DOCSLIB.ORG

Corruption in Sports in India

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Corruption in Sports in India University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Alberta Gambling Research Institute Alberta Gambling Research Institute 2011-11 Corruption in Sports in India Misra, Ashutosh; Vikram, Abhishek ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security http://hdl.handle.net/1880/49799 journal article Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca Briefing paper November 2011 >issue 7 The eradication of corruption in developing Corruption in Sports in India economies is a challenge. Opportunities illicitly to acquire power and economic status are derived from employment in government, Dr Ashutosh Misra and Mr Abhishek Vikram judicial and political offices. The implementation of anti-corruption strategies, and promotion of India has captured the world’s imagination with its dazzling economic growth transparency and accountability at state levels can and rise in international affairs. Its global ascent is underpinned by a robust be thwarted by beneficiaries of corruption, who are economy, growing at the rate of 9 percent and estimated to reach 10 percent also tasked to govern. The tragedy of corruption is during the next two years. However, this new found affluence has its flip side that, often, there are direct and indirect effects in too, in the form of horizontal and vertical corruption that has besieged the countries where poverty is rife. India is an example country. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions of the challenges in combating corruption, with a Index 2010, India ranks a dismal 87 out of 188 countries, falling three notches rapidly developing economy, large population and since 2009. During the 1970s, a prominent social activist and crusader of high rates of poverty. democratic freedom, Jai Prakash Narain, had said that India’s poor state of health was a consequence of corruption and a precipitous fall of moral stan- This Briefing Paper addresses corruption in India dards in both politics and public life. Ever since, it has plummeted further, from the unique perspective of sport. Corruption affecting all aspects of government functioning and public life, and sport is in sport is not new, but as this paper demonstrates, no exception. for India, the exposure of illicit practices in cricket and other sports is illustrative of the challenges Corruption is no stranger to India and its culmination in scale and magnitude and shame that corruption can bring for a country during the 2010 Commonwealth Games subjected the government to global which takes pride in its sporting prowess. The shame and scorn. The Indian government ended up spending 18-fold more examples outlined in this paper indicate that a than the $400 million originally allocated in 2003 for the Games, an amount strong nexus exists between corrupt practices in that supposedly could have funded three Olympic Games. It is deeply dis- government and sport. Pervasive corruption has led turbing to find corruption of such magnitude in a country whose poverty line, to negative international and domestic perceptions according to World Bank figures (2005), is very low by international stan- on the integrity of India’s sporting bodies, teams dards, and where 80 percent of the rural population lives below the median and representatives. As this Briefing Paper notes, developing-country poverty line of $2 a day. Several trillion dollars of unac- however, Indian activists are gaining increased counted for money remains locked in Swiss banks which the Indian govern- community support for greater transparency, ment is finding hard to retrieve. Post-Games, the first major action taken by accountability and integrity in government and the Government was to demand the resignation of two top officials, the- Or sport, albeit in small, but significant, steps. ganising Committee Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, and Secretary General, Lalit Bhanot. Both Kalmadi and Bhanot have since been arrested, and are being interrogated by the investigation agencies. Today, corruption plagues all major Indian sports, including cricket, hockey, weightlifting, and athletics. The first major sporting scandal was reported during the 1990s, involving match-fixing by Indian cricketers through a Pro- Dr Ruth Delaforce tean bookie, Mukesh Gupta. This scandal led to the fall from grace of crick- Editor eting demi-gods, namely, the then skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay CEPS Research Fellow Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar, Nayan Mongia and Ajay Sharma. As the scandal unfolded, several international cricketers were also linked, including Hansie Briefing paper Briefing paper Conje (South Africa), Arjuna Ranatunga and contesting for executive positions and brought Indian hockey to an all time (Sri Lanka), Arvinda de Silva (Sri Lanka), in sports bodies. Recently the group low. Brian Lara (West Indies), Martin Crowe succeeded in persuading Pallam Raju, (New Zealand), Dean Jones (Australia), Minister of State for Defence, to with- In weightlifting, while India has pro- Mark Waugh (Australia), Shane Warne draw from the race for President of the duced world class lifters, the sport has (Australia), Salem Malik (Pakistan) and Equestrian Federation of India. But in a also had its own share of scandals and Alec Stewart (England). The decision by setback for the group, the President of controversies. In 2005, a bribe scandal the Board of Control for Cricket in India Clean Sports India, Pargat Singh, a for- surfaced over the selection of dope- (BCCI) to ban Azharuddin for life and Ajay mer hockey skipper, lost to the 83 year tainted lifter, Shailja Pujari, in the Beijing Jadeja for 5 years sent a strong message old veteran Congress politician, Vidya Olympic squad. In July 2010, the Indian to Indian cricketers, and match-fixing Stokes, in the election for President of Weightlifting Federation had to suspend scandals have reduced