Expose students to turf cricket and technology: Javagal Srinath

September 25, 2011

Mangalore, September 25: Former fast bowler for the Indian cricket team Javagal Srinath advice the cricket-loving boys to keep at cricket until the age of around 20, as that is the time their fitness would be at the best.

Interacting with media persons in the city on Sunday, the 'Mysore Express' Srinath said that even if boys are not chosen to play in under-15 tournaments they should not lose heart, as it is around the age of 19 years that most boys go through a “growth spurt”, which would make their body extremely fit for the game.“Boys should give an “honest try” to the game until the age of about 20 years”, he said.

There was a need to expose students to turf cricket and technology so that their talent is utilised efficiently. Otherwise, they would practice on the field and not be able to perform as well on a turf pitch, Mr. Srinath said.

The goal was to bring international practices to the mofussil level and provide basic infrastructure, he added.

The Cricket Academy, an arm of the State Association, should continue to function throughout the year except during the exams and provide training to children. The aim should be providing training to around 150 children over a period of two years.

Mr. Srinath said that the association had seen two privately held potential sites for cricket grounds, but nothing had yet come of it. He said that in Raichur, Mysore, Shimoga the State cricket association, had set up grounds where children could play, and Mangalore was the odd man out. Bangalore had three grounds, he added.

It would have been ideal if the Nehru Maidan was available, but since it was not, around two acres of land that were close to the city would be necessary, he said.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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