Sports is not without stars. Its stars who make sports dazzle, forever. Here in India we have two immortals, one in Chandigarh, the other in Kolkata. Balbir Singh Sr and Keshav Datt are the only two survivors of 1948 Olympic hockey team that got India’s fourth, and significantly Independent India’s first Gold. On this day at Wembley stadium in London, the Indian team of 20 stars and two officials saw tricolour go up and national anthem played with pride.

A nation that was under colonial rule, came out with vengeance within a year to beat their masters on their own backyard.

Balbir Singh, 94, will be in Delhi today to witness the special release of Gold, a fictionalized version of the struggle and story of the London Olympic Gold.

What an occasion!

Balbir Singh fortunately was born and brought up in the what later turned out to be East Punjab, as vast part of Lahore headed Punjab has now became Pakistan.

Balbir was in the Police when partition took place, and played his best role to save people irrespective of religion.

He was initially not selected for the 1948 Olympics, but was later included due to public outcry. He played first and last matches at London, scoring six goals in the first phase and then the valuable two in the grand final.

Keshav Dutt was not fortunate as that of Balbir Sr. Keshav’s hometown Lahore was in flames when he was in Bombay to play for the National Championship. His colleague in the Punjab team Khurram saved him from mass fury when he had to go for a while.

Kehav Dutt, a flamboyant midfield, with an awe inspiring physique, used his brother’s stay in Bombay to stay back, and get to play for Bombay in 1948 Nationals, which finished second behind Bhopal.

Keshav played badminton at top level, No.1 in Bengal.

He later joined Port Commissioner before permanently settled in Bombay Customs.

Keshav Dutt, Tarlochan Bawa, KD Singh Babu, captain Kishen Lal, goalie Leo Pinto are the players who played all the five matches in London.

Balbir Sr. went on to play two more Olympics, making it Golden Hat-trick, while Keshav could not get leave for his third Olympics.

Keshav Datt married a foreigner, and lives in Kolkata nowadays without anybody taking note of him.