Zafar Iqbal goes emotional as a street is named after fellow Olympic gold medallist late MK Kaushik

K ARUMUGAM

It was a simple but hugely impressive function. Almost all the who’s who of Delhi’s hockey fraternity were present. Essentially, corporators and political heads of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation were billed to take the centre-stage – they did so physically. But it was the assembly of hockey legends who walked away with all the memories of the day, so easily as they would wield sticks against a meek rival in their prime time.

The corporators and local MLA Som Dutt were given the prime spot on the dais. Perhaps fittingly, as they have given the nod to name a street after Maharaj Krison Kaushik, fondly known as MK Kaushik the world over.

However, their speeches turned mundane and cliched. It was a spark that the compere invited Zafar Iqbal to speak, an invite that made the day so impeccable and memorable. Known for his wit and humour, Zafar who came to the function with his wife, lived up to his known vibes.

“When the Olympic team was announced there was a name called Maharaj Krison Kaushik. We, teammates were surprised, and asked who is he, Maharaj Krishon? Till then we know him as Kaushik. Only on that day we came to know he is ‘Maharaj’ too.

Padmashree Zafar Iqbal went on to portray the career of his teammate MK Kaushik with precision, covering the entire gamut of his playing and post-playing career.

“He is really a rare player who did not give up the game after his international career. He took up coaching as the understudy to MP Ganesh in the late 80s and then, on his own, coached the men’s team to the Asian Games gold medal which came after 32 years. He then he took up women’s coaching where his teams did wonderfully even beyond the Asian level. His women’s team won laurels at the Commonwealth Games”.

The audience in the Park listened to him, all ears.

“We last played a veteran’s match at Aligarh. We all padded up. First I asked him to join us, then then felt he should coach us, which he did”

As we thought, Zafar Iqbal would further dwell on the life and times of the late Olympic hero, he just said his end came too soon, and then could not control his emotion. He was teary eyed, his face turned red and walked away, winding down the long stage. One could easily see him still shedding tears as he reached the spot where other colleagues were sitting.

However, after a couple of political speeches by the corporators, who felt they were seeing great players at one place, Zafar was thoughtfully invited back to introduce all the hockey players to the audience. He did the job with usual flair.

Former international goalkeeper Arvind Chhabra, one of MK Kaushik’s classmates, Arjuna awardee Mohinder Pal Singh – “we call him Member of Parliament” Zafar quipped – World Cupper Rajesh Chauhan, 1998 Asiad gold medallist AB Subbaiah, former international goalkeeper Sandeep Shokeen, International Jena, 1975 World Cup gold medallist Ashok Diwan (who is also trusted deputy coach of MK Kaushik) and Mukesh Kaushik, MK Kaushik’s brother who is a hockey player with the Food corporation of India were among the august gathering who were garlanded and honoured.

That’s not to leave out the impressive presence of MK Kaushik’s street-hockey mates and Delhi State and Institutional team members.

Uma Shankar Sharma, who was Kaushik’s competitor for the right-wing position in the Delhi State team and also in the 1981-1982 World Cup camp was prominent.

We were vying for the same position. So they fielded both of us in the many National Champions as wingers – right or left”, said the gentleman

Ashok Mathur, formerly Secretary General of the now defunct Indian Hockey Federation, fellow DESU hockey player, NM Sharma, who was coach of the Delhi Junior National team of the 1970s in which Kaushik and many others present were part of, also graced the occasion.

A local hockey team, run by the globally acclaimed ‘One Thousand Hockey Legs’, but introduced to the NGO by the late Kaushik, was also present.

Ms.Usha, MK Kaushik’s better half, sons Eshan and Nishant were the graceful hosts, as galaxy of MK Kaushik’s colleagues, friends, and well wishers gathered at the picturesque park. Ms. Usha has not many words to utter, but the one she did was more than sufficient.

“His first love, his first focus has always been hockey”, said Mrs. Usha Kaushik.

That’s why Kaushik got the hockey world at his feet, and the house he lived in is now on the street named after him.

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