Mir Ranjan Negi must have better things to do than coaching women

I met MR Negi twice in 2008.

First, it was at Amby Valley where he came to support JB Roy who was then flexing his muscles to contest pre-Hockey India days’ Indian Hockey Federation.

He was very well clad, laden with costly costume, presenting an ethnic look, there was a class in his appearance. What appeared different from the Negi whom I knew from my early journalistic days was not this change in his appearance, which was electric and inspiring, but something that would happen late in the night.

After a so-called brainstorming session, the organizers had a grand dinner at the end of which he gave a wonderful dance performance on the stage, which kept everyone tapping their feet. I never new before he is such a great dancer! He undoubtedly made the night memorable. Then I realized how he made it to the hugely popular jhalak dikhla ja (popular dance competition), and it was not without reasons.

I felt Negi, who used to dance in the cage before the bewitching forwards — before giving every forward worth his salt a name in the scoreboard – has really found where his future is.

Later on a couple of months later, I specifically went to Bombay to be present in his book releasing ceremony. It was a costly trip for me, but a cherishing moment, as it presented a different environ for a sports book releasing. Despite the presence of Ajit Pal, Ashok Kumar and Zafar Iqbal – carefully invited guests, as these legends were selectors under the Adhoc Committee of IOA which ran the hockey affairs — there was hardly any sporting environment, contrarily it was a different one with all Chak De girls present, and also a host of television personalities, singers, fringe cine actors and actresses. I kept my camera busy, shot close up of all. Suneil Shetty came late but electrified the atmosphere in that book shop.

That I felt this man belongs to different planet than hockey. He also said on dais that he is in the cine world as a representative of hockey, as hockey needs glamour.

I fully agreed, and I wish to remind this gentleman the same now.

Cinema related websites give me the fact that MR Negi has acted in two films which are going to be released shortly.

Being a good dancer and an up and coming glamour world star, Negi can one day give a tough fight to Shah Ruk Khan in dance and acting, whom after all he coached how to handle hockey stick. And Shah Ruk might ask for Negi’s foreword when he sits for his biography, as a return gift. (SRK gave foreword for Negi’s magnum opus book, which explains how India, not won but, lost to Pakistan the Asiad final 1-7).

Besides Negi also has a heart for hockey, as he often announced he is having a foundation on his son’s name and it is imparting hockey to underprivileged and many other youngsters. I get tears on my eyes on his gesture.

MR Negi also active in the Bombay Hockey Association Politics, a key member of Kher Singh Group, though unfortunately he lost the election to Carvalho faction last year.

During the Pune players strike Mr. Negi was prominent on the small screen, at least on one occasion he showcased another strait in his persona, that of a strict administrator. He admonished the players for leaving practice, after all they play for the country, country is before money. He also went on to the extent of throwing out errant players. I certainly visualized a great administrative role for him in the future, in case he gets free time from other pressing commitments.

He is also a high ranking official in Customs department, wears uniform and chases cheaters, gets holds of traitors and enrich the coffers of the country.

A dancer, a performing cine artist, a social service worker, active hockey politician, administrator, committed custom’s official – Negi wears many many hats.

I wish him success in all these areas of his chosen activities, with a reminder and request that hockey at present doesn’t have a right representative in all those fields. Therefore, he and hockey will be well off if he is there in those spheres.

After all, women hockey is not losing by 1-7 margin.