On a rollercoaster ride

RESHMA S. KULKARNI

Hockey coach Mir Ranjan Negi reflects on his life before and after “Chak De India” at the recent launch of his autobiography.

Mir Ranjan Negi, the hockey coach who shot to limelight with “Chak De India”, followed by a stint in the dance-reality show “Jhalak Dikhla Jaa”, has now penned an autobiography that reflects his life before and after the glory. Excerpts from thoughts shared by Negi on the eve of the book’s launch.

Sixteen years of tribulation

Fifty is not usually an age to pen an autobiography; but when one has had a roller-coaster life, it becomes a good enough time to do so. Before that fateful match in the 1982 Asian Games, I was having a great career as a goalkeeper in the Indian hockey team but, when we lost to Pakistan 1-7, my life turned topsy-turvy. I was accused of having taken Rs. 1,00,000 per goal lost, accused of betraying my nation!

Nothing can wound a true sportsperson as this allegation but, at that time, pitted against heavyweights when I had just begun my career, there wasn’t much I could do to salvage my lost pride. Opening my mouth, then, against the malpractices in the sport would have been hugely detrimental. I had familial responsibilities to shoulder before I did that.

Hence, I took to coaching, waiting for the right opportunity till my voice became loud enough to be heard and respected by all.

Post-“Chak De India”, after 16 years of tribulations that only got worse with the death of my elder son Abhi (19), I decided to make my side of the story public.

Hence, From Gloom To Glory traces my journey from the haunting humiliation in 1982 to the glory after “Chak De India” and “Jhalak Dikhla Jaa”.

My faith kept me going

I could have taken an easy route out of the pain and shame heaped upon me. But I had faith that, one day, truth will prevail and I chose to wait patiently. In those 16 years and even later, when my life took a glamorous turn, there were times when I cried bitterly into my pillow. But never did I lose faith and hope. I believe that God creates certain designs to help you become more beautiful as a person. One should use life’s tragedies to become better, not bitter.

My moment of truth

From Gloom To Glory is an honest effort to put forth what really transpired that fateful day. It is my moment of truth that I’m celebrating, no-holds-barred. However, in no way is the book vindictive or bitter. It does not seek to belittle those who humiliated me.

There are no stories in it; it’s all plain truth — a simple portrayal of how the Indian Hockey Federation erred compiled from notes in my diary and a scrapbook maintained by my family of all that was published for and against me in these years.
I hope this memoir arouses the Government from its criminal dormancy — that’s one of the prime reasons behind writing it — so other players don’t suffer so in the future. Of course, it also contains narrations of my experience with “Chak De”, Shahrukh Khan, and my stint in “JDJ”…”

‘H’ needs ‘E’, ‘F’, ‘G’!

I intend to use the proceeds from the book towards resurrecting our national sport through my Abhi Foundation. Hockey today needs three elements in order to get going once more — entertainment, finance and glamour.

With actors like Suneil Shetty (who’s become the ambassador for hockey in India), Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik Roshan showing active interest in the intended resurrection, the future looks bright. Together we intend to bring a lot of entertainment to the game (as IPL has brought to cricket) to attract the younger generation to participate or at least watch it because the players also need an involved audience. We are trying to rope in corporate bodies to finance the game which is in dire need of good infrastructure for training and playing purposes.

I’m especially working towards re-vitalising women’s hockey and am being greatly helped by Padmini Somani of Salaam Bombay foundation. We are trying to establish a women’s hockey academy. I’m also establishing hockey academies at Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, Sangli and Mumbai. Plans are afoot and the support looks great. Now if only the flame of passion towards the sport gets rekindled as in the yore, I would ask for nothing more!