A few years ago, I was inspired to know that in 1974 Anjan Bhattacharjee, the Indian deaf bowler, who played in Ranji Trophy in the early 70s, received the Arjuna Award, the highest prestigious national sports award of India for playing cricket with the able-bodied sportspersons. Anjan was not the only Arjuna awardee. There are other sportspersons with disabilities who earned the Arjuna Award in various sports disciplines in India.
I had the similar background for playing cricket, soccer, athletics (track and field), basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis etc with the able-bodied sportspersons in Bangladesh, despite having deafness. I represented Mymensingh District Team in the national cricket, youth soccer and athletics of Bangladesh. Mymensingh District Youth Soccer Team secured the runners-up position in the First National Youth Soccer of Bangladesh.
I played for Dhaka Town, Dhaka Wari and Dhaka Lalmatia Sporting Club in the First Division Metropolis Cricket League of Dhaka.
I secured the 9th place in cricket batting average for Lalmatia Cricket Club among 30 outstanding batsmen of the country in the Metropolis Cricket League of Dhaka in the year 1981-82.
The highest cricket batting record of mine was unbeaten 94 runs with a six for Mohammedan Sporting Club against Hobbs Eleven Cricketers in the Mymensingh District Cricket League in the year 1979-80.
The highest bowling record of mine was 7 for 8 wickets for Shikal Gosthee Cricketers against a local cricket team in the Mymensingh District Cricket League in the year 1975-76.
I had the impressive background in college sports. I became champion twice and runner-up once in the annual athletics meets of Ananda Mohan University College, Mymensingh.
In the United States, I emerged champion in tennis, table tennis, volleyball and basketball at the Hearing Impaired Sports Tournaments hosted by Northern Illinois University in the year 1984-85. Besides, I served as a soccer referee, coach and official for Aurora Family YMCA, Champaign and Urbana Park Districts, IL.
Academically, I was the holder of 4 degrees and a writer of published write-ups in the field of history, sports, business and disability issues both in Bengali and English in Bangladesh and the United States.
During my living in Bangladesh, I had no idea or information about India's recognition of the sportspersons with disabilities and during our times, the Ministry of Youth & Sports of Bangladesh did not mention it. After learning the information with the help of Internet, I was encouraged to apply for national sports awards in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, for being a Bangladesh-born US citizen, my application was not processed. It is only Bangladeshi native citizens who can apply for the awards.
The fact is that in the present-day world, national recognition of native-born foreign citizens by their native governments is nothing new. It is the bond of friendship between the two countries.
India has recognised many Indian-born American or British citizens for the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards, the second, third and fourth highest national civilian honour of the Indian government respectively.
Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of India, was awarded to Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1890-1988), the Pashtun political and spiritual leader, who was the first non-citizen recipient, and to Nelson Mandela, the President of South Africa and the leader of anti-apartheid campaign who was the second non-citizen and first non-Indian recipient.
In the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest ranking civilian honour. It is not limited to US citizens. It can be obtained by US military personnel, despite its being a civilian award, and by non-US citizens. For example, Mother Teresa of India and Dr Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh were awarded with this honour.
Perhaps these opportunities may apply for the greatest personalities, but where is the similarity between citizens and native-born foreign citizens who may have contributions to the country?
Published in the Financial Express, Dhaka, Bangladesh, January 7, 2011
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