The A B C D E F of How to Join Us!
A) MAKE THE FIRST CONTACT THRU A CALL
Take your phone and call HU direct at the numbers 98416-18386 or 98401-76287. Fix up a time to meet him. He is mostly available during the evenings between 7 PM and 9 PM at his office called "Mission Control!" Mostly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
B) KEEPING THE APPOINTMENT WITH HU
Please give a confirmation call before you start to keep the appointment. It is possible that there is a last minute inevitable change in HU's program. If you can't keep the appointment, it would be nice if you could call and inform.
C) REACHING THE HU ARCHERY "MISSION CONTROL!"
1) Arrive first at BESANT NAGAR
2) Ask for the way to KALAKSHETRA COLONY. The main road to the colony which houses the world famous dance school - KALAKSHETRA starts at the juncture of four roads. Of the other three roads one leads to the Velankanni temple, one to Besant Nagar bus stand and one to an area called VANNAN THÙRAI. The road adjacent to hotel Karaikudi/Dhabba and Reliance store is the road you must take. This is your first landmark.
3) Now keep an eye on the number of lefts. On your fourth left is your second landmark - A police booth. Do not take a left here! Proceed forward and take the next left. There is a small Xerox shop here. This is your second land mark.
4) This small road takes you past film actor Vikram's house and past another left and a right. Do not turn on the left or right here. Proceed straight on a newly laid road to a "T-end".
5) Now turn right. This road is called Coastal Road.
6) Keep your eyes to your right and proceed. You can't miss our building. You will mistake it for a church, a temple or a museum! It's in fact all three. We worship Archery here. Have a Sai Baba prayer corner here plus a statue of Pope John Paul II. We also have a big collection of statues here sculpted by HU. The door number which you won't find on our building is T 16/2. There are various boards outside at various times depending on what activity the focus is on.
7) Once you have located us, please give HU a call on 98416-18386. HU can surprise you by coming out and leading you in or at times will make you wait in the reception.
D) WAITING TO MEET HU
If you are a prospective student of Archery, HU has the usual ritual of making you wait. HU believes that if a student is really keen, then he will display patience in meeting the Guru. If you have other priorities in life on that day, other than meet your GURU, then forget about learning Archery. Guru HU is notorious for making some aspirants wait for many many hours. There is a famous Telugu star who was made to wait for several days before HU met him and several weeks before he taught him. A very successful movie was later made and acted by this star about how he was made to wait for HU. Its a simple philosophy "you need to prove your commitment to become a student of HU". Nobody is forcing you to join. If u are made to wait ... U are being tested for your patience.
E) MEETING HU
1) Please put your mobiles on silent when you enter. HU likes being called "HU!" so you can address him as HU. Your ordeal is not over when you are finally inside HU's office room. He is invariably busy on calls, working on his huge iMac or entertaining other people too. Don't get frustrated. All best things don't come easy.
2) Once HU has his attention on you, you can ask any or every doubt about Archery in the world to him. He is most patient in answering any and every query you have.
3) HU might spend little to lots of time with you depending on how interesting your presence is.
4) HU keeps a pet turtle in a blue tub near his table. But let not ur attention be diverted to the turtle!
5) Registration can be done immediately or on a later date mutually convenient to HU and YOU!
F) COST OF TRAINING WITH US
There are two ways (inspired by Robin Hood, the legendary Archer who took received from the wealthy and gave to the poor) in which you can take Archery training under HU Archery Mission.
1) Completely FREE training (for the very poor yet deserving candidates)
2) By payment of Contributions which will be taken as donations to the cause (for the willing and committed)
Every penny taken as fees by HU goes as a donation for the cause of the archery mission and its promotional activities.
1) FREE TRAINING:
If there is anyone who is so extremely poor that it is virtually impossible to pay any fees for the training received and equipment trained with, they can register under the "FREE Archery Training" scheme that we have instituted.
Under this scheme, we will be periodically conducting FREE Archery training workshops and talent searches all over Tamil Nadu (this is certainly not for people who have money for everything else but Archery).
It has already been conducted in the districts of Chennai, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Madurai, Salem and Vellore where thousands have received free training. (please check "Random Gallery" updates for picture stories)
Please follow the notifications in the Update section of this webpage for the next free workshop. Through these workshops, in which hundreds of people register, and where FREE introduction and training is given, the training and selection process is done as follows:
The introductory training is given where hundreds of people get trained in one or two days. the training is continued at the Mission Control in Chennai and it's training field. the Archers are observed for their commitment, attendance, persistence, real passion, scores and value for systems. several rounds of tests and rankings are held and the best Archers will be selected. these Archers will be trained completely FREE and their equipment will also be given by the HU Archery Mission. The mission reserves the right to select the best suited Archers (based on it's own assessments). the best Archers will become part of the HOT (HU's Olympic Team!) any Archer who misses classes or displays declining commitment will be dismissed immediately.
2) TRAINING BY PAYMENT OF DONATIONS:
HU Archery Mission is a completely non-profit organisation and every penny made goes to the Archery mission and its archery development and promotional activities. There are contributions for admissions, initiations, for monthly training, and for gradings. All admission and initiation contributions made to HU, the monthly contributions collected, the grading contributions, and all other fees will go to the archery mission as donation. A part of the monthly contributions will be given to the Voluntary Archery Training Co-ordinators VATC's for their incidental expenses.
