HI seeks Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand

M.S. Unnikrishnan

Hockey India (HI) formally threw its hat into the ring, requesting the Government that the nation’s highest honour, Bharat Ratna, be conferred on legendary hockey player, the late Dhyan Chand.

Dhyan Chand had been hailed even by Hitler for his virtuoso display in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. When he took possession of the ball, the ball virtually got glued to his stick, till he gave a logical finish to the move — invariably ending in goals. Posters had sprung up all over Berlin, saying: “Visit the hockey stadium to watch the Indian magician Maj. Dhyan Chand in action”.

Hitler had even offered Dhyan Chand German citizenship and the rank of Colonel, if he played for Germany, but Dhyan Chand declined the offer. The German authorities also broke his hockey stick, to check whether there was a magnet inside!

Ever since the Union Home Ministry agreed to consider Sports Minster Ajay Maken’s request to include sports icons among in the eligibility category for the Bharat Ratna, the names of Dhyan Chand and Sachin Tendulkar cropped up as strong candidates, though the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) also staked its claim for the award for Abhinav Bindra, who had shot a gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the first Indian to strike an Olympic individual gold.

A strong lobby has been propping up the name of Tendulkar, though players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Kapil Dev also merit consideration. Dhoni has emerged as one of the most successful Indian captains in all forms of cricket – Test, ODI and T20 – and also lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 ODI World Cup.

Kapil Dev had brought home the trophy in 1983.

There have been other sporting greats like ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh, hockey ace Ajit Pal Singh etc., who deserve the honour.

Milkha’s deeds were legendary, while Ajit Pal Singh had the distinction of winning the World Cup in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur – a singular feat which no other Indian hockey captain has been able to replicate.

Dhyan Chand has been termed as the greatest hockey player the world had seen, with 1000 international goals to his credit. “There is no deserving sporting icon other than Major Dhyan Chand to be considered for the Bharat Ratna,” HI said in its communication to the Government. It pointed out that his international playing career started in 1926 and lasted till 1948, when he turned 42.

“In 1926, on his first international tour, India played 21 matches in New Zealand, scoring 192 goals, with Maj. Dhyan Chand alone accounting for over 100 goals,” HI noted.

It has reminded the Government that August 29, the hockey legend’s birthday, is celebrated as the National Sports Day when the President of India honours top sportspersons/institutions with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dronacharya, Arjuna, Tensing Norgay, Dhyan Chand and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy awards.

India’s only world-standard hockey stadium, the National Stadium in Delhi, has also been named after Dhyan Chand, making him the fittest candidate to deserve the Bharat Ratna. HI hoped that the Government would consider giving the next Bharat Ratna to Dhyan Chand, as he was one of a kind.