School Hockey: Grand Sports Day at D.A.V. College,

On 29th Aug 2009, DAV College Amritsar paid tribute to the greatest hockey player, winner of Padma Bhushan award Major Dhyan Chand on his birthday by celebrating the National Sports Day in the College premises.

The celebration was done in the presence and guidance of Principal Dr. Satish Sharma. On this occasion, the former Vice captain of Indian hockey team Olympian Col. Harcharan Singh was the guest of honour who won the hockey world cup in 1975. On the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand,he narrated some motivating and inspiring anectodes from his life.

He also explained the importance of hockey to the college players and students and gave suggestions to improve the quality and level of hockey. He also narrated and shared some of the interesting facts of his hockey career with the students of college.

The “magic stick” of Dhyan Chand was also present in the event. This stick was attracting everybody’s attention during the celebration. This was the original stick with which Major Dhyan Chand played world cup hockey in 1936. This “honour” of Dhyan Chand was brought in the college by Gurdev Singh from Jalandhar on this historic day. He got this stick from his maternal grand father S. Puran Singh who was very fond of hockey and often liked to watch the hockey matches played by Dhyan Chand. He got this stick from Dhyan Chand as a symbol of love.

This event was started with the lightening of Deepshikha and uchaaran of Ved Mantra by the honourable Chief Guest Sh. A. R. Mishra, Deputy General manager Circle head Amritsar. In the presence of light he paid the tribute to Major Dhyan Chand. An international hockey player and proud of Amritsar, S. Balbir Singh Randhawa spoke on some of the unique qualities of Major Dhyan Chand. He also motivated and encouraged the students and players by explaining the spirit of sportsmanship of Dhyan Chand .

The honorable Principal Dr. Satish Sharma is really a sports lover. He has many new concepts regarding sports and this can be felt when one goes to DAV College Sports complex Sastri Nagar in the evening where the players are so much infused with courage and determination. It is because of the encouragement of the Principal that hockey game is going to create new dimensions. , His blessings and cooperation are always there. During the event he was really touched with the determination and zeal of the College players. He also highlighted the achievements of legend Dhyan Chand and promised the continuity of chak de spirit in different sports activities. He said that Major Dhyan Chand should always be there in our heart, because he is a source of inspiration of our young generation.

The audience was mesmerized when the chak de item rocked on the stage. The chak de boys were fully charged as if they were all set for the sports competition. They performed on one of the songs of the film chak de India directed by Jai Deep Sahni. These hockey players paid the tribute to Dhyan Chand with their performance which was full of passion and emotions. Poetry by Amit Malhotra was also one of the attractions of the event. He tried to depict the wonderful personality and achievements of Dhyan Chand in his poem.

The paintings and sketches of legend Dhyan Chand were also shown during the event. With the valuable and keen guidance of Prof. Rajdavinder Kaur Randhawa, the fine arts students showed dozens of paintings depicting the personality of Major Dhyan Chand. College students Navreet Shergill, Jashandeep Kaur, Tamana and Narsheema expressed their love and devotions to Major Dhyan Chand through these marvelous paintings.

The President of sports board and Vice Principal Prof. Suresh Sharma, Secretary of sports board Prof. K.L. Godara, Prof. H.S. Walia, Prof. Satinder Pal also glorified Major Dhyan Chand on his birthday. Under the supervision of Prof. Suresh Sharma and Prof. K.L. Godara, the sports activities of college are reaching to new heights.

During the event, all the students, hockey players and other sports personalities of college were swayed away with the hair raising victories of Major Dhyan Chand. They learnt a true lesson of success. The historical program was compered by Prof. Paramjit singh Randhawa (Department of Punjabi) and Prof. Monica Sharma (Department of English)

Towards the end of this historic day, the college atmosphere was completely equipped with patriotic feelings when all the guest faculty, staff members and students paid tribute to Major Dhyan Chand by singing National Anthem.
COURTESY -Prof. Paramjit Singh Randhawa (Department of Punjabi)
Prof. Monika Sharma (Department of English)