‘He scores goals like runs in cricket’, said the legendary Sir Don Bradman when talking about Dhyan Chand. A statue exists in Vienna till today with four hands and four hockey sticks, as a tribute to his amazing ball control. He is pretty much what Jordan might be to Basketball, Woods to Golf and Bradman to Cricket. In fact, Jordan has men who could be compared to him, Woods too had peers who did as well as him at times and Bradman never played both forms of the sport. Dhyan Chand is quite clearly someone who is head and shoulders above the rest in his sport. Yet, he died penniless in a hospital without proper medical care!

While the question about Indian Hockey’s current state is indeed important, it cannot be viewed isolated from a past filled with horrific tales of fallen greats. The question is simple for the world and India to answer- Would a Pele die like that in Brazil? Would Bradman be allowed the same fate in Australia? Would Ali be treated with same disdain in his home country? Dhyan Chand was a winner of 3 Olympic golds, yet the circumstances surrounding his death would tell almost every other young Indian- Take up Hockey at your own peril.

August 29- National Sports Day of India and birthday of Major Dhyan Chand. How many know the date and how many more know the reason? We give away top sporting honors on this day each year and yet the man who is the greatest stick wizard of all time has only received Padma Bhushan- India’s third highest civilian honor. Why could we not bestow upon him a Bharat Ratna? Was he not worth the honor? A sepoy who fought wars on the turf is not fit for the top civilian honor?

I do not wish to talk only about the history in length, but just wish to provide a humble remainder to the nation that if you treat the game’s greatest in such pathetic fashion, then you cannot claim to have any ‘sports culture’. The signs that Indian Hockey was on the road downhill were clear since that day and the ultimate fall came just a month back. We did not qualify for the Olympics and it is no surprise right now. While we all put the blame on the administrators, let us try finding another way out.

K.P.S. Gill has been ruling over IHF since eternity and Suresh Kalmadi seems to be the Indian Olympic Association President forever. It is amazing how both the guys have no experience in sports and Gill’s amazing reply to this is ‘I have handled Punjab Police’. Yes, you have Mr. Gill, but this is not Punjab Police, this is a national sporting federation and quite frankly you know nothing about how to handle players. He has made some of the worst decisions like sacking a wonderful team in 98 and if we look at players like Dhanraj, we would all understand what is wrong with our sport. It cannot be a coincidence that all our players are rebels who need to be thrown out.

The problem that a ‘Super-Ego’ like Gill and a no good Kalmadi have is that they think sport is all about money. So do many other Indians and they are being forced to believe that. Sport ultimately is not about money guys, it is about enjoyment index and the respect that a player gets for putting his hand up for his nation. Money is made in the process, but every player loves the adulation and respect of both administrators and fans. That is the reason many have spent their lives playing a sport, despite knowing very well that it is not profitable fiscally. This is the truth and if you hurt players like Dhanraj by disrespecting them, then the game is doomed. Gill and Kalmadi have to go and go now, but they will not. Sunny Gavaskar told this a few years back and Mr. Gill replied saying ‘What does he know about Hockey and sports?’ I think it is safe bet to say, ‘Lot more than former head of Punjab Police’.

But it is the players too that have to change. We need players association in Hockey and for once they need to stand united. Such a move will help us immensely. The game has got longer and stronger. I mean to say, with longer passes and stronger players. We need to look in that direction too.

What the game needs the most today is another Dhyan Chand. Today’s media would surely put him on world map and would put Hockey back on top. We need a player who can win games single-handedly playing even with bare feet. I know it is a big ask, but honestly guys, it is our sport-not that of the few bureaucrats. One player like that and two tournament wins and we are back this time for good. Talking about Gill and Kalmadi has almost become useless as they will not change or go. Indian Hockey needs your heir ‘Major’ to save it with a stick akin your ‘Magic Wand’.

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