History:
The advent of Roller Skating in Kashmir dates back to early 1970s when this writer first learned skating with the help of a boy from some north-eastern state. He then taught it to his friend, Mehraj-ud-Din during his college days. They later jointly trained scores of youth mostly on the road track along busy and much exposed Boulevard. When they joined Kashmir University to pursue higher education they started training their class mates at University campus. This new sport was warmly welcomed by the student and teaching community of the University. Initially Prof Jenab Rehman Rahi, who was heading the Kashmiri Department, allowed them to conduct training for his students in lecture theatre of Kashmiri Dep’t, situated on top most floor of Arts Block. Soon the thrill, fascination and excitement of the sport attracted students of other deptts as well. With the increasing number of trainees it became difficult to operate skating in a small lecture theatre. A Roller Skating Club was then formed in the University under the name and style “University Roller Skating Club” in 1977. This writer was chosen its first student Secretary by the University. After recognition of this sport the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. R.H. Chesti allotted a big hall to the Club in the ground floor of Iqbal Library and provided other facilities, needed for its upliftment.
Formation of first Skating Club:
With the passage of time some ex students of the University formed a voluntary club under the name Kashmir Roller Skating Club in Srinagar to popularize skating among common people in 1978. On the other hand this sport had already gained popularity all over Jammu province. A roller Skating rink was constructed in the Indoor Stadium there. Competitions were regularly held. In order to control the sport in J&K state and to receive grants from State Sports Council a state level association was formed at Jammu under the name J&K Roller Skating Association in 1978, which was later renamed as Amateur Roller Skating of J&K 1981. KRSC has never been given affiliation by the Association.
Discrimination by Sports Council and ARSAJK:
With the dubious role of Jammu based Association this sport could not grow in Kashmir. The Sports Council also gave step motherly treatment to this part which resulted slow death of this sport here. To our dismay not even 2% of the grants of ARSAJK were utilized for the development of skating in Kashmir. The forerunners and veteran skaters from Kashmir were sidelined by the Association and the blue eyed people were pushed in. During this period skating received a big setback here. The newly constructed roller skating rink at Bakshi Stadium was closed down for ever due to some vigilance case against the Council. The Kashmir Province Association, headed by Jenab Fazal Ahmad sahib remained on papers only. Nothing better was done, even during the period when Fazal Sahib was holding the post of Secretary Sports Council. The Jammuites took its full benefit and skating rose to great heights there. Astonishingly no competition or a camp has ever been organized here by the Association in 28 years of its inception. People involved in the sport were never allowed to come forward and infuse fresh blood to this sick sport in the valley. The Council is paying no attention towards the rink at Bakshi Stadium where playing conditions are pathetic and primitive.
Competitions conducted by KRSC:
The pioneer, Kashmir Roller Skating Club, Srinagar, after training hundreds of boys to skating, organized first-ever Open Kashmir Roller Road Race on famous Boulevard in June 1981. Large number of local skaters including some from Jammu took part in that historic competition. Late Shri K.S. Sethi, then member J&K Sports Council, was Chief Guest on closing function. In senior category Late Shri Joginder Singh of Jammu won first position. While as the 2nd and 3rd position went to Rajesh Gupta of Jammu and M. Ashraf Dijoo of Srinagar. In below 18 years category Mohammad Iqbal Khan, Feroz Ahmad Dar and Faisal Hameed bagged first three positions respectively.
After remaining dormant for 17 years the Club managed to hold 2nd Open Kashmir Skating Championship on Skating Rink at Bakshi Stadium in 1998. This was first time that State Sports Council came forward and sanctioned Rs.6, 000/- for conducting the championship. With the availability of rink the Club was able to hold many events like Roller Hockey, Speed Skating, and Artistic Skating for different age groups in both sexes. In order to inculcate a spirit of this rolling sport among kids a fancy dress and free skating competition was also held. Many local clubs took part in this biggest ever Championship.
The Club has some more achievements at its credit. Two members including Firdous Khan took part in an International Roller Skating Rally from Delhi to Lahore, organized by the Roller Skating Confederation of India in 1983. On the persuasion of the Club three skaters of Kashmir province, Irfan Ahmad Towseef Ahmad and Muneer Sultan were included in 60 member state contingent which participated in the National Roller Skating Championship held at Vishakhapatnam in December 1998.
Skating in Youth Services:
Roller Skating is a regular feature of School Games Federation of India. Like all other sports competitions are held in this sport at National level as well. J&K is participating in these competitions for long but unfortunately till 2004 not a single skater from Kashmir province was included in the state contingent. Not only this, the local skaters were not even given opportunity to participate in State School Skating Championship, annually organized by the Department in Jammu. The regional favoritism caused anguish and disinterest among all District Youth Services Officers of Kashmir Province. But credit goes to Mr. Abdul Rehman Dar who boldly took the challenge and managed training youth and inter-school skating competitions in Srinagar District on open Boulevard. With his great efforts 4 boys and 1 girl qualified the selection trials at Jammu and represented J&K in 50TH National School Roller Skating. Championship held in Ahmedabad in December 2004. It was first appearance of any Kashmiri skaters in any such a major sporting event. There were 5 students from Kashmir and remaining 55 from Jammu. In the corresponding year again 4 boys and 2 girls represented. In 2006 the number slightly increased by 4 boys and 4 girl but in 2007 the quota was again reduced to 4 boys and 1 girl. The data given above clearly shows inequality in two provinces of the state. Whether players are getting preferential treatment or not in the selection process is arguable. But they are certainly getting it in the training facilities. They have number of rinks there For developing this neglected sport among local schools credit must also go to Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad Pampori, Lecturer-in-Physical Education who himself imparted training to student and accompanied the Kashmir contingent continuously from 2004.
Other elements responsible for discrimination:
Few years back the Government developed a Children’s Park, close to Iqbal Park in Srinagar with the intention to provide all sort of amusement and recreation to local children. Mr. Omar Abdullah, a veteran skater, sanctioned some grant-in-aid for constructing a Mini Roller Skating Rink in this Park out of his constituency development fund. The rink was thrown open to general public by Mr. Omar himself on the last day of December few years back. After skating around he dedicated the rink to children. In his speech he said that the “rink is a New Year gift to children”. But unfortunately the gift went to the Directorate of Gardens and Parks who restricted the entry of children in the Park. They wanted to make money out of it by charging gate fee to small kids, which was not affordable for poor children. The hope of promoting skating in Kashmir thus vanished. Due to entry fee none of the children is ever seen in the Park accept on Eid festivals. Should someone ask them that how much money they have raised out of entry fee and how much money they have spent on its staff there? It is urged upon Director Gardens and Park to leave rink open for children.
It is good news for all of us that the J&K Youth Services Dep’t has taken up a project of constructing a rink at Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothibagh in Srinagar. The rink, once completed, will be available for all budding skaters of the state free of charges. It will help arrange training camps and feedback competitions here, which will in turn certainly improve the techniques and tactics of the sport among our skaters. We hope the Youth Services would complete construction work in shortest possible time. They deserve congratulations from the skating community of Kashmir.
Published on 21st December, 2008 in Daily Rising Kashmir.
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