‘Throughout 16-year ordeal, I chose not to blame myself’
Former goalkeeper of the Indian hockey team and later the coach of the women’s hockey team, Mir Ranjan Negi’s journey from an anonymous soul to the face behind one of the most talked about hindi film Chak De India, has been very ardous and one that very few would dare to tread.
From being accused of cheating his country for money and bearing the pain of defeat to Pakistan for 16 years, Negi has seen it all.
“One thing my team members and I knew was that I wasn’t wrong. Throughout 16 year ordeal I chose not to blame myself,” said Negi. In the city to attend a workshop organsied by the Suryadatta Group of Industries, as a part of their ‘Knowledge Management Initiative’ Negi staged an one-act play for the students of Gloom to Glory.
The play that highlights his fall and subsequent rise in the annals of Indian hockey, was in his own words ‘aimed to empower students to follow their dreams.’ “The idea of the play was not to tell my story but to show students that it is not difficult to overcome problems,” he said.
Talking about his days after losing to Pakistan and post which he was branded a traitor, Negi said, “It was terrible. Wherever I went out people tried to beat me up, abused me and even pelted stones at me. The only good thing at that time was that I had a job and I was earning well. Else, I wonder who would have employed me? My wife’s family members and relatives advised her not to get married to a traitor,” he reminisces.
“For me however the biggest triumph was winning the Asia Cup in 1998. I knew we had built a team that was special and beyond all others. It was unfortunate that we hurt someone’s ego in the federation, which resulted in the removal of seven players and both the coaches. Had the team stayed on we would have bagged gold medal at the Olympics,” he said..
Negi, however, has forgotten all the bitterness from the past and has concentrated on taking hockey to the interiors of the country and especially to the girls. “They are very sincere. After my son passed away in 2005 in a motorcycle accident, we opened a small foundation in his name that gives hockey training to the underprivileged. It helps keep them away from violence and drugs. Sport is a huge motivating factor to do well in life,” he added.
Negi has plans to do something in Pune too. “ It is such a wonderful place. And there are so many facilities. Hopefully sometime soon we will start a programme here too,” he said.