Patna, June 20: Name and acclaim are hardly the motivational factors for chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is working hard to change the fate of Bihar.
The message was apparent in the chief minister’s rebuke to a petitioner at his janata darbar at 1 Aney Marg today.
“What’s there in the name?” Nitish questioned Shekhar Singh, a visitor from Buxar district, who had requested the chief minister to change the name of under-construction Kankerbagh Sports Complex and name it after the only Olympian from Bihar, Shivanath Singh.
Chandra Shekhar, a volleyball player himself, went to the table of the chief minister and put forward his plea. “Sir, this is my humble request to change the name of Kankerbagh Sports Complex after Shivanath Singh because he is the only player from Bihar who has taken part in the Olympics. We must pay a tribute to him by naming the stadium after him. It would be a great gesture from the side of the state government.”
Nitish, who was quietly listening to him, said: “Why are you so obsessed with the name?”
Chandra Shekhar responded: “Sir, having a name is very important. The way the Rajendra Nagar stadium is named after Moin-ul-Haq, the same way, if Kankerbagh Sports Complex is named after Shivanath Singh, it would be better.”
Moin-ul-Haq was an educationist and sports lover from Bihar. Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in Rajendra Nagar is named after him.
Nitish said: “I don’t think name is very important and why do we need to change the name? The present name is also good. Renaming it will not bring any changes. Many people say the name Patna should be changed. I am saying, why do we need to change the name if it’s good.”
Realising, Chandra Shekhar was not satisfied with the explanation, Nitish further said: “My name is Nitish Kumar. Suppose it is changed to something else, do you think that as a person I will change too? No, not at all. I will remain the same person, so changing name does not mean changing identity. It is not a name which gives a thing its essential qualities. It’s the qualities which gives importance to the name. So changing the name does not change a thing.”
The petitioner went on to say: “Sir, the state sports department has already given its go-ahead to the proposal. Now it just needs your consent. Kindly approve the application.”
Nitish said: “No, I don’t think it is important to change the name. Anyway, I will ask my officials to look into the matter.”
The Telegraph later spoke to Chandra Shekhar, who has represented Bihar in various volleyball competitions, regarding the issue. He said: “I don’t understand what’s wrong in naming the Kankerbagh Sports Complex after Shivanath Singh, after all, he is a great player. He is an Asian Games gold medalist and an Arjuna awardee. He won the gold medal in 5000m marathon in the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran and a silver medal in 10000m marathon in the same event.”
Talking about the achievements of Shivananth Singh, Chandra Shekhar said: “He was a marathon runner and his most remarkable feat was when he finished 11th in the Montreal Olympics marathon in 1976. He also took part in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He won the Arjuna Award in 1974.”
Singh joined the Army in 1964 and won the silver medal in 1973 Philippines Athletics Meet in both 5000 and 10000m marathon. He also won silver in both the events at Korea Athletics meet in 1975. Shivanath Singh died in 2003.
