August 22, 2004

The way we have handled our sporting gems is a sorry tale of mismanagement, negligence and incompetence

The difference between a great nation and one of no significance is that great nations cherish and preserve their heritage. A nation cannot even begin to contemplate to think big, let alone hold its head high in the community of nations, if it allows for its national institutions to rot to a naught. We as a nation, since the self-inflicted moral euthanasia, have by our acts and omissions allowed our national institutions to whither away in oblivion and the story of Carson Institute is no different.

Carson Institute, christened as North Western Railways Recreational Club in the early nineteen-century, was established in order to placate the ‘native’ employees who felt deprived at being denied admission to the exclusive institutes like Burt and Griffin Institutes. The club, situated in the heart of the vast Railway Colony, stretching from Lahore Railway Station to modern day University of Engineering and Technology, was built primarily to provide recreational facilities to the natives belonging to the lower (native) levels of Railway’s stratum. The membership was optional and every member was expected to pay a membership fees in order to enjoy various recreational facilities ranging from cricket, to tennis. In 1926, on popular demand the colonial Railways upgraded the Club by granting it the status of an Institute and re-named it Carson Institute after Col. Carson, the then General Manager of North Western Railways.

The Institute owes it elevation to prominence due to the hard work and dedication of the dedicated men and women who emerged as a force to reckon with through their sheer hard work and dedication to the sports. N.W.R. Recreational Club, in a short period of its existence was challenging the supremacy of Anglo-Indian Clubs such as Burt and Griffin Institutes, as well as other clubs throughout the length and breadth of subcontinent.

Carson Institute emerged as the front-runner in the development of future sportsmen and women in the country. It earned the right to a compulsory membership fees and an endowment from the Railways authorities to fund its various sports development activities.

On the eve of Independence, Carson Institute was amongst the leaders in sports promotion in the country and held a prominent position in the country as primary sports provider in Lahore. However, like most other colonial institutions, it too faced a number of setbacks such as diminishing membership and loss of patronage at the official level. But a group of dedicated sports lovers and strong supporters of the Institute came to its rescue and in a very short time they were able to put Carson Institute back on its feet. That was an auspicious beginning. For the next three decades Carson Institute took the centre stage in national sports and produced a number of outstanding athletes that went on to win laurels for the country.

It would be unfair not to mention the people who resuscitated an institution that in all fairness could be labelled as the national nursery of games and sports as stated by the only sportsman, sports writer and sports historian Khawaja Mohammad Aslam, in his book History of Carson Institute. The writer acknowledges the services of Mr S.U.K. Jarrel, President of the Institute in 1949, (Late) S.M. Khurshid who was an active member of the Institute during the pre-partition days and contributed a lot towards promoting sports and sportsman spirit during his tenure as the Vice-President in 1947.

A mention of Mr M.A. Rahim is in order for his contribution to the Institute’s well-being and the fact that his prodigy, seven in number, turned out to be international tennis players. Incidentally, Mr Rahim breathed his last while practising on the tennis court in Carson. Then there was Mr A.H. Khokhar, a proud Carosinite who represented India in Davis Cup and then Major S.A. Hamid, an accomplished athlete who worked as the Sports Secretary during the pre-partition days. Khawaja Mohammad Aslam’s services for the cause of sports needs no introduction, however, his lifelong ambition to transform Carson into a sportspersons haven needs a special mention here.

In short, thanks to the dedication of these committed sports lovers, Carson emerged as the leading sports and games nursery in the country. It was here that the legendary, Amir Elahi, Amar Nath, Mohammad Nisar (one time, fastest bowler of the world), and of course our very own Nazir Jr. all played for this Institute and Carson is proud to recognize these sons of soil. In the field of hockey, we have of course, Khawaja Aslam who represented Pakistan in the 1952 Olympics and since then there has been no shortage of supply of Olympic material by Carson. (Late) M. Hafeez, the legendary full-back Munir Ahmad Dar, Anwar Shah, the legendary half-back, Farooq Ahmad Khan, member of the winning Mexico Olympic squad, and M. Afzal Manna, all had one thing in common, they all learned to dribble and drive at Carson Institute and represented the Institute at various national and regional games.

A history of Carson Institute would be incomplete without acknowledging the services of men who had excelled in other sports such as boxing, tennis and basketball. Samad Mir, the best boxer ever produced by the country got his initial lessons in boxing at Carson’s and so did Akram Malik the Northern India Boxing Champion. M.A. Rahim, who was not only an accomplished tennis player but also fathered seven international tennis players, including his daughter Shahnaz Saigol. The Rahim family is truly a legend of Pakistani tennis history and Carson’s is proud to be associated with this accomplished lot. In athletics, Carson’s contributions are hardly surpassed by any other club in Pakistan. Sharif Butt, the Asian gold medalist, Iqbal Saahi, S. Chaman, are some of the names that have made Carson proud of its heritage. These names remain a legend and young people draw inspiration from their courage and determination.

One of the most valuable contributions made by Carson Institute to the national sports was its initiation of Cubs programme in 1968. A programme conceived and implemented by Khawaja Mohammad Aslam its objective was to produce future stars of Pakistan hockey. The programme was a great success. I was privileged to be part of the programme and it was during the course of those fruitful months that Khawaja Bilal and Khawaja Junaid, arguably the best left-half in modern day hockey learnt to tackle and clear a hockey ball. The duo of Khawaja Bilal and Khawaja Junaid and likewise Tauqeer Dar and Taseer Dar are a living testament of the success of Cubs programme initiated at Carson’s rather humble and unremarkable playgrounds. The only thing I remember besides, Khawaja Awais’ remarkable control of the ball in the hockey field was the nimbu paani the Carson’s ground staff used to prepare for us during the half time.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, everyone I know back then are either retired or on the verge of retirement, but one thing that bothers me is the fact that Carson Institute, that has relentlessly served thousands of aspiring athletes is the shadow of its glorious past. Years of neglect and inattention have turned this place, which during its heyday hosted a number of dignitaries, into a pile of rubble. The ground where Mr Rahim taught his prodigy how to serve a tennis ball is no more there. Neither is the ground where Khawaja Junaid skinned his knees as a five-year-old boy, tackling boys twice his age.

Is this the beginning of an end? I ask of all those who claim to be the patrons of sports. Why is it that under your control a place like Carson should rot, whilst you felt it appropriate to dispense off Railway Golf Club in the name of commercial viability? Why should the work of all those nameless men and women that worked day in and day out to keep this ‘native’ facility soluble, go to waste? Why is it that the greatest patrons of sports who were entrusted with setting things ‘right’ in the Railways have overlooked the dilapidated condition of Carson Institute? Why are sons and daughters of Railway employees cheated out of their childhood rights to have a decent place to play sports? Are they children of a lesser god? I hope someone will have decency to answer one, if not all the questions!

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)