Shimla, April 19
The awesome natural splendour of the “dale” that captivated people and served as a major venue for recreation over the years has suddenly become the “(Annan)dale” of contention with the Army and the Himachal Government locking horns over its possession.

Located at an altitude of 6,117 ft, the ground, spread over 122 bighas, has been in the possession of the Army since the World War II period (1941), though it was formally leased out to it in 1958, with retrospective effect from 1955.

Successive governments have been making efforts to take control of the ground since 1982 when the lease expired, but the issue has reached a flashpoint after a campaign, backed by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), was launched for its transfer to the state for setting up a cricket stadium. It led to a counter-campaign to save the dale from the land mafia. The campaign was supported by the CPM, which alleged ulterior motives behind the move to take back the ground and maintained that the hidden agenda was to promote the interests of realtors.

The issue took an unsavoury turn after the defence authorities also questioned the motives behind the campaign, prompting Chief Minister PK Dhumal to threaten legal action. It is the largest stretch of flat ground in this part of the state. The Army has already made it clear that it is absolutely “not negotiable” in view of its strategic importance as a forward logistic and operational base.

The history

The history of the sprawling green glade surrounded by majestic deodars is as old as Simla (now spelled as Shimla) itself. Initially, it was a place for fun and frolic where British officers and their families enjoyed picnics, lawn parties, fancy dress shows and held get-togethers. However, with picnics under the shade of towering deodars becoming customary and get-togethers getting formal, it turned into a place for open-air entertainment. Thereafter, fete champetre, gymkhana, sports and other social and cultural festivities were a regular feature. It witnessed a whole range of formal events and informal activities, including flower, dog and horse shows, polo, gymkhana with tent pegging, steeplechase, tandem race, ladies’ hack race, croquet, polo, football, cricket, archery, shooting, horse races and even rickshaw races.

Originally, it was a small dale about quarter of a mile in circumference, but later extended to 1.25 mile by cutting into the hillside during Dufferin’s vice-royalty (1884-88) to facilitate big events like horse racing and polo. The first recorded history of Annandale pertains to the “funfair” organised in September 1833 to raise funds for setting up a school at Sabathu for native girls. It was mentioned as Annandale for the first time in the East Indian United Service Journal in 1834. It was much similar to the Annandale valley in Dumfriesshire (County of Dumfries) in Scotland and since quite a few officers in the Indian services were from that area, they decided to call it as such. However, according to another story, the dale was named by Charles Pratt Kennedy, the political agent of the British government who was assigned the task of selecting a suitable place in the hills for establishing the summer capital. During his exploratory visit to the Simla hills in 1822, he was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the dale that he named it after Anna, his lady love back in England. It is perhaps for this reason that it has been spelt as “Annandale” and also as “Annadale” in books, articles and other documents pertaining to Shimla.

The outdoor entertainment activities were carried out in tents with make-shift dance floors and resplendent lights peeking from hundreds of lanterns hanging from surrounding trees in the darkness of night. As time passed some permanent structures were raised on the edge of the dale which blended well with the ambience. The Durand Football Tournament was started in 1888 from Annandale by Mortimer Durand. It was interrupted during World War I (1914-19) and World War II (1939). The venue was shifted to Delhi in 1940.

The British authorities took every care that the scenic charm of the site was not marred by grotesque structures. During the 1924 gymkhana, a shed was raised without proper permission of the municipal committee, which promptly questioned it. The Annandale Gymkhana Committee, in its explanation, replied: “The genesis of this shed was the desire of one of the Indian members of the club (Maharaja Bharatpur) to erect a temporary shelter from which the purdah ladies of his party may conveniently view the sports at Annandale.”

The structure was indeed razed to the ground.

After Independence, gymkhana, polo football, hockey and cricket matches continued to be held along with Dasehra and other social and cultural festivals. A big event was the plenary session of the All-India Congress Committee held in 1971. However, a clash between police and military jawans during the Dasehra celebrations in 1972 created hostility between the military and civil administration after which the venue of the festival was shifted to the Hanuman temple at Mount Jakhu. Besides the national women hockey championship, the only major event thereafter was a maha yajna organised by the Gayatri parivar in 1994.

The ground is being used as a helipad by both the state and the Army which also conducts field training and mock exercises for defence preparedness and disaster management. The sporting activity has been of late been confined to golf for which a nine-hole course started in 2002. The Army established a war museum on the periphery of the ground in 2005.

