From Olympism to the 1st. South Asia Federation Games, Mr. Sharad Chandra Shah developed a shared vision for Nepal and the SAARC region. He was the first person from Nepal to serve as the Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia therefore deserves an honored place among the transformative heroes of Nepalese Sports history. A true visionary, who embodied the core values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect, inspiring us on individual and organizational levels. In retrospect, his extraordinary achievements, would be best articulated through his philosophy to blend sports, culture and education to promote the development of sports and bringing people together to foster lifelong friendship.
Even though his tenure as the Member Secretary of the National Sports Council had already concluded before I returned home from the US after finishing my undergraduate degree in 1989, sports fraternity of Nepal still resonated his name as a person who has had the most effective and greatest impact in the sports movement of Nepal. Many would agree that he was indisputably the father of the Olympic Movement in our country.
His vision to emulate Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s ideas of the modern day Olympic Movement within the SAARC region was brilliant. He knew “sport has the power to change the world.” For Nepal to seize this opportunity and take the lead to act as a catalyst for collaboration amongst its Member States was undoubtedly remarkable. His extraordinary ability to look far into the distant, and give back to the Nation, in a sustainable way, an ancient institution, the principles of which are becoming more and more relevant today. This also exemplifies Mr. Shah’s ability to undertake the fundamental principles of
Olympism to heart through its goals. “To place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.”
I believe Mr. Shah was a passionate reader and I wouldn’t doubt that he must have learnt by heart and been captivated by the Olympic Anthem played at each Olympic Games that he attended.
“Immortal spirit of antiquity, Father of the true, beautiful and good, Descend, appear, shed us thy light Upon this ground and under this sky Which has first witnessed thy unperishable fame.
Give life and animation to those noble games!
Throw wreaths of fadeless flowers to the victors
In the race and in the strife!
Create in our breasts, hearts of steel!
In thy light, plains, mountains and seas
Shine in a roseate hue and forma vast temple
To which all nations throng to adore thee,
Oh, immortal spirit of antiquity!”
His pursuit to move a new generation of sportswomen and sportsmen alike, who would be future leaders of our nation may have been inspired by the words enshrined in this anthem. Thus, his desire to kindle the same flame in our region would have been his dream. The principles of Olympism are about driving social change that is far-reaching and what could have been more apt for our region than to mobilize the masses through sports that believes and practices non-discrimination, sustainability, Humanism, Universality, Solidarity and Alliance? Reminiscing my meeting with him a few times in my life, I could actually feel this sense of a man and his incredible story who gave everything he had to unite our country in leadership, friendship and peace.
President of the International Olympic Committee, Dr. Thomas Back recently said that “in an increasingly individualized society which is on the other hand ever more globalized and networked, sport and sports organizations can only retain their significance if they achieve “unity in diversity” and base their organization and structures on the principles of respect, responsibility and reliability.” I have no doubt Mr. Shah had understood this sentiment but only four decades ahead because his work and programs to support the development of administrators and leaders at the National Sports Council and across 75 districts of Nepal till today has his footprints.
In 2006 during the Asian Games in Doha, I had the honor of sitting next to the Honorary Lifetime President of International Olympic Committee, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch at a Tennis Match and in introducing myself as an aspirant administrator of the Olympic Movement from Nepal, he smiled, held my hand and said, “this is a beautiful path you have chosen. Certainly, the most gratifying experience of my life.” Then, he went on to inquire, “How is my friend Sharad and what is he doing now and where is he?” I mentioned to him that he was well and holds a very high position within the government. He then again held my hand and said, “well don’t forget to give him my best regards.” This was a profound moment for me especially because to be known by name of a person coming from a small country like ours by someone like Mr. Samaranch was overwhelming.
In 2001, after having struggled for months to get the permission to use Gokarna Safari Park premises from the owners to organize the Asian Cross-Country Championships (running) being held for the first time in Nepal, I met Mr. Shah sipping away his tea or coffee at the club house with the owner. I was there to measure the course with a measuring devise and it looked rather odd for someone to be carrying an instrument on wheels at a golf course. When I paid my respects to him, he inquired as to what on earth was I doing? I then explained to him what I was doing with grievances directed to the man sitting next to him for not giving us the permission to host such a game. He then sat me down and explained to the owner the significance of such a game coming to his place. The flurry of media from across Asia who would come to cover the event and how they would take his place to Asia and the world. The way he put it across was amazing and within the next few days we were granted permission to host the Asian Cross-Country Championships in Nepal for the first time. One conversation, at the time, where Mr. Shah used his privileges related to being in a leadership position made all the difference. An incident that not only had a significant impact on what I was doing but enormously touched by Mr. Shah who not only recognized but respected the purpose of my effort to bringing Nepal to Asia and to the world. The same year, I was happy to see Mr. Shah honored with a Diploma from The International Olympic Committee, a befitting tribute for his remarkable contribution, as a volunteer to the development of sport and Olympism, and to the promotion of friendship and solidarity among peoples.
His accomplishments may mean different things to different people, depending on the social or cultural context in which they reside but to me, he was someone who sought to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental principles to generate ideals and transform lives through sport. And, as athletes, spectators, judges, technicians, organizers, health professionals, educators and coaches, we must never forget that he actually lived up to its potential – this we must respect and revere about Mr. Sharad Chandra Shah. His national legacy leaves no doubt that he was, by every measure, a giant of a leader. I believe he is modern Nepal’s one of the greatest forgotten hero – and his story must be told!
