From Harvard To Attawa, Satinder Bajwa Turns Dream Into Reality
from IndianExpress.com
September 9, 2011 - From the portals of Harvard University to the bylanes of Attawa village in Chandigarh, 55-year-old Satinder Bajwa has set out to achieve few would even dare to do—teach squash to every strata of society.
As a first step, the former head coach of the Harvard University squash team—he coached them from 1999 to 2010—set up Khelshala or a ‘Place of Play’ for slum children two years ago.
It is not just squash that is taught at Khelshala but yoga too is part of the curriculum. Bajwa also plans to chalk out a structured educational course for his wards.
“After working with greats like Jansher Khan, I wanted to make the game reach other parts of society and that is why we started Khelshala two years ago,” says Bajwa, who also coached eight-time world champion Jansher Khan.
“Now we have 22 regular kids and eight others and many of our trainees have done well at the domestic level,” Bajwa says.
It is his belief that if taken seriously, the racquet sport can produce world champions from India that made him shift his base to Chandigarh.
“If you talk about games like cricket and football, these are games which have a time-frame. One plays the sport till college level and after that when the team disbands, one discontinues. Where as a sport like squash is a lifetime sport. You just need a partner and can play it any time,” Bajwa says.
And for that he is willing to share his expertise with anyone interested and willing to associate in promoting the sport.
“I wanted to start with slum kids and I will be happy if an institution like Panjab University can start a programme like I ran at Harvard University,” he says.
One of the initiatives which Bajwa took was to teach children about studies and many of his students or trainees at Harvard too have come forward to help the legendary coach.
“I just finished my high school studies and I had an option to do social service for three months. I came to India and I teach these kids squash and help them in studies. It is good to see them inculcate the basics of the game with such an eagerness and doing well in the state championships,” says Meyha Sood, an Indian student based in US, who has come to Chandigarh to teach the sport.
On Sunday, on its second anniversary of formation, Khelshala will hold a seminar for over 60 schools in Chandigarh.
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