drastically. It the Indian Hockey Federation; this exam- its coach, Ramesh Malhotra, over charg- should be noted, however, that BCCI’s ple illustrates the extent of political hold es of sexually harassing junior lifters. own dubious record over the years has on sporting bodies in India. However, the impeded its authority to be more forth- success of former cricketers with high In July 2011, the Indian Sports Minis- right in checking corruption. credentials and reputation, Anil Kumble try sacked Yuri Ogrodnik, the Ukrainian and Javagal Srinath, in getting elected to coach of Indian Athletics, after six female Now corruption has a new avatar, in the Karnataka State Cricket Association 400 metre runners, a female shot-putter the shape of a $4 billion Indian Premier augurs well for Indian cricket, and hope- and a male long-jumper all returned League (IPL), which has seen its former fully will lead to similar credible appoint- positive results in doping tests, marking Commissioner, Lalit Modi, resign and flee ments in hockey the rapidly growing trend of banned sub- to London over charges of gross financial stance abuse among Indian athletes. irregularities. The 2010 IPL franchise bid- In the meantime, the state of Indian ding process also led to the resignation hockey continues to be abysmal. For- On the policy front, in 2011, the Indian of Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for mer world champions and Olympic gold Government has proposed a National External Affairs, whose friend and cur- medallist, India now struggles to even Sports Bill to curb corruption and ensure rent wife, Sunanda Pushkar, was alleged win Asian tournaments. Indian Hockey that all sport federations comply with to have received $15 million in ‘sweat Federation (IHF) President, K.P.S. Gill, a the Olympics Charter by subjecting their equity’ from one of the franchises. former Indian police officer, has been -of offices to annual audits. The Bill provides ficiating for many years. Gill’s long-term for a Sports Ombudsman to resolve In recent years, the BCCI has also been appointment has divided the Federation, disputes in sports, prevent age and sex marred by financial irregularities and the hockey fraternity and players, and fraud and doping, and to make all sports bitter turf wars between different lobby over time, has significantly affected the bodies comply with the Right to Informa- groups. Nonetheless, BCCI’s mammoth team’s performance. The IHF is also in- tion Act, 2005. financial clout has given it a dominat- volved in a fierce spat with the Women’s ing influence in the International Cricket Federation and Hockey India (HI) over During the Commonwealth Games, the Council (ICC) decision-making, much to the merger modalities. IHF’s labelling of lack of suitable legislation for the organ- the resentment of other international HI officials as ‘highly corrupt’ has caused isation of mega sport events deeply af- cricket boards. This influence is further a great deal of squabbling in the media. fected India’s objectives, in contrast to augmented by the political weight that The 2010 Women’s Hockey World Cup, other international models, such as the the BCCI holds nationally. It is currently held in New Delhi, was hit by a financial Sydney Olympics 2000, Melbourne Com- headed by Sharad Pawar, a Minister and corruption scandal involving the Federa- monwealth Games 2006, Glasgow Com- leading political heavy-weight in Indian tion of International Hockey (FIH), Indian monwealth Games 2014 and London politics, who is also President of the ICC. Olympic Association (IOA) and HI. Suresh Olympics 2014. These models enshrine Kalmadi, the IOA chief, was again said to appropriate legislations to regulate the In June 2010, appalled by the Com- be involved in financial corruption dur- functioning of organising committees monwealth Games corruption scandal, ing arrangements for the World Cup. and judicious dealing with key issues former Indian Olympians launched the IHF, too, was suspended in 2008 by the such as transport, ticketing, land acquisi- Group of Clean Sports India to raise IOA over an alleged bribery for selection tion, intellectual property, broadcasting public awareness and fight corruption in scandal. In addition, sex scandals involv- and licensing rights.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Captain Cool: the MS Dhoni Story
    Captain Cool The MS Dhoni Story GULU Ezekiel is one of India’s best known sports writers and authors with nearly forty years of experience in print, TV, radio and internet. He has previously been Sports Editor at Asian Age, NDTV and indya.com and is the author of over a dozen sports books on cricket, the Olympics and table tennis. Gulu has also contributed extensively to sports books published from India, England and Australia and has written for over a hundred publications worldwide since his first article was published in 1980. Based in New Delhi from 1991, in August 2001 Gulu launched GE Features, a features and syndication service which has syndicated columns by Sir Richard Hadlee and Jacques Kallis (cricket) Mahesh Bhupathi (tennis) and Ajit Pal Singh (hockey) among others. He is also a familiar face on TV where he is a guest expert on numerous Indian news channels as well as on foreign channels and radio stations. This is his first book for Westland Limited and is the fourth revised and updated edition of the book first published in September 2008 and follows the third edition released in September 2013. Website: www.guluzekiel.com Twitter: @gulu1959 First Published by Westland Publications Private Limited in 2008 61, 2nd Floor, Silverline Building, Alapakkam Main Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai 600095 Westland and the Westland logo are the trademarks of Westland Publications Private Limited, or its affiliates. Text Copyright © Gulu Ezekiel, 2008 ISBN: 9788193655641 The views and opinions expressed in this work are the author’s own and the facts are as reported by him, and the publisher is in no way liable for the same.