Army’s viewpoint

The Annandale ground is of paramount strategic significance for the Indian Army from the perspective of national security which can never be ignored in favour of any game and for gimmicks being played at the cost of larger national interests. The Army training and disaster management purposes are not negotiable at any cost. The Army laments that its significance as a forward logistic and operational base for operations in the sector adjoining Himachal is being overlooked in preference for a cricket stadium.

The strategic importance of Annandale for Army operations apart, the very meaning of “dale”, a green patch surrounded by lush forests, underlines its environmental significance. The ground and its surroundings have remained in their pristine form under the defence authorities and the existing physical character should not be allowed to be altered in the garb of developing a cricket or sports stadium. As Chief Minister, I laid the foundation stone of a cricket stadium at Katasni on the outskirts of the city, which was a suitable site. However, the present government abandoned the project and started pursuing the Annandale issue with ulterior motives.

— Virbhadra Singh, Union Minister

We have been demanding creation of playgrounds for students and there can be no better place than Annandale, which is most suited for sports, socio-cultural and religious functions. The use of the ground exclusively by the Army for golf or mock drills has denied the public the opportunity to use the place. It should be thrown open for public use, but the control should remain with the Army so that its pristine surroundings remain protected.

— Aakarshan Chauhan, founding president, Youth for Enlightening Society

It is important that we preserve the green oasis for posterity as Shimla has already turned into a concrete jungle and those who are seeking the return of Annandale under the cover of constructing a stadium are actually keen on a real estate venture, which will be a money-spinner. I hope the Chief Minister realises that sometimes preservation of natural environment for posterity is more important than constructing a concrete stadium. The historic ground and green heritage must remain in the possession of the Army if it has to be conserved or else real estate developers will come into play in no time.

— Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, politician

The ground is being used currently as a civil-military helipad with potential for use as a launch pad for relief and rescue sorties during peacetime and as a logistics base during war. No doubt the youth of Shimla have long been yearning for a good and easily accessible sports facility. The natural green bowl can definitely serve as an all-encompassing sports complex provided its potential is properly harnessed. If the government has a genuine desire to convert this ground into a cradle for nurturing sports talent, then efforts should be made to take it over from the Army while providing it a suitable alternative site. Otherwise, maintain the status quo and let the Army honourably use the ground..

— Col HPS Chauhan (retd)

The Annandale controversy is a perfect example of a strong nexus between politicians and the real estate mafia who have jointly launched a campaign to grab the Annandale ground. We want that the ground should be open for public use, be it for sports, cultural or religious functions but under the overall control of the Army. Returning the ground to the state government or the HPCA for constructing a stadium will sound the death knell for the ground.

— Tikender Panwar, CPM leader

We will not tolerate these kind of insinuations being levelled by the Army either against the BJP regime or the Chief Minister. Such objectionable remarks by the Army against elected representatives like the Chief Minister will bring the Army into direct conflict with the state government, which is completely avoidable. We want that the Annandale ground should be open for public use and sports promotion.

— Satpal Satti, state BJP chief

The apprehension of the local people, particularly environmentalists, that the thickly wooded green patch will be transformed into a concrete jungle once its control is transferred to the state is not unfounded. Shimla has been famous as “Queen of Hills” only because it has the largest and the best preserved urban forest in the country. Over the past three decades much of it has been lost but the environmental degradation has reached its peak in recent years with unbridled commercial forces, represented by realtors, ruling the roost.

— Capt Ved Sud, convener, INTACH

If the ground has strategic importance for military operations, then the matter ends. National security has to be the top priority and there should be no more debate on the issue. However, if the magnificent natural heritage can be simultaneously used for various sporting, cultural and social activities by the local people, it will be even better. It is one of the few green patches which have relatively remained unspoiled and all efforts should be made to preserve it.

— SR Mehrotra, historian

The approach of the government is totally uncalled for and dangerous as a confrontation with the Army over a piece of land for building a stadium is ridiculous. More so, as the demand for the transfer of the ground is being made with ulterior motives. It wants to help those who have acquired land around it recently by paving the way for its commercial exploitation in the name of setting up sports infrastructure.

