School Hockey: DAV International Embraces Hockey E

Its hockey, nothing but puritan hockey. This has been the mantra of the mesmerizing holy city Amritsar nowadays. As the air is filled with such a flavour as national game, can any school be far behind? No, says another school, and this time it is DAV International Verka By Pass Road, Amritsar.

The institution is spread over 8.5 areas of land, nestled amidst picturesque surroundings. The school provides pollution free and study-friendly environment for the healthy growth of its pupils Established exactly ten years ago — with just 187 students and 10 teachers — the school has now grown, with 3133 students and 150 teachers to support them. All four streams (Medical, Non-Medical, Commerce and Humanities) the school has, have been granted affiliation by CBSE for both tenth and twelfth standards.

The school building has state-of-the-art infrastructure with all the modern amenities and its beautiful landscaping combined with study-friendly class rooms, provide a perfect academic ambience and an ideal nurturing ground for a child to grow up as a complete personality.

The principal of the school Ms. Anjana Gupta is a very versatile personality. She took charge of the school in April, 2006, Within this short span of less than three years, under her able guidance, the school has progressed by leaps and bounds. She is a great fan of sports and games, that’s why in her tenure she has added a skating rank and a basketball court to the already rich school campus. A Baseball court, a hockey ground, and a lawn tennis court are some of the projects in the pipeline.

Physical education and games are an integral part of the school curriculum. All the DAVIANS take part in the Physical Education Programme which is included within the normal time table. Besides this time and again renowned sports related personalities are also invited in the school and their special talks are organized with the school children to foster the spirit of sportsmanship in them.

The school, being one of the prominent DAV Institutions, works on the basis of the Principles of Arya Samaj. These days due to the great western influence, our own Indian culture is slowly getting last somewhere. Due to this the principle of safeguarding the Indian culture and traditions is very important in Arya Samaj. Here, at DAVIS every possible effort is made to inculcate the Indian ethics in the children .AS REGARDS hockey it should not be taken only as a game but it is our culture also and safeguarding the Indian sports culture also becomes very important In arya samaj.Hockey SHOULD be taken more seriously because it is OUR national game also.

In this regard, recently the school invited Prof. Paramjit Singh Randhawa in its premises. Besides being a Professor of Punjabi at DAV College for Boys, Hathi Gate, he is a great fan of the NATIONAL game .As a HOCKEY FREELANCER he has contributed more than 3 thousand articles to different newspapers.

Prof. Randhawa addressed the students of 6th standard to 12th standard IN THE MORNING ASSEMBLY and stressed that it is the high time to prepare the Hockey Nursery at the school level.He said that Although he has been writing on the Indian Hockey for the last nine years but now he has felt the need to use his pen for preparing Hockey Nursery in the schools as it is very essential in the present scenario when the game is at its downfall. He is of the opinion that it is not sufficient to introduce Hockey in the various schools and colleges but also certain measures must be taken to promote and popularise the national game so that it may not lag behind in the glamour of Cricket. He was of the opinion “ things are not difficult but we make things difficult.” If others ‘ like him’ take the pledge to do something for Hockey they can.

The Hockey writer suggested when the assembly of this prestigious D A V institution is held in the early morning, the students should be advised to bring and read more news on Hockey so that the whole assembly as well as the staff members may get familiar with Hockey world and culture on account of the efforts of only the single student of the day. This habit of reading news on Hockey is bound to enhance the interest of students in the National Game of India. Apart from this in order to promote Hockey among the budding scholars, quiz competition on Hockey must be organized and special incentive must be set for the winners. As the schools have budding painters, they should be encouraged with incentives to prepare themselves for the poster making competitions of veteran and existing Hockey stars of the National team as it has always been a tragedy in India that young generation is not familiar with the National Hockey Heroes. The Prize winner posters should be displayed in the school premises with the snaps of the concerned winners. He further SUGGESTED THAT SOME cultural programmes should be organized to promote Hockey where the students should be encouraged to participate in items like poetical recitation, elocution, debate and declamation on Hockey. Besides it, one act plays based on Hockey and Hockey stars should be played. Just as a character of Shah-Rukh-Khan as a coach with sixteen girls as Hockey players has attracted the attention of millions of people.

Hockey buff Prof. Randhawa also told the significance of holding friendly Hockey matches in the school play grounds among the staff members because the students are always in a habit to follow into the foot steps of their teachers. But sorry to say that ignoring the national game, these institutions are crazy after cricket friendly matches. That is why cricket has become a fashion among the teachers as well as the students. If the teachers and students learn to hold hockey sticks in their hands even for a short while they will feel the real impact of “Chak De India”.

The speaker of the day further appealed to the assembly that it is clear that aristocratic dynasties of billionaires of India are mad after cricket on the commercial grounds. So students belonging to rich business class should guide their parents to sponsor hockey tournaments and hockey stars at the school level. They should also distribute the hockey equipment to the needy, budding players. By doing so they will get income tax rebate as well as serve their nation by serving and promoting their national game. Above all they will feel a great satisfaction that they have contributed money for the national cause for which no one raises the voice and come forward to promote.

Hockey enthusiast professor during his speech advised the school management to celebrate the sports day i.e. the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Major Dhiyan Chand (which falls on 29th of August) on a grand scale in the school. This grand celebration may compel the students to think that inspite of the glamour of cricket and the cricketers why is the birth anniversary of the national hero of the national game declared the national sports day. Randhawa also suggested photographs of great national hockey heroes like Major Dhyan Chand, Lesle Claudius, Roop Singh, Balbir Singh, Kanwar Babu Dig Vijay Singh, Surjit Singh,and Dhan Raj Pillay should be displayed in the sports department of the school as well as school hall.

