CBEC - Please Take Care of Olympian Leslie Claudius
FOUR Olympic Medals (three gold and one silver), a Padmasri, a retired Assistant Collector of Customs - unmatched by any other Indian, the most decorated hockey player in history - that is Leslie Claudius for you. For the last one week, 85 year old Leslie is in a hospital in Kolkata. The West Bengal Sports Minister has announced financial assistance. God knows whether it will really reach him.
The then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee unveiling the plaque to inaugurate the Customs Club's renovated Maidan Tent, named after Leslie Claudius, in Kolkata on May 20, 2012.
A Former Member of CBEC SK Choudhury has written a letter to the Chairman and Member (P&V) of CBEC;
On watching a Kolkata based Television channel showing our legendary Leslie Claudius now in his mid eighties lying in a local hospital bed with the state minister for sports announcing the grant of Rs.one lakh for his treatment, I thought that it would only be befitting that our own department too, which he served for decades with unfailing dedication and loyalty, must come forward with the offer of bearing all his medical expenses as a token of appreciation of his outstanding contributions in the field of sports. Those, likeme, who have had the privilege of working with Leslie, know him as an affable human being ever willing to help others in whatever way he could. Unlike his peers who left the country for greener pastures elsewhere, Leslie chose to live in Kolkata and visit more than a century old ‘CUSTOMS TENT" (sports club) as often as his health permitted.
Let Leslie not feel that in the twilight of his illustrious life with the inevitable aging process taking its toll, he has been deserted by the very family of which he was such a proud member! I, therefore, appeal to you as the head of the service for taking initiative in organising immediate grant of sufficient fund from the Welfare Fund for his treatment. This is the least, the department can do for the man who not only brought laurels to the country but inspired many generations of youngsters to excel in sports. I have no doubt that every member of the service -retired or serving would share my sentiment.
DDT 1910 - 27.07.2012 commented, "Leslie is 85 years old - he brought laurels to the Country and Customs - He may live for another few years. Shouldn't the Customs Department take care of him and honour him in the December of his life. There is lot of money in the Welfare Fund; can't they buy a house for him from the fund?; can't they give him a good allowance for the rest of his life? Any celebration is shameful when we have a legendary hero of our family in penury."
Please also see - 30.07.2012,
The CBEC should act immediately, while Leslie is still alive. Madam Chairman - this is a great opportunity for you to prove that Customs is concerned.