Aao kabhi Haveli pe
The plot is part of the 270-year-old historic haveli, situated on the Sabarmati Riverfront
In a city that has lived its life on a communal edge, Police Commissioner A K Singh has a bold dream: using sports as a tool to unite disparate communities. An avid sports and fitness enthusiast, the police chief has dedicated a large portion of the Gaekwad Haveli premises – which houses the headquarters of the high-profile Crime Branch office – to build a multi-sports facility to be used by all sections of the society for free.
The large plot on the premises of the 270-year-old historic haveli, situated on theSabarmati Riverfront , will be aptly called Ekta Maidan. It already houses a temple and a dargah in close proximity, providing an ideal environment to promote inter-faith harmony.
“Ekta Maidan is police’s endeavour to boost communal harmony. Sports can provide a healing touch. WesternAhmedabad has several sports facilities but there is hardly any such place on this side of the Sabarmati. The Haveli, where a temple and a dargah co-exist, is apt place for communities to come together,” Commissioner of Police A K Singh told Mirror.
Interestingly, the 18th century watchtower on the haveli premises also houses a memorial to two friends - Vasantrao Hegishte, a Maharashtrian from Ratnagiri, and Rajab Ali Lakhani from Limdi in Surendranagar - who were killed when communal riots broke out in 1946 during rathyatra in Jamalpur.
Gaekwad Haveli lies close to Jamalpur and Raikhad - two Muslim-dominated but communally sensitive areas in the city.
Women's only facility
The USP of the project, however, will be a 'women's only' sports facility which will also include a children's play area, an obstacle course surrounded by a walk-and-jog track, and open gym facilities.
There will be two football ground spread over 12,500 sq m. Two kabaddi courts, two volleyball courts and a basketball court will be built over 2,000 sq m area. The women's facility will be spread over 3,500 sq m.
"The sports facility will be available for free. This is our gift to the city. People, especially women, can come here and play all kinds of sports for free. All this right under our watchful eyes. The police will ensure that women and girls who come here are safe and that there is no friction among people. We intend to collaborate with the Sabarmati Riverfront to extend the facilities so more people can avail themselves of it," the police commissioner said.
JCP Vipul Aggarwal said, "We will be floating a tender for Ekta Maidan soon. This facility will be a gift to the underprivileged and the lower-middle class -- a place where they can play without fear, where they know they will be safe. It will also be a place where everyone will be treated as equal. The place will be guarded by police, which will send out the message that the police is there for the people at all times."
Aggarwal said, "It will also set a precedent. I have not heard of any police unit having given land earmarked for them to the public."
DCP (Crime) Deepan Bhadran said, "We have a friendship memorial right at the gate of Gaekwad Haveli. Ekta Maidan, as planned by Police Commissioner A K Singh, is the next step to enhancing inter-faith harmony. It is aimed to remove fear and apprehensions between communities and will create a platform for interaction between people. We plan to approach companies so that they can help us employ coaches under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We want to see five football players from Ekta Maidan in the next five years in the State team. Similarly, we plan to train players in kho-kho. We plan to get the Ekta Maidan ready by August this year. It is a ground where about 100 people can play at any given time."
DCP Panna Momaya who had been associated with the project, said, "Of the 16 colleges on this side of the river, five are girls' colleges. The rest have more boys than girls. However, these colleges do not have a playground of their own. This facility will help talented sportspersons, especially women, to hone their skills. It will also create enthusiasm for sports among others."
Sports facilities
• Two football courts spread over 12,500 sq m
• Two kabaddi courts, two volleyball courts and basketball court to be built over 2,000 sq m area
• Only-women’s facility with children’s play area, obstacle course, open gym will be spread over 3,500 sq m
• Kho-kho, football players will be trained for state teams
The large plot on the premises of the 270-year-old historic haveli, situated on the
“Ekta Maidan is police’s endeavour to boost communal harmony. Sports can provide a healing touch. Western
The police chief who plays football, volleyball, hockey and basketball conceived the facility which will include an international-size football ground. Interestingly, the complex has been deliberately planned in a manner that promotes team games. "We will have separate kabaddi, volleyball and basketball courts. We have not included games like table tennis which is an individual sport. We have focused on team sports as we want to foster bonding among the communities," he revealed.
Interestingly, the 18th century watchtower on the haveli premises also houses a memorial to two friends - Vasantrao Hegishte, a Maharashtrian from Ratnagiri, and Rajab Ali Lakhani from Limdi in Surendranagar - who were killed when communal riots broke out in 1946 during rathyatra in Jamalpur.
Gaekwad Haveli lies close to Jamalpur and Raikhad - two Muslim-dominated but communally sensitive areas in the city.
Women's only facility
The USP of the project, however, will be a 'women's only' sports facility which will also include a children's play area, an obstacle course surrounded by a walk-and-jog track, and open gym facilities.
There will be two football ground spread over 12,500 sq m. Two kabaddi courts, two volleyball courts and a basketball court will be built over 2,000 sq m area. The women's facility will be spread over 3,500 sq m.
"The sports facility will be available for free. This is our gift to the city. People, especially women, can come here and play all kinds of sports for free. All this right under our watchful eyes. The police will ensure that women and girls who come here are safe and that there is no friction among people. We intend to collaborate with the Sabarmati Riverfront to extend the facilities so more people can avail themselves of it," the police commissioner said.
JCP Vipul Aggarwal said, "We will be floating a tender for Ekta Maidan soon. This facility will be a gift to the underprivileged and the lower-middle class -- a place where they can play without fear, where they know they will be safe. It will also be a place where everyone will be treated as equal. The place will be guarded by police, which will send out the message that the police is there for the people at all times."
Aggarwal said, "It will also set a precedent. I have not heard of any police unit having given land earmarked for them to the public."
DCP (Crime) Deepan Bhadran said, "We have a friendship memorial right at the gate of Gaekwad Haveli. Ekta Maidan, as planned by Police Commissioner A K Singh, is the next step to enhancing inter-faith harmony. It is aimed to remove fear and apprehensions between communities and will create a platform for interaction between people. We plan to approach companies so that they can help us employ coaches under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). We want to see five football players from Ekta Maidan in the next five years in the State team. Similarly, we plan to train players in kho-kho. We plan to get the Ekta Maidan ready by August this year. It is a ground where about 100 people can play at any given time."
DCP Panna Momaya who had been associated with the project, said, "Of the 16 colleges on this side of the river, five are girls' colleges. The rest have more boys than girls. However, these colleges do not have a playground of their own. This facility will help talented sportspersons, especially women, to hone their skills. It will also create enthusiasm for sports among others."
Sports facilities
• Two football courts spread over 12,500 sq m
• Two kabaddi courts, two volleyball courts and basketball court to be built over 2,000 sq m area
• Only-women’s facility with children’s play area, obstacle course, open gym will be spread over 3,500 sq m
• Kho-kho, football players will be trained for state teams
Ekta Maidan is police’s endeavour to boost harmony. Sports can provide healing touch. The Haveli, where a temple and a dargah co-exist, is apt place for communities to come together
It is aimed at creating a platform for interaction between people. We want to see five football players from Ekta Maidan in the State team in the next five years
Of 16 colleges on this side of the river, five are all girls. These colleges do not have a playground. The facility will help talented sport persons to hone their skills
We will be floating a tender for Ekta Maidan soon. This facility is a gift to the underprivileged and lower-middle class. It will be a place where everyone will be treated as equal
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