Street Marchers’. This is how Indian Hockey’s chief tormentor KPS Gill described and mocked at the battery of mentor Olympians who, in a rare show of solidarity, marched against his style of mal-administration of hockey, at Delhi recently. Stick2hockey looks at the brief profile of those ‘Street Marchers’ to understand their continuing contribution to hockey. It does not matter for Gill most of them are distinguished public figures and retired Services personnel (brigadier, Colonels, Wing Commanders etc).

Commander Nandy Singh: Age 80. Won Olympic gold at 1948 and 1952 Olympics, played in the Senior Nationals for a record 15 years. Retired as a distinguished officer from Indian Navy. Former Selector, administrator and organizer of hockey tournaments. Under his supervision when he was the first Stadium administrator of Delhi’s National Stadium, the first-ever synthetic turf in India was laid. When he was manager of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics India defeated Netherlands 5-0 in the fifth place decider. A rare former player who contributes to hockey even at this age. He is the Secretary of the Delhi based Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society, which organizes chain of tournaments for different age groups every year. Bob Davidzon, who recently surveyed Indian Domestic scene sent an appreciative missive to this society for them doing so much for Indian hockey especially for women. He visited Nehru Society and interacted with them before arriving at this conclusion. Nandy Singh is an active golfer. He got the precious Dhyan Chand Award this year from the Government of India.

Wing Commander R.S. Bhola: 78, Gold and Silver at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. Retired from Indian Air Force. A brilliant academics and an Engineering graduate. Former left winger of yore is known in the sports cycle for his forthright views and analytical brain. He fights with every arm of government to go in for indigenous production of synthetic turf so that it can be made available at a cheaper rate and at needed quantity. The present IHF never bothered to use his Engineering expertise for the betterment of hockey. However, Government of India often used his services in the form of Observer and Member of some Committees.

Colonel Hari Pal Kaushik: 72. Triple Olympians (Two gold and a silver) and one of the three 1966 Gold Winning Asian Team to take part in the rally. Not just a great forward on the fields, but also a valiant fighter of Indian Army. He was awarded Vir Chakra by the Government of India for his bravery during the Indo-China war (1961). Also an Arjuna Awardee for the Sporting Excellence. He trained famous Sikh Regimental Centre for many years. He was also selector in the first two years of Gill’s IHF. One of the rare former players, who think of hockey all the time. Had a distinguished career as the Manager of a big Sugar Mill in Phagwara. His reports in the capacity of manager of Indira Gold Cup (1989) are eye-opener how teams should be prepared and their performance analysed. His only regret has been, the authorities never open and read his reports.

Colonel Balbir Singh: 64, Gold at the 1966 Asian Games bronze at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. A career short-lived because of an injury. More than his playing days, his coaching days are well remembered. This writer watched him from close quarters when he was in charge of women team between 1994 and 1998. From nowhere, he took the girls to qualify for the 1998 World Cup, first time Indian women achieved this far after two decades. Known for calling spade a spade, he resigned when the IWHF did not like him doing a favour for the girls. What was that? He organized food at cheap rate using the charity oriented Non Resident Indians and distributed the saved money among the girls. The IWHF did not like this and wanted the money to their kitty. This Colonel refused and resigned in protest. Such straight-forward people are not in the public memory. It is sad.

Harbinder Singh: 63, Triple Olympian. Suave, never controversial and passionate follower of the game. The livewire centre-forward of sixties’ sporting career is five decade running. He recently retired from the Railways as the Sports Officer. During his post-playing days he coached the legendary Railway teams which reached the semis all the time. He was also women’s national coach, selector and in is in close touch with the game all the time. A passionate follower, one can spot him at the capital city’s hockey turfs all the time. His simplicity is worth emulating and he is wordly wise too. Even now he is chief selector of Nehru Tournaments which picks up young wards for various prizes. He himself is an Arjuna awardee, and former captain of Asian games hockey team. It is really surprise for city’s hockey knowledgeables that he participated in a rally, as he never speaks against anybody in public.

Sukhvir Singh Grewal: