Hockey presented Independent India’s first Olympic Gold, way back in 1948. The team led by right winger Kishen Lal did everything right to elevate just freed nation’s prestige on the world map. On August 12th, seventy years ago, mere three days before the first Anniversary of India’ Independence Day, full stands at Wembley stadium in London was reverberated with thunderous applause. They were just appreciating a nation that had just outplayed the hosts to lift its continuous fourth Gold at Olympic hockey.
Just because India was reigning hockey champions, and just because they went on to win many more in the subsequent editions, the significance of this day cannot be overlooked. This win ensured continuance of great tradition to another two decades.
Landmark victories such as this only have made hockey its National Game.
India did not play any serious international hockey after the Berlin Olympic feat. The 12 years of hiatus, inactivity due to war, and then the partition of the sprawling country, lack of funds and all such shortcomings were overcome with difficulties being shouldered and shared not only by the players but also by the well meaning administrators of erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation. It was headed by Naval H Tata, and the efforts his organization put in, itself is historic from myriad ways.
There were 13 countries in the fray, including fearsome ones being new nation Pakistan and re-entry of the hosts in a new avtar called Great Britain.
India won all its matches to climb the top slot on the victory dias.
What are the difficulties the team faced to achieve the miracle? Who are the players who made it happen? How many of them are alive today to tell the story Live? What did they get for bringing Olympic Gold for India? How much funding was required, how was it managed? Who coached the team in India, and why did not the coach go with the team? Why was Balbir Singh Sr, who later on went on to play two more Olympic Gold, not selected first, and what made the Selectors to change their heart?
Interestingly, a Bollywood film, ‘Gold’ which is scheduled to be released on 15th August, is fictionalized version of the same story of 1948 Olympic Gold.
I will be writing all these in the coming days.