    [Show full text]
  • PCF6 Day4news.Pdf (1.704Mb)
    New-PCF6 Conference Newsletter - November 27:Layout 1 11/27/2010 8:50 PM Page 2 DAY 4 ‘Access and Success in Learning: Global Development Perspectives' Le Meridien, Kochi, Kerala. November 24-28, 2010 DAILY BULLETIN | 28 NOVEMBER, 2010 Former Union Minister and renowned writer Dr Shashi Tharoor delivering Asa Briggs Lecture on the fourth day of PCF6 in Kochi. ‘EDuCAtE GirLS’ ormer union minister and must be that we are a country where noted writer Dr Shashi nearly half the population is illiterate FTharoor today made a strong but which has produced the world’s plea for girl education to attain all- second largest pool of trained round development. scientists and engineers,” said Delivering the prestigious Asa Dr Tharoor. Briggs lecture at the Pan- Referring to the reasons for a Commonwealth Forum on Open rather high illiteracy rate despite ‘Enhance Learning – PCF 6 – here, Dr Tharoor remarkable progress in many fields said whenever he was asked to in India, Dr Tharoor said “what is On-Campus state the single most important missing is not just financial thing that can be done to improve resources, but a commitment on the component the world he would without part of our society as a whole to in ODL’ hesitation offer a two-word mantra: tackle the educational tasks that lie “Educate Girls.” ahead.” ndira Gandhi National Open Baron Asa Briggs is a historian It was in this context that he IUniversity (IGNOU) has and former Chancellor of Britain’s emphasized that scholarly studies aggressively been promoting Face-to- Open University. and research projects had Face component in all its distance In his 40-minute lecture, Dr established what common sense learning programmes.
    [Show full text]
  • Cricket Exhibition in South Africa
    The Hindu Images/Cricket Exhibition List of selected images Sr. Image Number + Object Name Thumbnail Caption/Remarks No. (arc_NICAId) 1. 46694 - SHEWAG - 06_08_2002 CRICKET: SUMMER SPICE SERIES, TEST MATCH, BLOEMFONTEIN: INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA: VIRENDER SEHWAG, WHO SCORED A FINE CENTURY ON DEBUT, ACKNOWLEDGES THE CHEERS FROM THE CROWD AND DRESSING ROOM. PHOTO N.SRIDHARAN| 2. 853939 - 21_02_2003 - 20.28.59 - WORLD CUP 2003, SOUTH AFRICA: World PIETERMARITZBURG Cup 2003,Pietermaritzburg: From right: Mr Ajit Kumar Indian Consul General, Durban, Ms Ela Gandhi, Mayor Hloni Zondi (Black Shirt) unveil a Plaque on M K Gandhi at the Pietermaritzburg Station watched the Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly as Rahul Dravid applauds on Friday. PHOTO: THE HINDU / V_V_Krishnan, 21-02- 2003. | 3. 965011 - 21_03_2003 - 11.18.35 - WORLD CUP World Cup 2003: Second CRICKET 2003 Semi-Finals: India vs Kenya: Sourav Ganguly receives the Man of the Match award from Ian Botham at Kingsmead, Durban on March 20, 2003. Photo: V_V_Krishnan 4. 965167 - 21_03_2003 - 11.45.27 - WORLD CUP World Cup 2003: Second CRICKET 2003 Semi-Finals: India vs Kenya: Sourav Ganguly exults as he gets his century at Kingsmead, Durban on March 20, 2003. Photo: V.V.Krishnan 5. 971619 - 22_03_2003 - 17.47.27 - WORLD CUP World Cup 2003:Final: CRICKET 2003 FINAL, INDIA VS AUSTRALIA India Vs Australia : Australian captain Ricky Ponting and Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly on the eve of the Final at Wanderers. (10-03-2003) Photo: V_V_Krishnan 6. 976547 - 23_03_2003 - 20.21.49 - WORLD CUP World Cup 2003: Final: CRICKET 2003 FINAL, INDIA VS AUSTRALIA India Vs Australia: Ricky Ponting off Javagal Srinath at Wanderers on March 23, 2003.
