Hari Dang remembered in fittingly outdoorsy fashion

By Rahul  Banerji

Hari Dang meant many things to many people. Leather-patched elbows on a tweed jacket, grizzled hair and a thrusting walk, a father figure, an environmentalist, educationist, mountaineer.

A man of many facets, for whom the great outdoors were probably the greatest part of life despite his equal stature as an educator.

It was a passion Hari Dang would pass on to his countless students at Doon, St Pauls in Darjeeling, Army Public and our institution, The Air Force Central School, or simply, AFCS (now called, somewhat pretentiously The Air Force School).

Hari, for that is what he always will remain for us, made sure we would carry away some of his love for nature, in one form or another. He was also a great motivator and facilitator, often mixing education and physical activity expertly and even cunningly so that one got the most out of both.

Stuff of lore

Stories and legends abound about the man. His exploits as a climber in the Himalayas, his pioneering role in bringing the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme to the country (now called the Indian Youth Award Scheme), his role as a conservator. The list is a very long one.

For awkward adolescents, he was also a charismatic, kindly figure with twinkling eyes and an avuncular manner though sadly most of my visits to the Principal’s chamber in AFCS were somewhat more painful.

Hari, and the late Father Oswald Mathias, my Economics professor at Loyola, Madras, were near opposites as people. But both had a great interest in developing and growing young minds. The two remain my ideals as unrivalled teachers with the rare ability to impart knowledge and share passions with their students.

Here’s to you, gents.

Good cause

Fittingly, a group of former AFCS students got together a few days ago for a golf tournament and dinner to raise funds for the Hari Dang Memorial Trust, a cause one hopes will be carried further in memory of the man who touched and shaped so many lives.

It was a day of fun in the sun thanks to alumni and 1982 Asian Games gold medallist Amit Luthra and his The Golf Foundation team, and from all accounts an evening to remember as well.

Hari Dang would have approved.

Third win for Rahm

World no. 8 Jon Rahm capped a year to remember with his third title, at the 2-19 Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Sunday.

Two months after his first Ryder Cup experience that included beating Tiger Woods 2 & 1 in a Sunday singles match to help clinch the 2018 tournament for Europe, Rahm got his hands on what is affectionately known as the ‘Tiger Trophy’ at Albany.

Playing in his first HWC, Rahm returned a fourth day 7-under-par 65 total to become the first from Spain to win the tournament.

Rahm, who turned 24 in November, finished on 20-under 268 to win by four strokes over fellow HWC first timer Tony Finau and collect a $1 million prize from the tournament’s $3.5 million purse.

“Arguably, the best ball-striking day I’m ever going to have,” Rahm said later.

“It’s truly one of the most enjoyable walks I’ve had all year for four days, not just because I played well. It’s just really, really fun to be around here.

‘Great moment’

“The Sunday at the Ryder Cup was the best moment of my golf career. I started crying when I was shaking his hand because that meant so much to me to play against Tiger Woods.

“Even though I won, I think he respects me a little more as a golfer just because of how I handled myself that day.

“A couple months later, to win his event, his foundation’s event along with Hero, this is really special. I grew up watching all those events and watching Tiger win how many times in a row.

“I learned a lot from that guy and we owe him – every golfer on the PGA Tour owes him a lot because everything we play for is because of him.”

The World Challenge offers Official World Golf Ranking points and, with his win, Rahm is likely to move up two places to sixth on the list. Finau is projected to move from 14 to 9, a career high for the young American.

Albany resident and world no. 2 Justin Rose was third with a 7-under 65 and 15-under 273.

Henrik Stenson, HWC runner-up in 2014 and 2016, shot a 1-under 71 on Sunday to place fourth at 14-under 274 while defending champion Rickie Fowler closed with a 3-under 69 to finish in a tie for fifth with first-round co-leader Patrick Cantlay at 13-under 275.

Tournament host Woods had a 1-over 73 and a share of 17^th place.

Proceeds from the Hero World Challenge benefit the TGR Foundation, Tavistock Foundation and the Bahamas Youth Foundation.

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