Tale of 2 women who love shooting

Hunting was a favourite hobby of kings and rulers in the old days. Today the hunting game is the same but with a little difference.

But the animals have been replaced by targets and the name of the game is rifle shooting sport. Yuvrani Mahendra Kumari of Alwar, Rajasthan, was in the city to do just that and participate in IX G.V. Mavlankar National Shooting Championship at the Rifle Club.

"Shooting is not my hobby but something more. It relieves me of tension. It helps the mind to cool down." said Ms Kumari. Ms Kumari was the Congress candidate from Alwar in the recent Lok Sabha elections, which she lost. "The loss was a big jolt for me. However, I had to recover from it and shooting proved to be the best remedy. I came down to Ahmedabad to participate in the shooting championship," she said.

Ms Kumari, a BJP member and party’s candidate in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, joined Congress but lost in the recent elections. Ms Kumari said, "I had put much time and energy into the elections and after losing, the only rescue was shooting to relax and divert attention."

The daughter of Col. Bhadur Singh, the Maharaja of Bundi, and recipient of the Victoria Cross said, "My interest in hunting or shooting could be attributed to the family. But as far as hunting goes it is a cruel sport and has less benefits as compared to shooting."

One of the reasons she quotes about leaving hunting is her father’s statement that if you cannot give life then why take it.

Her best shot has been 257 out of 300 in 1997 but she hopes to better it this year in Ahmedabad. Ms Kumari is competing in the .22 Pistol Veterans’ category.

They may be illiterate but hit the target with precision that can raise eyebrows of veterans. Parkashi Tomar, 60, and Chandro Tomar, 65, belong to the Johri village of Uttar Pradesh and have been rifle shooting for about eight months. Both have participated in several shooting contests and struck gold. They are in Ahmedabad to take part in the National Shooting Championship at the Rifle Club.

"We got into shooting courtesy our grand-daughters Shefali and Rubi. Initially, we used to practice behind closed doors, as people would object. Nowadays we freely take part in competitions," said the two, who are sisters-in-law by relation, as they are wedded in the same family.

This is for the first time that both will participate in a national-level tournament.

Parkashi said, "In fact when we started shooting in open grounds the retired officers who used to come there stopped coming. Also we won medals," Chandro added. Both live in a joint family and are content with the state of matters in their house.

"Our daughters-in-law tell us that we should not do the work in the house but on the other hand find time for their rifle shooting practice," said Chandro.

Both of them work in the family fields and do the routine work in the house but still concentrate on their shooting.

About their mentor in rifle shooting, Parkashi said, "Dr Raj Pal Singh was the person who introduced us into formal shooting. He provided us the pistols and other needed equipments. He is like our son." Both of them are being coached by Farrukh Pathan and Mehboob Pathan.

In villages where the progress of women is restricted by the old traditions, Parkashi and Chandro have made their own world of shooting.

"Our family members do not object to the sport. In fact we are helped by our sons. They ask us to concentrate on shooting," said the two.

Compiled from local news media