In C.P. Snow’s A Variety of Men , a brilliant book of short biographies, there is a poignant description about Robert Frost’s ardent wish to win the Nobel Prize for literature.
Till his last breath, the American poet — whose line ‘And miles to go before I sleep’ should be familiar to even those who may not have heard of him — would wait with anticipation every year. The Nobel Prize would remain annual disappointment for Frost.
Not that he needed the Nobel committee’s approval to be recognised as one of the finest poets of the 20th century. But, he desired it. He deserved it. He never got it, however.
Tom Joseph could empathise with Frost. Over the last nine years, the Arjuna Award has been an annual disappointment for the champion spiker from Kerala.
Despite being the finest volleyball player India has produced after Jimmy George, also from Kerala, despite serving the country with distinction for years and despite giving joy to spectators wherever he played, the Arjuna Award selection panels, year after year, never found him eligible for what is the second-highest sporting honour of the country. Tom has had to see lesser athletes getting it.
Last year, there were attempts to add his name in a revised list of the winners. There was much furore too, with politicians and the media crying foul. What Tom got at the end of it all though was disappointment.
As members of yet another selection panel sit together to pick up this year’s Arjuna awardees in New Delhi, it is not just the volleyball fraternity that is hoping that justice would be done finally to Tom.
Anyone who has played or followed sport would understand how frustrated a top athlete could be when he is ignored time and again.
Though Tom had given up all hopes after missing the award last year, of late he has been sounding more hopeful. Maybe the panel led by Kapil Dev could see what the nine before it could not. Maybe Tom would not have to be a Frost, after all.
He shouldn’t.
