SANTHI MARY, WIDOW OF TRIPLE OLYMPIAN VJ PETER: “My dear Peter. Am not alone. You have left many of your friends to take care of me”.

My husband died 14 years ago. Yes, he won Olympic and Asian Games medals, but had to live a humble life. Because, these medals have been honours rather than money spinners as it turned out to be so nowadays. But his times were different and there was no complaint either from him or from me. Because, it was same situation for every sportspersons in those times, my late husband used to tell me like this.

Some well-wishers of my husband helped him to get coaching jobs after he retired from MEG in Bangalore, and came back and joined us in Chennai. However, those jobs did not give much money, obviously it did not lift our conditions any noticeable way. My husband is a self-contended person; he never complained against anybody, even to me. But I know he felt he deserved to have a better post-retired life, and his wards could have been given better education, better comforts like every parent would wish.

But even this poor life conditions worsened with his death in 1998.

It has been a troublesome period since he died. When I was young, he always used to in camps or tours. I used to know about him only through post cards he used to write or through All India Radio news bulletins, the only communication tools in those times. Therefore, it was obvious I was left to manage my family all alone. With five children, not even one in any job, nor settled when he died, life appeared dreadful for me. Settled I meant either in a job, completed proper education or got them married. We went door to door in Chennai acting on the advice of well-wishers. I wrote to President to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister first asking for a house allotment, when that did not happen, asking for a decent job for my son or daughter. People wrote back but no one offered anything.

What pained me was not their disinterest, not all of them responding to any of our requests. Not at all. What worried me, what disturbed me was – the agony I carried within myself which just wiped out after my Delhi visit – the reason they gave for not helping us. Everyone told us, directly or indirectly, that my husband did not play for Tamil Nadu and as such only Karnataka (where he stayed as a player) or Army (his employer) can help.

I too had my basic education, and watched my husband’s passion for sports. Therefore, I used to think often, worry and agitate myself on this very reason. Had they told ‘sorry’, then I would have gladly accepted it. But their reason was virtually killing me. My husband played for Army, played for India. Is Army not relevant to a particular State? Is India not relevant to a particular State? How could educated people, who run the State, who run hockey, say like these? Yes, my husband, born and brought up in Tamil Nadu, worked in Bangalore in another State. One can always be son of many States, because he is son of India first. Sometimes the State of Karnataka honoured him. It doesn’t mean the other State should disown him.

Last ten years I have not met anybody for any favour or assistance. But I carried the heartburn all the time. At the same time, I had a gut feeling that a day will come and all my worries will be over. All people whom I know always felt my optimism is misplaced, but I still lived with that.

I was proved right.

Delhi is so far away from where I live – 2500 kms. But hockey people there understood my plight, pain, problems. Only thing I remember about this city is what my husband used to mention in his post cards, telling me he is playing or staying in the National stadium like that. I never thought I will ever happen to see this stadium as I did the other day. I was born again. There were so many people to greet me, recognize me. I cannot describe in words how I felt all along there. Ultimately, India has proved my husband played for India. My faith in India, faith in hockey people proved correct with the grand gesture of Nehru Society.

Due to Nehru Society’s gesture, I feel I am born again. I am not living a lonely life anymore. There are people still in India who remembers my husband, his game and are concerned about his family. Their wishes, the huge money they gave, Rs.5.61 lac, and the grand reception they gave to me, my daughter and my son are memorable. I cannot forget any of them. “I will be grateful to Nehru Society till I breathe my last”.

Mr. Kukoo Walia requested me to use the money for arranging marriage for my two un-wed daughter. I assure him I will do exact the same. I will invite him and his well-wishers for the marriage. Mr. Kukoo Walia also said Mr. AK Bansal took enormous pains to contact many former players, coaches, umpires and his relatives and helped to enlarge the initial amount of Rs.2 lac to present big one. I thank Mr. Bansal also. I was also told many former players like Com. Nandy Singh and Harbinder Singh in the Nehru Society not only helped to shape up the things, but also contributed from their own pocket. I am really over-whelmed. Moments before I departed the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, I could not control my tears, Mr. Kukoo Walia consoled me.

Because of Nehru Society, people in Tamil Nadu also started celebrating us. Last week, I was invited to a function and given Rs.20, 000 and a silk saree to wear for Delhi function. MEG also invited us to Bangalore, gave us Rs. 25,000 and assured my son, who is now in Jammu Kashmir, a
posting near Chennai. Life changed for me for better.

Now I am proud to be a wife of a hockey player, that too a classic mould as that of VJ Peter.

“My dear husband. Am not alone. You have left many of your friends to take care of me. I love you Peter.”

CAPTIONS:


Top: Santhi Mary, widow of triple Olympian thanking the audience on 29th Aug in Delhi moments after she was handed over a purse of Rs.5.60 lac

Second from top: Rajpal Singh, a boxer and Jwala Gutta, all those who received Arjuna Award on the same day grace the function
Third from Top: The moments of presenting the purse captured for the posterity. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Ajay Maken handing over the purse in the presence of President and Secretary of Nehru Hockey Society, respectively on the right while this years’s Khel Ratna award winner Gagan Narang stands proudly on the left

Bottom: Well wishers of Peter’ family and those behind Nehru Society’s grand show pose for posterity with Santhi Mary.

NOTE: K. Arumugam gathered Santhi Mary’s views over a week during which he interacted with her in connection with Nehru Society’s purse presentation function in Delhi.