National
BCCI ex-chief Bindra recalls partnership with Dalmiya
New Delhi: Paying rich tributes to Jagmohan Dalmiya, former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president I.S. Bindra, his one-time friend turned foe, reminiscenced about his association with the late Kolkata businessman.
Dalmiya, 75, passed away at a city hospital on Sunday.
His long administrative innings at BCCI began as a treasurer in 1983 – the year India won the World Cup. Dalmiya then teamed up with Bindra to bring the cricket World Cup out of the British soil for the first time in 1987, as India and Pakistan co-hosted the hugely successful Reliance Cup in 1987.
Damliya partnership with Bindra was successful in bringing huge amount of money to the game of cricket in the subcontinent, laying the pillar of the game in the country and eventually turning it into a global superpower.
Bindra, at present the principal advisor to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and current chairman of the Punjab Cricket Association, who is travelling overseas, said in a statement: “I remember today my long innings with Jagmohan Dalmiya from 1980-1996 when we worked together to lay the solid foundations of Indian cricket and built it into a global powerhouse.”
“In 1984 under the leadership of N.K.P. Salve we moved the World Cup out of England giving South Asian cricket fans the excitement and glory of the 1987 Reliance World Cup. We succeeded in eliminating the English and Australian stranglehold on global cricket and made the ICC a truly representative and democratic global polity.”
Bindra said he fondly remembers the legacy of his partnership with Dalmiya that was instrumental in bringing out live telecast of cricket in India from the clutches of national broadcaster Doordarshan, a move that “catalysed the satellite broadcasting industry in India”.
“Those were also the days when we earnestly laid the foundations of making Indian cricket the commercial force it is today by breaking the monopoly of Doordarshan as the sole broadcaster of Indian cricket. This was not as easy as it looks today. It took patience, perseverance and mental strength to fight the monopoly all the way up to the Supreme Court of India.”
“The Court issued a landmark judgment in 1994 which catalysed the satellite broadcasting industry in India,” he added.
Bindra, who quit full-time cricket administration last year, said India’s successful hosting of the 1996 world Cup strengthened India’s position as a global market, which was possible only because of Dalmiya’s “passion, energy and dedication”.
“Indian cricket was further strengthened in 1994 when we successfully won the right to host the second World Cup in the subcontinent.”
“The 1996 World Cup introduced many elements of global marketing to Indian cricket. As such it set the stage for what is a given in this day and age of Indian cricket. Jaggu’s passion, energy and dedication was instrumental in achieving this all.”
“He was an able cricket administrator and I, along with millions of cricket lovers around the world, salute his commitment and dedication to the game,” Bindra concluded.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.