Sports Minister releases book on hockey legend Dhyanchand

New Delhi (PTI): Sports Minister M S Gill on Wednesdayreleased a book on hockey legend Dhyanchand, penned by the three-time Olympic gold medallist’s daughter-in-law Meena Umesh Dhyanchand.

The book named — ‘Hockey ke Jadugar Major Dhyanchand: Kahani Apno ke Jubani’ — chronicles the hockey legend’s personal life, his relationship with family members, his lifestyle, the last days of his life and his playing days.

“Everybody in our family is mad about sports, so I thought why shouldn’t I write a book on sports and then I made up my mind to write the book on Babuji (Dhyanchand),” Meena Dhyanchand told reporters at the release of her book in New Delhi.

“The entire family supported me in my endeavour but the main inspiration behind the book was my father-in-law,” she added.

The author also said that in his last days, the Padma Bhushan awardee was so disappointed with the state of the game in the country that it eventually had a telling effect on his health.

“He (Dhyanchand) used to think about hockey day in and day out. Even lying in his death bed he used to enquire about the game.

“His last wish was to see Indian hockey regain its lost glory.” said Meena Dhyanchand, a lecturer of history by profession.

Dhyanchand’s son, Ashok Kumar, who represented India in 1972 and 1976 Olympics, hoped the book would inspire youngsters to take Indian hockey forward.

“In our playing days we had nothing except the motivation to excel for the country, to win gold for the country. This book will act as an inspiration to the future players,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gill described Dhyanchand as the biggest sports icon of the country and said, “In the nation’s sports history, Dhyanchand’s name is there at the top and will be there irrespective of we earn any more Olympic medal in hockey or not.”

The Minister also urged educational institutions to make sports a mandatory part of the syllabus.

“Sports is as important as education. I feel the stereotypical educational system in our country should change. Now-a-days students only run after marks and percentage but see in western world the education system is different,” said Gill.

He also sympathised with Dhyanchand’s fight with poverty and said it’s high time that the nation gives due respect to sportspersons other than cricketers.

“Today only cricket is getting money. So, think about the past. He (Dhyanchand) died in 1979, that means he stayed in independent India for about 35 years but he spent his days in economic distress,” the Sports Minister said.

“I am trying and will continue my efforts to change the conditions for the better. Cricket is every Indian’s passion, but hockey is the inner feeling of their heart.”

He also said that he will request the Education Ministry to celebrate the National Sports Day (Dhyanchand’s birthday, August 29) in every educational institution of the country from next year.

“I will personally write to the Education Minister to celebrate the day on a big scale from next year.”