). Despite repeated requests, Sidhra refused to give the names of his entire executive committee.
Baig’s district body has 18 members (see box) with Mamta Trivedi being the president.
According to a letter from the Hockey Maharashtra the “provisional and permanent” affiliation has been granted to Baig’s NDUHA. The decision was taken at The Hockey Maharashtra’s an emergency meeting held at Pune on July 2.
In a letter addressed to Salim Baig, Honorary Secretary, Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association, Cdr Kehar Singh, Hon Secretary of the Hockey Maharashtra, advised Baig’s district unit to conduct and promote hockey activities in and around Nagpur for both men and women.
It was also learnt that during the July 2 meeting in Pune, Olympian Rekha Bhide, who was serving as the president of the Hockey Maharashtra, has been ‘demoted to vice-president’s post. Vijay Khanna, a Pune-based builder has been appointed as the president of the state body.
Similarly, Sidhra, who was the vice-president of the state body did not find any place in the new body of 17 members.
“I attended the meeting held at Pune. Many district associations were unhappy with Bhide’s functioning and wanted her to vacate post. The decision was taken unanimously,” said Salim Baig while talking to ‘The Hitavada.’
“Nobody backed Bhide, and Khanna was unanimous choice,” he added.
“We had submitted our resolution to Narinder Batra (Hockey India’s secretary) three years back. We got the affiliation on that basis,” informed Baig.
Baig’s team
Mamta Trivedi (President), Salim Baig (Secretary), Surendra Mishra, Pradeep Nagarkar, Veena Fulsunge, Kulvinder Madne (Vice-presidents), Jaya Mudliar, Sunil Madne (Joint Secretaries), Shoeb Parvez (Treasurer), Anil Daral, Abhijeet Fulsunge, Kunal Patil, Rampal Thakur, Purushotam Madne, Yagya Thakur, Bela Kanojiya, Kanta Jain, Sachin Kanojiya).
Pune meeting illegal: Sidhra
TRILOKI Nath Sidhra, vice-president, the Hockey Maharashtra, has termed the meeting called by Kehar Singh at Pune on July 2 as illegal and said Rekha Bhide was still the president of the state body. “Rekha was not in the country when the meeting was called. She was with the junior Indian team touring Thailand,” Sidhra said adding, “How can a secretary call the meeting without president’s consent?
“Even I was not informed about the meeting. The meeting was illegal and Rekha Bhide is still the president,” he claimed.
When informed about Baig’s body getting affiliation, Sidhra said they were claiming it since last three years. “They claim that their body is registered for last three years, then why don’t they conduct tournaments,”
he questioned.
NDUHA’S activities to start from September
AFTER receiving affiliation from the Hockey Maharashtra, Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association (NDUHA) has decided to start its activities from the month of September.
According to a press release, NDUHA will be organising men and women’s hockey tournaments at Tiger’s Gap ground and Dr Ambedkar College ground for schools, colleges and clubs.
The association has requested all schools, colleges and clubs to get affiliated before August 31. The affiliation forms are available with Salim Baig (9823117576) and Sunil Madne (9823131938), joint secretary.
The tournaments will be held in memory of late Balraj Aher, Gafoorbhai, Bhaiyyalal Thakur and Amod Sarin.
