The beauty about sports is that it has the power to unite people and work collectively for a single cause. It gives people a platform to showcase their talent irrespective of factors that plague our societies in a merit based industry. The Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) in Assam is playing a big role in giving a sense of purpose to the youth in the remotest corners of the state. It all began in September 2019, when former volleyball players started the Assam Volleyball 100 and little did they know that spark would light a fire.
The league not only showcased the sporting talent of the state, but also the hospitality of the villages. With a home and away format, children under the age of 16 play a minimum of 6 matches divided equally at home and away. Not only do the youth get an opportunity to broaden their horizons by visiting other villages, the host village prepares food for the two teams who eat together. Each group features 12 matches with the top team from each group qualifying for the 2nd round where the fixture is held at a neutral venue. The four best teams in the boys and girls category go on to play in the Super League.
The Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) is the brainchild of Abhijit Bhattacharya, but the credit for its success is not only down to him. The initiative is a collective effort by a number of people, right from the parents of the players, village elders, ONGC to generous friends, who have all played an important role in making this league a reality. The sport didn’t just reach the players, but the coaches as well, when a three week training programme was organized to upgrade the skills of the coaches associated with teams of the BVL.
For a league organized with no budget, the challenges were plenty. The COVID-19 pandemic wrecked havoc on the league’s plans just when it was getting momentum. Engaging children by teaching volleyball online was easier said than done due to poor internet connectivity. With a league format already set in stone, another major blow was when the Jagiroad team pulled out because of internal problems. Arranging kits for the village teams was an uphill task, as the kit manufacturer from Jalandhar pulled out 10 days before the inaugural match because of transportation problems due to farmers agitation. This led to a last minute scramble for another distributor who managed to fulfill his end of the bargain.
While a few teams could manage the transportation costs for the away fixtures, many could not. Soon enough, word spread around that the Brahmaputra Volleyball League was looking for sponsors who would be interested in covering the kit, uniform and travel costs of the team. Notable names from the sporting community such as former Indian national badminton players Aparna Popat, Krishna Hazarika Rao, former table tennis player Madalasa Hazarika and Arjuna Awardee Monasila Baruah Mehta to name a few agreed to adopt a team by pledging a sum of 15,000 rupees.
As the date of the league’s inauguration drew closer, Dr. Pranab Sandliya, owner of Niz-Pokuwa composed a theme song and Keshab Baruah gave it a tune to bring the song to life. The logo was revealed by none other than Indian athlete Hima Das. Despite all odds, the Brahmaputra Volleyball League became a reality thanks to the collective efforts of innumerable people.
A league of this nature epitomizes what sports is all about. It’s not just a bunch of athletes running around with a winner or loser declared after each game. Just like any sporting achievement, the league became a reality due to the joint efforts of many selfless individuals. Women folk in the villages prepared pitta, coconut ladoo and Assamese traditional dishes for 500 guests at a time, referees officiated games without charging any fees, vegetables were donated, grounds were prepared, tents were installed and it only became a reality thanks to the goodness of many hearts.
Most importantly, Volleyball has breathed new life into some of the remotest areas in Assam. It has given a sense of purpose for its youth where about 90% of them wore a personalized jersey and ventured beyond their village for the first time. Volleyball has won the hearts of not just children but entire communities and will continue to influence the lives of many for years to come.
