Former India footballer and Olympian O Chandrasekhar passes away
Kochi, Aug 24: Former India footballer and Olympian O Chandrasekhar, who was part of the gold medal-winning Indian team at the 1962 Asian Games, died on Tuesday at his residence here, family sources said.
He was 85, and survived by three children.
Chandrasekhar, a defender in his playing days, was suffering from age-related ailments for some time, a source associated with the family told PTI.
He was a member of the Travancore-Cochin Santosh Trophy team and had captained the Indian team in a few tournaments.
Most notably, he was a member of the 1960 Rome Olympics Indian team besides being part of the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games.
The footballer played for India from 1958-1966. He hails from Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district.
He has a total of 25 caps to his name and also played in the Asian Cup Qualifiers in 1959, where he made his international debut, and Merdeka Cup in 1961, among other tournaments.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) condoled the demise of Chandrasekhar.
At the domestic level, he represented Maharashtra in the Santosh Trophy from 1959-1965, lifting the trophy in 1963.
He played for Caltex Club from 1958-1966 and then the State Bank of India from 1967-1972.
In his condolence message, AIFF president Praful Patel said: "It is saddening to hear that Mr. Chandrasekhar is no more. He was a key part of one of the most successful Indian teams ever and his contribution to the sport in India can never be forgotten. I share the grief."
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said: "Chandrasekhar has been an inspiring figure for people across generations and won many laurels through his career. I send my condolences to his family and pray for his soul to rest in peace.
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IUML appoints first women national office-bearers, marks milestone with Dalit leader from Wayanad
Wayanad, Kerala – In a significant move aimed at addressing long-standing criticism over lack of representation, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) appointed two women – Jayanthi Rajan from Kerala and Fathima Muzaffar from Tamil Nadu – as national office-bearers. This is the first time in IUML’s history that women have been appointed to national-level leadership positions.
The announcement was made during the party’s National General Council meeting held on Thursday, signalling a major shift in IUML's approach towards inclusivity, especially concerning gender, caste, and religious diversity.
46-year-old Jayanthi Rajan, a Dalit leader from Irulam in Wayanad, Kerala, has been a long-time associate of the party. Her political journey with IUML began in 2008 through her involvement with the Women’s League. She formally became a member of the party in 2010 and has since held several key posts, including National General Secretary of the Women’s League and State President of the Dalit League (Women).
Her entry into electoral politics was marked by a victory in 2010 from the Puthadi Panchayat, a women-reserved seat. She also served as the Standing Committee Chairperson of the Panamaram Block Panchayat.
Coming from a Congress-leaning family, Jayanthi was actively involved with Shreyas, a social service organisation in Sultan Bathery. It was through this platform that she first began collaborating with the Muslim League’s social initiatives.
“This came as a totally unexpected choice,” Jayanthi said while speaking to Onmanorama on her return to Wayanad. She also expressed gratitude to the party for their support. “People may call the League a communal party, but that’s absolutely wrong. This is not a party based solely on religion. They have always treated me like a dear sister,” she added.
Jayanthi credits her father-in-law, Irulath Ramankutty, a former president of the Bathery Block Panchayat, for motivating her to join the League. Her husband Rajan and their children are also active IUML members. Her son is a software engineer while her daughter is pursuing a BDS degree.
Despite not being able to continue her studies after Class XII, Jayanthi enrolled for a BA in Sociology from IGNOU four years ago. Although family responsibilities delayed her academic journey, she remains committed to completing the course.
IUML’s decision to appoint women at the national level comes amid increasing pressure over its handling of gender-related issues. The party had faced backlash in 2021 for disbanding the Haritha State Committee after its leaders raised complaints about misogynistic remarks by male counterparts in the Muslim Students Federation (MSF). While the committee was later reconstituted, the incident sparked debate over the party’s approach to women’s participation.
Disciplinary action against former Haritha members was withdrawn in 2024, and they were offered key positions in the Muslim Youth League – a development seen as an attempt to heal internal divisions.
Speaking about the Haritha controversy, Jayanthi remained cautious but optimistic. “It was the wish of the youth. Even if ideological differences exist, we will bring everyone under the party’s umbrella. They are the future of the Women’s League,” she said.
IUML has historically fielded very few women candidates. Noorbina Rasheed’s candidacy in the 2021 Kozhikode Assembly election came after a 25-year gap since Qamarunnisa Anwar contested in 1996.
Jayanthi sees her appointment not just as personal recognition but as part of a broader shift within the IUML. “This is a party decision. We will stand by the party’s decisions and move forward together,” she said.