    [Show full text]
  • Cobbling Together the Dream Indian Eleven
    COBBLING TOGETHER THE DREAM INDIAN ELEVEN Whenever the five selectors, often dubbed as the five wise men with the onerous responsibility of cobbling together the best players comprising India’s test cricket team, sit together to pick the team they feel the heat of the country’s collective gaze resting on them. Choosing India’s cricket team is one of the most difficult tasks as the final squad is subjected to intense scrutiny by anybody and everybody. Generally the point veers round to questions such as why batsman A was not picked or bowler B was dropped from the team. That also makes it a very pleasurable hobby for followers of the game who have their own views as to who should make the final 15 or 16 when the team is preparing to leave our shores on an away visit or gearing up to face an opposition on a tour of our country. Arm chair critics apart, sports writers find it an enjoyable professional duty when they sit down to select their own team as newspapers speculate on the composition of the squad pointing out why somebody should be in the team at the expense of another. The reports generally appear on the sports pages on the morning of the team selection. This has been a hobby with this writer for over four decades now and once the team is announced, you are either vindicated or amused. And when the player, who was not in your frame goes on to play a stellar role for the country, you inwardly congratulate the selectors for their foresight and knowledge.
    [Show full text]
  • Exposes Murky Face of Rotten Corrupt Capitalism
    Volume 43 No. 20 Organ of the SOCIALIST UNITY CENTRE OF INDIA (COMMUNIST) June 15, 2010 Founder Editor-in-Chief : COMRADE SHIBDAS GHOSH Price : Rs. 2.00 INDIAN PREMIERE LEAGUE SCAM SUCI(C) strongly denounced Bhopal gas tragedy verdict, demanded stringent Exposes murky face of punishment of the culprits and called for observing All rotten corrupt capitalism India Protest Day on 9th June Sport, as we all know, is a great character Cricket — latest prey of moribund Reacting to the verdict of the Bhopal building tool. It is a device to sustain physical and capitalism District Court on the Bhopal gas tragedy that mental nourishment—a means to create a healthy But sport today is being packaged, advertised occurred in the Union Carbide plant in 1984, mind in a healthy body and foster the spirit of and sold no different from a bunch of toiletries or Comrade Provash Ghosh, General Secretary, cordiality and friendship. Sport is a source of a pack of junk food. Sport is now a product, to SUCI(C) in course of a statement issued on 8 refreshing entertainment right from the children to be marketed and sold in whichever way as to June said that while the countrymen expected the aged. Sportsmanship is an attitude that strives fetch maximum profit for the operators. that a crime of such magnitude which caused for fair play, courtesy toward teammates and Beautiful, uplifting sport is being methodically, death to nearly 25,000 people and maimed, opponents, ethical behaviour and integrity, and mercilessly squeezed, its essence adulterated and injured, slow poisoned and seriously affected in grace in victory or defeat.
    [Show full text]
  • Print This Article
    Multidisciplinary Journal for Education, http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/muse.2016.3688 Social and Technological Sciences EISSN: 2341-2593 Gender violence news in British and American press Bustinduy, Sara University of Malaga, Fac. Letras - Dpto. Filología Inglesa Campus de Teatinos s/n 29071 Málaga - España Email: [email protected]; Phone: +34 609941324 Received: 2014-12-31; Accepted: 2015-06-15 Abstract This study aims to prove which qualities, from the British and United States actual press, are more adequate for gender violence issues, comparing news on the same stories. It is evident the influence of mass media on public opinion and, therefore, the responsibility that written press has on gender violence messages, avoiding sensationalism. Psycholinguistic studies have established the relation language-thought, so language used in journalism is crucial. Following the belief that newspapers considered more liberal and independent will lead to a better treatment than traditional ones considered to be more reluctant to change, journals have been selected. Furthermore, different cultures can be as objective and respectful but maybe less committed with the issue, as it may arise from the samples. There have been emerging ethic codes giving guidelines to journalists, including discrimination, and more specific on gender sensitive reporting. Therefore, the objective to improve public opinion information, stepping away from stereotypes and oversimplifications, is substantial, and will undoubtedly result in a better understanding of equality.
