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
I am requesting help of chess lovers with reference to the Press Note issued by Sameer Salgaocar President of Goa State Chess Assn yesterday.
“The Executive Body of the Goa State Chess Association meets on Sunday to contemplate action to be taken against Shrikant Barve, founder of the Taleigao Chess Academy. In an outburst on the internet, Barve has attacked the All India Chess Federation and in particular its current President - N. Srinivasan.
Srinivasan, who is also the Treasurer for the BCCI, has been questioned by Barve as to the treatment of Grandmasters who will be coaching various upcoming players under the anvil of the new AICF Coaching scheme. Barve asks why six crores are spent on Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the India Cements Chennai IPL team whereas the Grandmasters are sanctioned only one thousand rupees a day for the coaching they will provide.
Augusto Pinto, the Acting Secretary of the GSCA, has already written to Barve to explain the reasons of his personal attack on the AICF President”
Actually the GSCA has sent me following letter:
“Dear Mr. Barve,
We refer to the answer in Yahoo Answers to the question "Is Indian Chess Federation downgrading coaches by offering meagre coaching fee of Rs. 1000/- for Grand Master" purportedly written by one Shrikant B.
In this connection we ask you if you are the individual referred to as Shrikant B.
If you are the same person, then as a member of GSCA, kindly explain why you are presuming to comment on policy matters of the AICF?
Awaiting an early reply,”
The Yahoo Answers that GSCA refers to is the following:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Anq6SK9vRuRxENcs22RWod_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080221201517AAWI2nN&show=7#profile-info-Pogk8fF8aa
“Is Indian Chess Federation downgrading Coaches by offering meagre coaching fee of Rs.1000/- for Grand Master? "
Appeal to Our Senior Players / IMS' / WIM's / GM's / WGM's / FM's and coaches
AICF proposes to short list the names of coaches who are interested to coach our players and prepare them for National and International tournaments. Those interested are requested to send a mail to AICF with their Bio-data and achievements in coaching if any.
The AICF shall pay Rs.10,000/- for GM's and RS.7,000/-
or Rs 5000/- for others for a ten day coaching programme. For outstation coaches AICF will reimburse, on production of tickets, third A/c train fare and shall take care of the local hospitality. Those interested may kindly send your mail immediately.
http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2008/January/natI13Girls/appealtoourplayerscoachingprogramme.asp
Dronacharya awardee coach R. Gokhale said in an
interview that GM is entitled for appearance money,
the minimum being Rs 30,000 besides first class
lodging, boarding and transportation.”http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=021819
1 week ago Reply by SHRIKANT B
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Mr. Srinivasn President of AICF and Srinivasn
Treaserer of BCCI are same person I am told... Chennai
has picked up Dhone for 6 crores .... and AICF
president is offering Grand Master Rs.1000/- for a
day..... This is how Top brass of Chess in India think
of chess players......”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am Shrikant B. Can anyone help me to understand why GSCA wants to take action against me for writing the answer?
Is this personal attack against Srinivasan?
What is wrong I have done?
It may be noted that the person who sends me notice to
explain has written the following regarding me: ‘Barwe
the Chess Entrepreneur’ kindly check -
http://lists.whatwg.org/pipermail/goanet-sports-goanet.org/2007-September/000055.html
Thursday, March 6, 2008
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