— Kaul Singh, PCC chief

It should not be converted into a massive structure of concrete in order to create a cricket stadium. In my childhood and youth, I have seen the Durand Football Tournament being held here, national women hockey matches being played here; I have myself played many a cricket match here. The present small stadium and the glade with perfect gradient along with natural terraces used to be the spectators’ arena and should remain so. It replicates Australian stadia where spectators relax on undulating green glades while enjoying the games.

— SN Joshi, Shimla Amateur Garden and Environment Society

Shimla, April 19
The ruling BJP today seemed to be on the back foot on the issue of the demand for the creation of multi-sports facilities at the Annandale ground as the party clarified that neither had the state government nor the Chief Minister initiated the demand.

Addressing a press conference here today, national general secretary of the BJP and Rajya Sabha MP JP Nadda said the state government as well as the BJP were keen that the Annandale ground must be returned to the government with free use of it by the Army as and when required. Nadda along with co-in charge of the party affairs in Himachal Shyam Jaju today held a meeting with Chief Minister PK Dhumal, ministers, MLAs and senior leaders to discuss organisational matters.

“Neither the government nor the BJP has been part of the signature campaign launched by an organisation seeking the return of the ground to the state government,” he said while distancing himself from the demand of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association for a cricket stadium. In an oblique reference to the association of party MP Anurag Thakur with the campaign, he said at times elected representatives have to honour the sentiments of the public but that is certainly not the party stand.

“Attempts are being made to read too much between the lines whereas the fact is that the matter is now between the Defence Ministry and the Chief Minister,” he said.

Asked about senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar adopting a different stand, he maintained that the stand of the BJP was the same as echoed by Shanta. “Like Shantaji, we too feel that national security is more important than cricket and in case of any exigency the Army is free to use the Ridge, Kalyani or any place,” he said.

Jaju said as far as the BJP was concerned, the matter was closed as the party had high regard for the Army. “The kind of insulting language that had been used against the Chief Minister, anybody would have been perturbed, but we have no intention of being discourteous towards the Army,” he said.

Jaju said discussions were held to ensure that the BJP repeated its government in the Assembly poll.

Shimla, April 19
Despite the Army today seeking a time of two more months to file its reply before the Shimla Divisional Commissioner, who is the arbitrator in the case filed by the state government for seeking possession of the Annandale ground, the case has been listed for May 1.

The arbitration case filed by the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, on behalf of the state government for getting the possession of the Annandale ground back from the Army came up for hearing before Divisional Commissioner Ajay Bhandari here today. “The Army once again sought two months’ more time to file its reply which was vehemently opposed by those representing the state government before the arbitrator,” said sources.

Considering the raging controversy over the possession of the ground, which has made national headlines, it appears that the state government is in no mood to relent and will want the arbitration case to be decided at the earliest. As expected, the Army, which has already been given two months’ time in the past, wanted more time, which it could not get.

Even though the Chief of Army Staff has himself stated that there is no controversy over the issue with the state government, which has always cooperated with the Army, it seems that the arbitration case, which was filed in November last year, will now be taken up on priority.

Though the Army has tried to placate the state government and the Chief Minister in particular by virtually retracting from its earlier statement, the stand-off still remains practically unresolved.

Interestingly, in the revenue records dug out by the state government, the possession of the land is in the name of the Gymkhana Club and not the Defence Ministry or the army. It was in 1955 that a lease agreement was signed between the Punjab Government and the Defence ministry where the Annandale ground was given on a lease of 10 years on a token amount of Re 1 per annum.

However, officials claimed that despite the lease agreement being signed between the two, this document was not registered in the revenue papers or any other government records. The Divisional Commissioner, Ambala, was made the arbitrator in case of any dispute arising over this agreement.

After the lease expired in 1965, no new lease was signed even though the Army continued with its possession of the ground. Finally in May 1982, a fresh lease agreement was signed between the Himachal Government and the Defence Ministry, whereby the period from 1965 to March 31, 1982, when the Army continued with its possession of the ground was regularised. The arbitrator in case of any dispute too was changed from the Divisional Commissioner, Ambala, to Shimla.

The state government has maintained that the Army is illegally occupying the ground as it has no claim over it since the lease expired in 1982.

Shimla, April 19
Joining the Annandale controversy, RTI activist Dev Ashish Bhattacharya has questioned the tearing haste being shown by the Dhumal government to take over Annandale, the only open space available in Shimla, and stressed that the Army is a better guardian to take care of it keeping in view its strategic importance.

