By Rahul Banerji
Golfers across India are seeking to do their during the Corona-virus lockdown that has stretched past a fortnight and counting, working to help those associated with golf and without daily means of sustenance.
Besides the likes of Anirban Lahiri and Shunhankar Sharma, other not so well known golfers and former players are coming up with novel ideas and initiatives to help tide over a crisis that has swamped the world.
Teenage golfer Arjun Bhati, for example, put up his entire collection of trophies to raise Rs 4.3o lakh that went to the PM CARES Fund. Shubhankar had earlier donated Rs 5 lakh towards the fund.
Asian Games silver medallist from 2010, Rahu Bajaj, and fellow-golfer Kashir Alam have together come up with the “Each One Feed One” social media campaign that aims to help the 350-plus caddies at the Noida Golf Course who have seen no earnings since late March.
The idea has caught on and as The Hindustan Times’ golf writer Robin Bose reported two days ago, is seeing other courses pitch in for their stranded staff.
Taking the initiative
The Delhi Gof Club prepares daily food packets for distribution in the area, Bose writes, adding that in Kolkata, the Tollygunje Club and Royal Calcutta Golf Club are paying their registered caddies Rs 1,000 a week to tide over the period,
Several other stories have been reported from around India including Bangalore and Mumbai.
For his part, Lahiri has not touched a golf club in over two weeks, but has touched lives during the Covid-19 crisis, PGA Tour Communications has said.
Currently in Hyderabad with wife Ipsa, one-year-old daughter Tisya and his parents, the 32-year-old said there is so much more to sports as the world grapples with a health crisis.
Like many others, India is currently in lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 and Lahiri has stepped up with a few initiatives to help bring some relief to those afflicted.
Firstly, Lahiri pledged a donation of Rs. 7 lakh (approximately $10,000) towards the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund last weekend.
Necessary assistance
He said he wanted to help millions of people who survive on daily wages but are currently out of work following the lockdown.
“In these grave times that we face today, I urge my friends and brethren to join me in doing our bit to support those in most need. I have pledged Rs.700,000 to the PM CARES Fund and also support 100 families through the Zomato Feeding India initiative.
“In any way, big or small, let us play our part in helping the nation. Jai Hind,” Lahiri tweeted on Saturday.
With India’s Covid-19 cases continuing to rise, Lahiri’s mind is no longer preoccupied by golf. He feels for daily wage earners who are hardest hit by local businesses shutting down.
“We have food and shelter and our family is secure. Whatever we can do to make it easier for others, help these people and the government, let’s do it as very few entities are operational now.
“A lot of sports organisations and other Indian athletes are supporting this which is good to show solidarity,” said Lahiri, a former Asian Tour no. 1, by phone.
“A lot of people are severely affected here. The daily wage workers, the migrant workers from the different states … they need to have some form of daily income to keep their lives going and the PM CARES Fund is used for this specific reason which is to provide food.
‘Tough times’
“I’ve read stories about people walking for five to six days to get back to their villages after their workplace closed. There are a lot of extreme cases of people having no shelter, food or money.”
When Florida-based Lahiri flew home nearly a month ago, life was still pretty much normal and he spent 10 days with his coach Vijay Divecha in Ahmadebad, working on his game which has gone off track over the past 18 months.
Subsequently, the health situation worsened and led to his country shutting down. The ensuing days hit Lahiri into a sense of realisation of what everything means to him.
“For most of us, golf is our life. But there is a larger picture outside of that which we miss,” he said. “To spend this much time with my daughter and wife, and with my parents is really nice.
“I haven’t spent so much time with my parents since I was 17 years old. It’s given me more perspective outside of golf. In fact, I don’t have my golf clubs with me now. It’s nice to hit the pause button and reflect on things which we wouldn’t normally do.”
Also read: A locked-in sufferer remembers to be grateful for his golf
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