PTV and Shandur

This is since 2006 that Ptv is giving live coverage to Shandur polo festival. On July 9, 2006, Ptv for the first time managed to telecast polo match live from Shandur Stadium, and it managed to deliver it according to professional standard as for as live commentary short backgrounds, brief history and other related information is concerned, but in 2007, instead of improving upon the previous years performance, Ptv could not keep up its standard set in 2007.

I would like to give two examples out of scores of professional mistakes, and language errors. In 3 days the commentators used the �D� of a team whereas in polo there is no concept of �D� at all. This is only hockey in which there is �D� in front of goal posts. According to a count the wrong word was uttered for more 200 times in 3 matches, which Ptv managed to telecast live. Another example is attribution of introducing polo and polo ground in Chitral to British political agent Maj. Cobb, who served in Gilget in early 20th century, whereas polo was there in 13th century AD. Polo grounds were there in every village and pasture of Chitral and Gilgit even before the British rule (1895-1947). Maj Cobb is credited for being a fan of polo.

Even the � Mas Jinali� where Maj. Cobb used to play polo in moonlight was there before Major Cobb first visited the polo in 1927. There was summer palace of the crown prince of Chitral Nasirul Mulk on the mound over shadowing the polo ground. Nasirul Mulk used to play polo at night in moonlight and he used to tell his fellow players and courtiers that Jalalud-Din Akbar was fond of playing polo at nights. Referring to Abul-Fazl, he used to say that Jalalud Din Akbar had introduced laminated balls for playing at night. Major Cobb was fascinated by this game and joined the local princes and elite to play polo matches, and that is it. There are other polo grounds at Shandur, one is 6 kilometers to the west and called Zangian Shall Jinali, another is one kilometer to the east that is called Malan Shall Jinali and another one is 8 kilometers to the east which is called Langar Jinali. Maj. Cobb knew nothing about these polo grounds.
Ptv authorities should engage professional people from Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gilgit or Chitral to give input on live coverage to such events in future. After all it is the name and caliber of Ptv, which is at stake.
 

Dr. Inayatullah Faizi
Balim, Chitral.