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Journalism of Courage
Their train to Ahmedabad is at 9 pm but Rajesh Rajput and his two sons Jai and Hardik are at the railway station three hours early. Not because of a fetish for punctuality; living in a subsidised hotel means they have to check out early or pay full rate.
When you’re raising two prospective shooters, you learn to count every penny. The high cost is known to turn off talent early on.
Consider the cost Rajput Sr has to factor in:
• Weapon: Rs 60,000 to lakhs
• Gear: Rs 40,000
• Shoes: Rs 10,000
• Ammunition cost: 50 paise to Rs 50 per round, depending on event
So far, he says he’s spent about Rs 4 lakh — a substantial part of his life’s savings — to make his sons country’s top shooters. ‘‘I had an obsessive desire to make my children national champions but I think this was an expensive sport that I picked,’’ he says.
For the last eight years the three travel to about five national events across the country with the hope of hitting big time. Support has been non-existent. Even the entry fees for the national meet — where they represent Gujarat — come from their meagre budget. Jai and Hardik, who started competing at national meets when they were 11 and 13, have won about 17 national medals at different levels but still aren’t Top 25 regulars.
The two share a gun but it is modified to suit the shooter when the swap takes place. Their father feel that at times this affects their precision and a chance at becoming a Renowned Shooter. Jai did make it to top 25 two year back but Rajesh — having just paid Rs 60,000 for Hardik’s weapon — wasn’t willing to spend more.
Today finances are more stable, Rajesh has the means to buy another gun — but neither son is in the top 25. Hardik now works as a sales executive, his taxing door-to-door day makes it tough for him to find time for practice. Younger brother Jai spends more time with books than guns, his target an IT engineering degree course in Gandhinagar, an hour away from his house in Ahmedabad.
It’s no surprise, given this, that the Nationals didn’t go too well. So how long will the Rajputs continue? ‘‘When my sons have a decent job where they can spare more time to shooting we will be back with vengeance. Right now we want to stick around, be visible,’’ Rajesh says.
With this, the medalless trio and their rifle return to their patient wait on the platform. For the train, for a break, for that shot at glory. For one father’s obsession with his sons’ success to finally pay off.