Archery equipment and all accessories will be given as part of the initiation contributions and training fee contributions. All equipment given belong to the mission and must be returned to the mission when the trainee discontinues or completes the training. (expendables like arrows, arrow rests and strings that get damaged must be replaced).
The HU Archery Mission does not indulge in any business and does not deal, sell, resell any equipment.
There is a "non profit supply store" run by student senior archers and every supply you get here is subsidised. (costs a symbolic rupee less)
Fee contributions:
1) Admission and intuitive archery level 1 initiation Contribution: Rs. 11,400/- (to be paid on date of joining)
Monthly shooting Contribution: Rs. 1,000/- (to be paid regularly on the first class of the succeeding month)
2) Grading Contributions: Rs. 1,000/- for the first level. There will be an increase of Rs. 1,000/- for every next level (there are 8 levels).
3) Initiation and training fee Contributions for the next levels are as follows: (This will be revised from time to time)
A) Indian Archery: Rs. 14,400/- (you will use our equipment*)
B) Olympic Recurve Archery: Rs. 3,30,000/- (you will be provided all equipments*)
C) Compound Archery: Rs. 3,30,000/- (you will be provided all equipments*)
* • The donors will be provided initiation, training by world archery certified coaches or voluntary archery training coordinators VATC's and periodic assessments and follow ups for a period of four years from the date of registration.
• All World class, available top branded archery equipment and appropriate accessories will be provided for the archers and appropriately and periodically upgraded by the archery mission. Arrows, strings and arrow rests which are periodically perishables must be acquired by the archer at their own cost.
• While the archers will use only the equipment allotted to them, they are most welcome to use their own personal equipment if they desire a particular brand or if they have a particular choice that is not available at the mission. Personal equipment must be registered with TAAT appropriately. There will be no reduction in the fees if the archers use their own equipment.
• Archers who rank among the top 16 in the country will be given the latest, top equipment in the world of their choice and upgraded at their requests.
• Archers will use the mission equipment as long as they practise regularly and must surrender the equipment when they complete a course or discontinue regular practise.
Payment of fee donations and registrations:
GURU-DHAKSHANA: This is a ritualistic offering made to the Guru (guru dhakshana) by the disciple during initiation. Fruits, flowers and vettalai pakku (beetle leaves and nuts) and some jasmine flowers will be the standard offering HU will receive in a plate when you join. Strictly do not place any cash or coins in this plate. You are welcome to add some sweets if you want. There will be a standard ritualistic initiation done by HU in front of a Buddha statue.
• the archery disciple will face east, bend down and touch the floor and touch his hands to his eyes four times (once thinking of one's mother, once thinking of one's father, once thinking of one's favourite teachers and once thinking of one's god). If the disciple's mother, father are present, their feet will be touched for seeking their blessings.
• then the disciple will hand over the "dhakshana plate" to HU and say "HU please accept me as your archery disciple!" And then touch the feet of HU with both the hands and touch the hands to the eyes and heart.
• then HU will guide you to face the Buddha statue and chant "guru bhrama... guru vishnu... guru devo... maheshwaraha.... guru shatsha para bhrama.... tatsmaysreee guruvae namaha!" HU will then lead you to recite the "mission oath" in English. Once the recitations are over you must touch HU's feet again.
• HU will then give you a small part of the flowers, beetle leaf and a fruit as prasad and you must receive it respectfully with both the hands and touch it to your eyes. The ritualistic initiation is not a religious ceremony but a traditional ceremony to emphasise the importance of the Guru. However, conservative Muslims who may not prefer this ritual need not go thru this process. Instead they may do a simple "Fatiha" with the offerings and give it to "HU" or the VATC. Rationalists and atheists or people whose faith does not allow the above rituals may respectfully express their wish and an appropriate way of respecting the guru may be opted by them.
Guru namaskaran thru VATC:
In centres where initiations are done by a VATC (Voluntary Archery Training Coordinator) the Buddha statue will be substituted by a photograph/statue of HU and the disciple will touch the image of HU Instead.• the VATC's feet must not be touched as HU is the only coach, teacher and guru in the HU Archery Mission.
3) SPONSORSHIPS AND STATE AID
If any member has possibilities of getting any corporate or individual to cover his expenses of his training/initiation contributions, we will be too happy to support you with paper work. As on date the state and central govt has not given us a single penny for our mission. On my appeal, Dr. Jayalalitha donated Rs. 2 Lakhs for an Archer in 2010 to buy a Compound Bow (he subsequently went on to Win a Silver in the Common Wealth Games - CWG). He was later given Rs. 15 Lakhs by the state govt after a big personal fight by HU for it.
HU strongly hopes that as the mission gains momentum, the state will come forward to help for acquiring equipments thru his project: AMMA (All out Mission Medal in Archery).
HU also strongly hopes to get state and corporate sponsorship for financial compensation for the HU OLYMPIC TEAM (HOT) - for compensating Archers during their full time training sessions before the Rio - Olympics 2016.
4) DR. HUSSAINI SCHOLARSHIPS IN ARCHERY FOR DESERVING STUDENTS
Scholarships from the personal funds of HU (in commemoration of the memory of his father) are given to deserving poor students every year to cover all / part of their Training and initiation expenses in Archery. There are 12 candidates currently under this scheme. Please apply in confidence to HU every March before 31st.