Alappuzha: The tranquil backwaters of Punnamada came alive as the famed Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) took off on Saturday, cheered by thousands who had come to witness it. The annual boat trace is held the second Saturday of August every year and sees 22 snake boats and other boats of different sizes vying for the coveted Nehru Trophy.
But 62 years after the race put Kuttanadu on the global map, many believe the famed regatta is losing its charm. Mr Vinod Karichal, who has been an active organiser of the boat races for the last 15 years, says commercialisation has taken away the charm of “Kuttanadu’s Olympics on water,” as the NTBR is often called.
The boats may carry the name of a Kuttanadan kara, but many of the rowers are from outside Kerala with clubs from Kuttanadu no longer enjoying the monopoly they did in the eighties or nineties, he regrets.
Noting that army men and many from the North East and Bengal now participate in the boat race, he asks, “How can these out of state military men claim a slice of this traditional boat race?” and argues that the participation of the jawans goes against the tradition of the race.
Mr VV Gregory, noted boat race commentator, says that people from Kollam and Ernakulam too participate in the race now although they are not able to chant the verses of the traditional Vanchipattu.
“This takes away a lot of the charm of the race. According to my information as many as 80 military personnel roped in for the Sree Ganeshan Chundan and about 25 for the United Boat Club are currently participating in the training sessions,” says the 67-year-old commentator, also regretting that the authorities seldom notice that the majestic ‘chundans’ (snake boats) are becoming hard to maintain.
“Owing to the government's apathy, the travel and tourism industry has still not realised the huge potential of this unique sport”, he rues.
While the locals continue to be enthusiastic about the race, debating the composition of teams for hours and indulging in betting on the outcomes, they are so neck-deep in debt that they can’t find the money for snake boats unlike in the past, says Mr Jospeph Elamkulam, president, Nadubhagom Boat Club.
“The government does little to help them either,” he laments. Local oarsmen too are opting for the “outsiders.” Mr Rocha Chacko, an oarsman of the Jesus Boat Club, says clubs from outside Kuttanadu hire leading oarsmen, who leave their native clubs tempted by the money on offer.
“But this brings in some kind of professionalism too, although the locals are beginning to lose their love for owning snake boats,” observe others.
While it may have its share of problems, the famed regatta still attracts lakhs of people who occupy every inch of the banks of the Punnamada Lake to witness it.
Should it be declared a sport, it could get more financial assistance and draw corporate sponsorship which could help stem the rot setting in, say many. As for MLA, C.K.Sadasivan, he blames corruption among bureaucrats for some of the problems besetting the famed race.
“These bureaucrats are opposing increasing the bonus of the rowers who put their heart and soul into the event, attracting tourists from the world over,” he charges, claiming that an internal audit committee had found misappropriation of Rs 75 lakh last year in the conduct of the race.