The HOCKEY AMBASSEDOR Mr.Randhawa awakened the assembly saying if we ignore our national game how can we expect to pass on the thorough knowledge of our national heritage and culture to our students. He also advised the students and the school managements to use hockey stick as insignia not only in their school premises but also on their bikes, cars and even at their homes.he said that We often find the word “sports” written on bikes and other vehicles. But what does it mean. By writing the word ‘ Hockey ‘on their vehicles, they will carry the great impact of nationalism. We should also set the hello tunes of our mobile phones after the songs of the movie “Chak De India” as every listener will realize and feel the significance of the national game and can feel the chak de spirit.

Professor also proposed that the school managements should arrange special facilities and incentives for those students who opt for their national game Hockey.He further suggested, hockey should be made a compulsory game at the primary & secondary level in all the educational institutions of India. By making hockey a compulsory game, we are helping our children not only physically but also socially.’ We not only inculcate the spirit of nationalism into their minds but also make them physically hale and hearty” he said.
The hockey lover also stressed the point that we talk of ‘women empowerment’. But it is only in words. It is high time to implement it into practical form. He quoted the case of “Chak De India” where Mr. Jaideep Sahni, the writer of the script of the movie, gave the message of women empowerment through the game of Hockey. 16 hockey girls from lower strata worked wonders by becoming the world champion. Randhawa said that Although it is only in fiction but it can be a reality for the girls standing in the morning assembly.

He told the assembly that girls hockey team of Guru Nanak Public School, Shahbaad Markanda (Haryana) presents the real example of women efficiency and potentiality. It is this Haryanavi school where the school girls from very poor families motivated and inspired by the coach Mr. Baldev Singh made their entry into the National Women Hockey Team of India. They not only brought laurels to their poor families after donning national colours but also brought name and fame besides being the financial supporters like boys. The story of their success should be quoted by the teachers to inspire and motivate the girls students to participate in Hockey. The Prof. asked if he may hope that this school might repeat the history of Shahbaad Markanda.

The addresser suggested to promote Hockey the world hockey literature must be made available to the students through world websites, through school library, magazines, news papers, periodicals, journals and books on hockey. The VCDs & DVDs of national and international hockey matches should also be at the disposal of the students. This literature on hockey will become the motivating force for the students. They should also be encouraged to watch the National & International Hockey matches as it is a game of only seventy minutes that will inculcate the national fighting spirit into their young cricket obsessed minds besides creating their interest into their national game.

He further said he does not understand why the students are not taught to have their individual identity. It has become a fashion to discuss cricket into their circles because they have lost their individuality and have become simply a part of the crowd. Student holding a cricket bat into his hand is a common sight but a student holding a hockey stick will present something different, unique and attractive. Students should be taught to have individuality and uniqueness. They should be told that hockey is no longer a rural game but is played at the international level with great interest.

The hockey writer took the example of Holland, Australia, Germany, Spain etc. where it is played with keen interest and people from higher strata like doctors, engineers, professors, lawyers and ministers of these countries participate in it.He felt sorry What a paradoxical situation that in India it is the national game yet it is ignored whereas in the above mentioned European countries it is not their national game yet it is played with keen interest. In India it is in the minds of the people that Hockey is only the game of Punjab & Jharkhand belt and has been entitled as the game of the poor man. Such things are strongly embedded into the minds of the younger generation of India and it is the high time to change their mind set. Media has not been playing its appropriate role to change their views so the professor suggests that it becomes the duty of the teachers and students to change the present scenario if they so desire.

The noted Hockey writer advised that students should not fall victim to the phobia there is no substitute of cricket. Cricket can certainly be replaced by our national game hockey if we have awareness and consciousness of our national culture and a “Zid” to change the sports culture “Zid Karo Sports Culture Badlo”. He suggested poetically “Nai Duniya Banane Ko Naye Anshar Bahar Se Nahin Aate, Wahi Miti Sawarti Hai Wahi Zare Ubharte Hain”. Students name cricket as their hobby whenever asked by their teachers which is simply a matter of shame as it demonstrates their lack of interest and knowledge of other sports activities and a habit of imitation of others and also the stagnation of their minds and personalities.

The Hockey promoter also advised the students that they should show their student power and can play the active role to revive Hockey and Hockey culture of 60’s and 80’s. They can drop letters, e-mails and telephone to electronic and print media asking them why they ignore our national game. It is a matter of shame some people say cricket to be our national game. If there is no substitute to national flag, national anthem and national language then how can we expect sport to be different?

The Prof. advised the school management that their sports functions should be presided over by the veteran renowned or existing hockey stars. They must be invited as chief guests for Sports functions. Schools should make arrangements for students to watch “Chak De India” again and again, its songs played at the sports functions. It was suggested that if the chief guest is saluted with hockey sticks, it may add to his honour and to the dignity of the national game He said that he feels deeply touched on seeing the plight of our National Game Hockey as well as its players. He said that the mission of his life is to provide its due importance to the game of Hockey, for which he would go to every nook and corner of India as well as the whole world.

He highlighted the fact that Amritsar has a very good hockey record, as many important players of this game like Shri Dharam Singh, Shri Bakhshish Singh, Olympian Shri Balwinder Singh, Mr.Shammi, Smt.Rajwinder Kaur, Shri Amandeep (Commonwealth Games Gold medallist) are from here.

This inspiring lecture of Prof. Randhawa was organized in the Morning Assembly of the school on 17th December, 2008 (Wednesday). The Principal Mrs. Anjana Gupta invited him as she herself feels a lot for this game and wanted to awaken her students regarding its importance. On the same day, she declared that two Hockey Team, one for girls and another for boys will be made.