103 years ago, the genius Dhyan Chand was born. The simple soldier transformed Indian psyche with his stick. He mesmerized the world with his wizardry. He was mainly responsible for India winning the first ever gold at the Olympics. It was in Amsterdam in 1928, some eighty years ago.

In practical words, he is the man who sowed seeds of success in India, though at that point of time we were a conglomeration of kingdoms, who were paying taxes to rule their own land!

Hockey might not be shining today as it was when Dhyan Chand was alive. But it cannot take away the fact the Indian sports is on upswing. Three Olympic medals at Beijing Olympics is certainly a harbinger of things to come.

Boxing, wrestling and shooting have given India a big reason to smile, and interestingly and significantly the media took them seriously and made these medal winners – Abhinav Bindra, Sushil Kumar and Vijender Kumar – national heroes.

It is an unverified fact that Dhyan Chand reveled in wrestling in his formative days. He took up hockey only after joined the Army.

Therefore, he would be happier today to see one of India’s native sport, wrestling, is endearing the people’s imagination.

However, on the occasion of maestro’s anniversary we, the hockey lovers, need to take a fresh oath.

That is, we should fearlessly expose enemies of hockey whoever he or she might be – officials, govt. babus, present or former players who are ready to sacrifice hockey on the altar of selfishness.

As an individual, we should ask ourselves what is our personal contribution to development of hockey?

Do I spend a paise from my pocket for the benefit of hockey?

Mere love of sports – however great it is for the sports – cannot do because since we lovers of hockey keep a distant from hockey, others come close to it, getting a chance finish it the greatest of our heritages called hockey.

Therefore, every hockey lover should ponder over the fact what is my contribution to hockey.

If you seriously think so, there are million ways to integrate yourself with hockey.

Think on those lines. This type of thinking will be a great salute to the greatest ever hockey soul to grace the planet – Major Dhyan Chand.

Note: none of the six English papers in Delhi published a picture of Dhyan Chand today. However, a couple of days ago, every one of them carried a picture of Australian great Don Bradman as it was his centenary!!!