Recognition no consolation as Dattu awaits government reward

A few days ago Forbes India released their annual ‘30 under-30’ list to salute those who have made a mark in numerous fields.
Dattu Baban Bhokanal (File | AFP)
Dattu Baban Bhokanal (File | AFP)

CHENNAI: A few days ago Forbes India released their annual ‘30 under-30’ list to salute those who have made a mark in numerous fields. Three among those are sportspersons — golfer Aditi Ashok, rower Dattu Bhokanal and para-athlete T Mariyappan. At the Rio Olympics, Aditi finished 41st among the women, while Dattu bagged 13th spot in men’s single sculls. Mariyappan became one of only two Indians to win Paralympic gold, in men’s high jump T42.

Such recognition is always well-deserved, but as the Games dust settles, an all too familiar theme seems to have regained control of the status quo, at least in the 25-year-old rower’s case.

Ahead of the quadrennial extravaganza, every media outlet carried Dattu’s heart-rending story — from a drought-hit village near Nashik, father succumbed to bone cancer in 2011, sold land and belongings to clear family debts, mother in a coma after a fall — and some seemed genuinely concerned if the young man could withstand such mental torture without cracking.

With such tales, as always, there’s bad and good news. Dattu hasn’t received monetary assistance from the Maharashtra government, which had promised cash awards for each state athlete going to Rio. His mother is no more, but he chooses to focus on the few positives more than the numerous negatives.

“My mother passed away in December. I’m still in the process of paying back the loans I took to ensure she underwent treatment,” Dattu told Express. “But life goes on. I still have to take care of my grandmother and two brothers. There’s no help from the government. Even the post-Olympic package they were supposed to sanction hasn’t been declared. I’ve just stopped talking to any of these officials.”

But Dattu prefers to dwell on what the future holds and the 2017 World Championships and 2018 Asian Games are what he’s looking forward to. “Knowing that the Indian Army has my back is encouraging. All I keep thinking about is how to better my Olympic performance. I want to win laurels for my country, that was always the dream.”

As far as advising budding sportspersons goes, he feels they shouldn’t expect anything from the powers that be. “I tried my best to fight for what I deserve, but after a while, there’s no point in wasting energy. One should stay positive and focus on goals,” Dattu signed off.

rohan@newindianexpress.com

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com