Padma Shri Dr. Roshan Lal Anand
Biography
Dr. Roshan Lal Anand was born on 19 January 1924, in Amritsar, Punjab Province, British India. He was employed in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and held the position of the 7th Director-General of the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala (NIS). Appointed as NIS Director-General on 4 July 1970, he served in this capacity for 16 years until his superannuation on 30 November 1986, setting a record for the longest-serving Director-General of the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala (NIS).
Dr. Anand was elected President of the Handball Federation of India in 1985, succeeding Air Vice Marshal Harkrishan Lal Kapur. He served in this role until 2010, when, selflessly, he did not file a nomination for the position due to his age, having served as HFI President for 25 years, a record likely to endure. He was succeeded by Dr. Sarwan Singh Channy, IAS, as the HFI President. He was named Life President of the Handball Federation of India in recognition of his lifetime contributions to HFI and the growth of handball in India upon completing his term in 2010.
On 26 November 2000, Dr. Anand was elected as the 2nd Secretary General of the Asian Handball Federation (AHF), succeeding Syed Abul Hassan (Pakistan), and served in the position till 25 October 2013, when he selflessly did not stand in the election due to his age and was succeeded by Muhammad Shafiq (Pakistan). To date, he is the only Indian to serve on the AHF Executive Committee.
Additionally, Dr. Anand served as the President of the Commonwealth Handball Association (CHA) and as a member of the Arbitration Commission of the International Handball Federation (IHF). To date, he is the only Indian to have been elected as a member of any IHF Commission and President of CHA.
Career
Director-General of the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala (4 Jul 1970 – 30 Nov 1986)
Sports Administration
Patron of Handball Federation of India (1973 – 1985); President of Handball Federation of India (1985 – 2010); Secretary General of Indian Olympic Association (1986 – 1987); Secretary General of Asian Handball Federation (26 Nov 2000 – 25 Oct 2013); President of Commonwealth Handball Association (2000 – 2013); Member of Arbitration Commission of International Handball Federation (12 Jan 2001 – 4 Feb 2005); Life President of Handball Federation of India (1 Feb 2010 – present); President of South Asian Handball Federation; Vice-President of Indian Olympic Association; Advisor of Indian Olympic Association; Chairman and member of various IOA sub-committees
Awards and Distinctions
In 1976, Dr. Roshan Lal Anand was honored with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