    [Show full text]
  • Lt Governor Lays Foundation for Rs 24.4 Cr Durga Bhawan at Shri Mata
    ! " ! ! ! JAMMU, THURSDAY, AUGUST 19 , 2021 VOL. 37 | NO.227 | REGD. NO. : JM/JK 118/15 /17 | E-mail : [email protected] |www.glimpsesoffuture.com | Price : Rs. 2.00 Lt Governor lays foundation for Rs 24.4 cr Durga J&K DGP orders action against cop involved in thrashing journos Bhawan at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine during Muharram procession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
    [Show full text]
  • THAROOR GETS CLEAN CHIT Court While Refusing to Frame Charges Against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Discharged Him
    CORONA CATASTROPHE INDIA GUJARAT 35,178 23 new cases new cases 440 00 AHMEDABAD l THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 263 new fatalities new fatalities LOK SABHA SPEAKER New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be attending Outreach PEGASUS SNOOPING: SC New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from OM BIRLA TO BE CHIEF and Familiarisation Programmes for the Panchayati Raj Institutions in ISSUES NOTICE TO CENTRE, the Centre and the West Bengal government on a plea challenging the Ladakh on August 27 and Jammu and Kashmir on August 31. Birla will setting up of a Commission of Inquiry by the state to probe into the GUEST AT PANCHAYATI RAJ the chief guest at both the functions aimed at strengthening the BENGAL ON PLEA AGAINST Pegasus snooping allegations. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V EVENTS IN LADAKH, J&K institution of Panchayats in both the Union Territories. PANEL BY EX-SC JUDGE Ramana issued notices to the Centre and the West Bengal govt. P6 OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD & LUCKNOW www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia SUNANDA PUSHKAR DEATH CASE THAROOR GETS CLEAN CHIT Court while refusing to frame charges against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor discharged him New Delhi: Delhi court on Wednesday dropped OCTOBER 17, 2019 all charges against Con- Tharoor’s counsel began his gress MP Shashi Tha- rebuttal to the prosecution roor in connection with arguing that “there was no evidence to suggest cause of the alleged abetment of death”.
    [Show full text]
  • Page7 Local.Qxd (Page 1)
    DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019 (PAGE 7) Plantation drives, speeches mark Sat kick-starts blacktopping works JKEEGA for expediting regularization Excelsior Correspondent taken up on war footing basis so that people do not face any prob- process of PDD engineers JAMMU, June 5: Former lem regarding infrastructure in Excelsior Correspondent Engineers which speaks volumes celebrations of World Environment Day MLA Jammu West, Sat Sharma their areas. He stated that Jammu about the total indifference and (CA) kick-started blacktopping West constituency is moving JAMMU, June 5: Jammu and humiliating treatment to the servic- Excelsior Correspondent tubs and planting small saplings 166 Battalion CRPF, Vijay Singh and Dwarka Sharma, envi- works at Vishal Nagar area of towards achieving the status of a Kashmir Electrical Engineering es rendered by them spreading over was demonstrated to the students. Mishra, CSO Airport Jammu, ronment activists of Supwal Ward 40. He was accompanied by Model Constituency. He men- Graduates Association (JKEEGA) JAMMU, June 5: Plantation decades," they said. The programme ended with the Daljeet Singh DSP (AHJ) JKP District Samba expressed their Corporator Ward 40, Neelam tioned that more projects are in the today appealed Governor Satya Pal drives and speeches marked the "Not only this but also serving distribution of certificates to the and other officers and personnel views on the occasion. Nargotra, Corporator Ward 41, pipeline and will be executed in a Malik to expedite the regularization senior engineers such as Chief celebrations of World participants. of CRPF and various airlines also Aadarsh Bhartiya Samaj process of engineers of Power Environment Day.