“Perhaps Dhumal does not know that the best of the hill stations of our country like Shimla, Mussoorie, Lansedown, Ranikhet, Nainital, Ooty, Darjeeling and Dalhousie were discovered, developed and maintained by the military. Nowadays we can compare the cantonment areas of any military area vis-a-vis civil areas and the difference is visible,” he observed.

He said many trees would have to be axed to convert the beautiful Annandale into a cricket stadium, with a hotel alongside, after which all hell will break loose on the sprawling green area, the princess of Shimla. Has cricket become more important than national security, he asked.

Shimla, April 19
Distancing itself from the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, the “Annandale for Citizens”, a forum which is campaigning for the handing over of the ground from the Army to the state, has asserted that it is not pitching for a cricket stadium alone at the site as is being made out.

President and vice-president of the forum Ashwini Garg and Surinder Thakur, respectively, told mediapersons here that they were campaigning for the transfer of the ground and it was for the government to decide what to do with it. They asserted that the forum stood for a multi-purpose stadium.

They maintained that the forum had nothing to do with the land in its vicinity and they wanted the CPM and the DYFI to come out with the names of the persons or other evidence to substantiate their charge that the campaign was launched under pressure from the land mafia. They also threatened to initiate legal action in 
the matter.

Dharamsala, April 19
Facing problems in finding senior faculty in various subjects, the Central University of Himachal Pradesh has written to the UGC to amend the Academic Performance Indicator (API) criteria prescribed for selection of teaching faculty in fine arts and language subjects.

Vice-Chancellor of university Furqan Qmar told The Tribune that in some subjects like fine arts and languages it was hard to find candidates with optimum scores as prescribed by the UGC under the API.

In fine arts many candidates “came with their creations”. However, they could not be selected as their API scores were low. In fine arts there are few scientific research journals in which candidates can publish their works. The criteria for their performance, were their creations.

In Hindi also there were few candidates who had got their articles published in journals as prescribed by the UGC. Due to it they could not attain the minimum API score prescribed by the UGC for posts of Associate Professor and Professor. A candidate who had appeared for a faculty position in the Hindi department later wrote a feature that even Munshi Prem Chand would not have been fit for the post of Associate Professor in Hindi as per the new API criteria, Furqan Qmar said.

The VC said keeping in view the practical problems faced by candidates during interviews, they had written to the UGC to amend the criteria for assessing the API score of candidates appearing for faculty positions in fine arts and language subjects.

As per the API criteria, marks are given to candidates for research papers published in referred journals, non-referred but recognised journals having ISBN/ ISSN numbers and conference proceeding as full papers. Marks are also given for text and reference books published by international publishers with an established peer review system, research guidance, training courses, conferences, seminar and workshops.

A candidate has to score a minimum of 400 marks under the API for being eligible for posts of Associate Professor and Professor.

The API criteria for promotions and recruitment were implemented by the UGC along with the new pay scales prescribed for the teaching faculty in the Sixth Pay Commission.

Though most of the states, including Himachal, have implemented the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, they are finding it hard to implement the API criteria for promotion of teachers in government colleges. College teachers are opposing the API criteria for promotions alleging that it should be implemented with retrospective affect i.e. from the date on which the new pay scales were implemented.

Recently, the government college lecturers boycotted the spot evaluation of HPUexaminations in protest. 

Shimla, April 19
BJP national general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal today said leaders who became politically active only with the objective of getting the party ticket at the time of elections should be completely discouraged.

The BJP today chalked out its strategy for the local municipal corporation and Assembly elections later this year in the presence of state and central leaders here. Those present included Ram Lal, national BJP general secretary JP Nadda, Chief Minister PK Dhumal, national BJP secretary Shyam Jaju and state party chief Satpal Singh Satti.

Ram Lal urged the party men to take the “achievements and development works” undertaken by the Dhumal regime to the grassroots level so that the party could gain in the elections. He urged various cells and morchas to gear up and try and reach out to every voter.

Dharamsala, April 19
Tibetan exiles here carried out a candlelight march this evening following reports that two more Tibetans have committed self-immolation in Tibet.

Local sources said two more Tibetans set themselves on fire today to protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

They have been identified as Choephag Kyab and Sonam from the Zamthang region of Ngaba in eastern Tibet.

Exile sources said the two set themselves on fire around 1 pm today. They were reportedly Tibetan youths in their early 20s.