DILIP TIRKEY STORY PART II

BOY NEXT DOOR

Despite all his achievements, Dilip Tirkey remains the boy next door and remarkably humble. His habits are simple. Dilip does not talk much, but is worldy wise. Wisdom oozes when he speaks. The manner in which he conveys his thoughts evokes confidence in the listener. Smile is a permanent feature of Dilip’s personality. Come what may, never does he lose his cool — on the field or off from it. With a dimple to sport, the genial Tirkey has an aura about him. He is the sort of person one always wants to interact and mingle with and cherish the memories forever. Hardly does one come across such a simple and humble person in life, let alone in sports, who has achieved so much in so short a time. Despite being the captain of the Indian national hockey team, he admits that whenever he goes to his village he sows potato seeds in his land!

5
A CONTENTDED SOUL

Dilip Tirkey has not received as much acclaim and monetary rewards as he deserves. Some of his peers in the national hockey team whose achievements and consistency are comparitively less, have gained more public recognition and attendant benefits. However, Dilip remains unconcerned. He is as polite as ever. He never complains about anything to anybody. He always expresses satisfaction over whatever he has received. This contented mindset has helped him to remain focused on the game. His concern has always been hockey, and nothing else. It is rare to find such a committed and focussed player in a world driven by commercialism.

6
HUMBLE HOME
Dilip Tirkey owes all his virtues to his upbringing and social milieu. He was born on 25th November 1977 in a not so poor tribal family in Sundargarh district of eastern state, Orissa. His village, Saunamara, is a cluster of tolis, each of which houses hamlets of same caste tribes. The Babu Toli to which Dilip hails from has bout 30 houses of Oram tribals. Oram is both Dilip’s mother tongue and sub-sect. Father Vincent Tirkey was a peasant when Dilip was born, but joined Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) later. Mother, Ragina, eldest of two brothers and three sisters, is a housewife. She had to supplement father’s income through hard work in the fields, but such hardships ended with Dilip Tirkey’s rise in hockey and securing a decent job. Dilip is the second eldest of Vincent’s Tirkey’s four sons and a daughter. Dilip’s only elder brother Francis Tirkey also serves in the CRPF. Dilip’s younger twin brother, Anoop too is hooked to hockey and at present plays for the Indian Railways. Elder twin Ajit is pursuing studies. Dilip’s only sister Jothi. is doing graduation in Rajdhani college in Bhubneswar, capital of Orissa State. Due to Dilip, his family could lift their standard of living notches above the rest of the rural folk, who endure poverty due to lack of opportunities and under-development of the forest region they live in.

7
HOCKEY IS TRIBALS’ HOBBY
Hockey is part and parcel of tribal’s life in that part of India. Hockey matches, loosely organised but played with lot of passion, of convenient duration, are regular features on Sundays, and during festival periods like Dusshera, Christmas and in the harvest seasons. At stake in the matches are the pride of toli or village. For the boys — scantily clad, often bare-foot — the winners’ prize of decorated Kukuda (goat) or Khasi (chicken) is highly valued. Villagers, mostly well-versed with the rules and regulations, gather in large number to witness the matches that are held on any available ground: grass, gravel, dusty weathered tops, not quite levelled. The winning team of the village moves to another village by walk or on bicycle for another match. Such chain of visits continue throughout the year. Some enthusiasts even organise annual tournaments which are fast gaining popularity among the tribals.

To be Continued…