    [Show full text]
  • Justice Qayyum's Report
    PART I BACKGROUND TO INQUIRY 1. Cricket has always put itself forth as a gentleman’s game. However, this aspect of the game has come under strain time and again, sadly with increasing regularity. From BodyLine to Trevor Chappel bowling under-arm, from sledging to ball tampering, instances of gamesmanship have been on the rise. Instances of sportsmanship like Courtney Walsh refusing to run out a Pakistani batsman for backing up too soon in a crucial match of the 1987 World Cup; Imran Khan, as Captain calling back his counterpart Kris Srikanth to bat again after the latter was annoyed with the decision of the umpire; batsmen like Majid Khan walking if they knew they were out; are becoming rarer yet. Now, with the massive influx of money and sheer increase in number of matches played, cricket has become big business. Now like other sports before it (Baseball (the Chicago ‘Black-Sox’ against the Cincinnati Reds in the 1919 World Series), Football (allegations against Bruce Grobelar; lights going out at the Valley, home of Charlton Football club)) Cricket Inquiry Report Page 1 Cricket faces the threat of match-fixing, the most serious threat the game has faced in its life. 2. Match-fixing is an international threat. It is quite possibly an international reality too. Donald Topley, a former county cricketer, wrote in the Sunday Mirror in 1994 that in a county match between Essex and Lancashire in 1991 Season, both the teams were heavily paid to fix the match. Time and again, former and present cricketers (e.g. Manoj Prabhakar going into pre-mature retirement and alleging match-fixing against the Indian team; the Indian Team refusing to play against Pakistan at Sharjah after their loss in the Wills Trophy 1991 claiming matches there were fixed) accused different teams of match-fixing.
    [Show full text]
  • Twittered to Death Topic of the Week for Discussion
    rd th Topic of the week for discussion: 23 to 29 Jan. 201 4 Topic: Twittered to Death The Protagonist profile Sunanda Pushkar She was born in a Kashmiri family of landlords and army officers native to Bomai. She was the only daughter of Lt Col Poshkar Nath Dass and Jaya Dass. While studying at the Government College, she married a fellow Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Raina. The couple divorced in 1988. Subsequently, Sunanda went to Dubai in 1989 and married Sujith Menon in 1991. Their son Shiv was born in November 1992. Sujith ran into financial trouble as a financial consultant. Sujith returned to India, and died in an accident in Delhi in March 1997. In October 2009, Sunanda Pushkar met Shashi Tharoor at a party organized by the billionaire Sunny Varkey. After their first meeting, Sunanda was seen often at Tharoor's side in social gatherings.She left TECOM Investments in mid-March 2010. Later that year, on 22 August, she married Shashi Tharoor in a Malayali wedding ceremony in Tharoor's ancestral home, at Elavanchery in Kerala, India. This was the third marriage for both of them. Shashi Tharoor Topic Introduction He is member of the Tharoor Tharavadu of Kerala heritage, was born in London, to Lily and Chandran Tharoor Shashi Tharoor's career in the United Nations began in 1978 as a staff member of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva. From 1981 to 1984 he headed the UNHCR office in Singapore during the boat people crisis. In 1989 he was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs, the unit that later became the Peacekeeping Operations in New York.
    [Show full text]
  • 2SUNDC COL 18R1.QXD (Page 1)
    œND‰†KœND‰†œND‰†MœND‰†C 18 SUNDAY TIMES OF INDIA New Delhi, November 2, 2003 SPORT pril 7, 2000. It was a pleasant Fri- spiracy; but even it suddenly lost inter- day morning. The cold fingers of est after a few days of excitement. Awinter were already losing their Everybody had reached (or was forced frosty and biting sting. We were in the to reach?) a dead end. process of putting to bed our new baby When innocence was fixed to die A few months later, Cronje died in a (CricketTalk), and looking forward to mysterious plane crash: the betting the long weekend. There was bon- the Delhi cops. We jumped at them: Mark Waugh, a couple of years ago, and match-fixing episode was eventu- homie in the tiny newsroom. “But that is not Hansie,” we pointed BETWEEN THE LINES looked sinister now. As expected, the ally buried as a horrible nightmare, Suddenly, the editor stormed in, out triumphantly. It wasn’t. But then, police and various cricket boards along with his unidentified remains. screaming at the top of his voice: stop they were merely reading out tran- Bobbilli Vijay Kumar couldn’t gather any evidence. At least six cricketers in India, proba- press, stop press. “Hansie has been scripts from the taped conversation There was probably only one way to bly, see his ashen face when they look caught for fixing matches,” he an- that he had had with some bookies. before the story broke), on the morning A few names surfaced as investiga- catch the betrayers: check their in- into the mirror even now.
    [Show full text]