Anjana Hazarika, most in her kingdom would neither know nor recognize her. Many people from Kakojan Bamkukursova village in Jorhat district work as hired laborers in agricultural fields, where she has been a neighbor of Mr. Bora’s housemate for more than 13 years as his accomplice.
However, in the state’s football fraternity, Anjana Hazarika is the best mentor of women’s football in her twenties and the captain of the Assam senior women’s football team. She is wearing the Captain Band for the ninth season successfully for her kingdom. Though a safe hand at the nets, Ajana fails to protect her fortunes off the field.
“Bora uncle has always been kind to me and has allowed me to stay in his house and live my dreams. I stayed here and completed my graduation. There is a small football field nearby, where I practice. We don’t even have the infrastructure, other than that it is difficult for me to arrange the resources for gear and spikes,” says Anjana Hazarika, captain of the Assam senior women’s football team.
Anjana, a resident of remote Gorudharia village in Dibrugarh district of Upper Assam, was noticed by her teacher at the age of six. The eldest of three sisters, Anjana had to leave her village to ease the burden of an extra family member after playing football for a few years at Lejai in Dibrugarh.
“My father was a daily wage laborer and there was a day when we used to sleep without eating food. For a family of five, my football was a luxury and moreover it was difficult to play professional football here,” says Anjana.
The game led to a chance to befriend Mrnali Borah during a selection test thirteen years ago. The friendship ensured him a shelter in the latter’s home in the village of Kakojan Bamkukursova and some to call his own. From sweeping the floor and washing utensils to working in the paddy fields, Ajana engages herself as a domestic help and daily wage worker at every opportunity that comes her way. She whole heartedly involves herself in the daily chores of the household which she now calls her own.
“This season I worked in paddy fields for Rs 100 to 150 a day. I need money to take care of my family and football. Apart from doing all the work, I also played for India. I was the goalkeeper of the national team. Although it is difficult for me to get my spikes or jersey, I never fail in my practice at the Kakojan football field. I often play with the men’s team because there are very few girls who play here. The pandemic has made things worse” says Anjana.
A gold medalist at the 2014 SAFF Games in Pakistan, Anjana represented India twice in the Under-19 team and twice in the senior team. She was a member of the national football team that went to Malaysia for the Olympic qualifiers. He had to miss two tours with the senior team for international visits as his travel documents were not cleared in time by the local authorities.
Being the eldest daughter, Ajna now needs to take care of her family. He applied for a job in the paramilitary Assam Rifles as well as the Northeast Frontier Railway. She passed all the tests but didn’t get the call letter “probably because I’m playing wrong”.
On 13 November 2020, Chief Minister’s Office, Assam directed Lakh Konwar, Member Secretary, State Level Advisory Committee for Student and Youth Welfare, for Anjana Hazarika’s consideration regarding joining the government job. “It appears that the petitioner is an international football player but due to poverty she has not been able to establish herself. In view of the same, he has prayed that he should preferably be absorbed in the Assam Police. It is requested to inquire into it and necessary action be taken on it.”
“I feel proud and sorry when I see Hima Das appointed as DSP after her success. I don’t know if I deserve it or I am deprived. I believe it is your decision and not your condition that determines your destiny” says Anjana.
The Assam government in its recent cabinet decision has decided to award Class-I government jobs to Olympic, Commonwealth and Asian Games medal winners from the state. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in his cabinet decision also announced to provide second class government jobs to recognized world championship medalists and third class jobs to national sports medalists. The government in a statement said that the monthly amount of sports pension would be increased from the existing Rs 8000 to Rs 10,000 and decided to provide sports pension to medal winners of Commonwealth and National Games.
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