Ashok Singh
National Sports Day is observed in the country on 29th August every year under the aegis of President of India who commemorate the birthday of Indian Hockey Legend MAJOR DHYAN CHAND for his unforgettable performance in the field of Hockey. The cardinal principle of sports day is to create awareness and attract young generation towards sports and games to inculcate in them the values of physical fitness to become balanced individual and better human being of the aeon.
On this day the President of country bestows with his lotus hands various sports awards such as THE RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATANA, ARJUNA AWARD AND DRONACHARYA AWARD upon the sports persons for their spectacular performance in the sports and games.
It is matter of pride for the nation to endow the sweet memories of MAJOR DHYAN CHAND, son of SHARDHA SINGH and SAMESHWAR SINGH born in RAJPUT family at Prayagraj in U.P. on 29th August 1905, served in British Indian Army/14th Punjab Regiment from 1922 to 1956. MAJOR DHYAN CHAND was enlisted in the first Brahmans of British Indian Army as a sepoy at the age of 17 where SUBEDAR MAJOR TIWARI groomed and gardened him with motivation for the game of Hockey.
His hard work plodded him step by step from army team to the national level in 1922. From this spring board fortune favoured him and he represented India in the Olympic Games held at Amsterdam, Netherlands in the year 1928. He led the team thrice from 1928 to 1936 in the Olympic games and won Gold Medals continuously. His sports career spans in The National Team from 1926 to 1949, played 185 matches and scored 570 goals. After winning the first Olympic Gold in Team event in 1928 Olympic games, a newspaper report about India's Triumph said,
“This is not a game of Hockey but magic.
DHYAN CHAND is in fact the magician of Hockey.”
His passion for Hockey made him restless and he practiced/prepared himself in the night in the moon lit light that changed his name from DHYAN SINGH to DHYAN CHAND means one who plays in the light of moon. In 1951 he was honored at India's National Stadium with inaugural DHYAN CHAND TOURNAMENT which he attended to the admiration of the spectator.
MAJOR DHYAN CHAND graduated from Victoria College Gwalior 1932 and held his commission in Indian Army post Independence with the Service No. IEC 3526. After 34 years of service he retired on 29th August 1956 as Major. For spectacular performance in games of Hockey staged him with a honour of PADMA BHUSHAN India's third highest civilian honour in 1956. After retirement he taught at coaching camp at Mount Abu Rajasthan and later accepted the position of Chief Hockey Coach at N.I.S. Patiala. The nation shall always stand indebted to MAJOR DHYAN CHAND for his extraordinary performance in the game of hockey.
The Government of India paid him a befitting tribute by renaming the National Stadium as DHYAN CHAND NATIONAL HOCKEY STADIUM in 2002, Government of India also released postage stamp in honour of MAJOR DHYAN CHAND. An Astroturf, Hockey Pitch at Indian Gymkhana Club in London has been named after Indian Hockey Legend DHYAN CHAND. His untiring efforts enabled the Indian Hockey to climb higher echelon with highest medals in Olympic games for six times from 1928 to 1956.
India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports is in the name of DHYAN CHAND AWARD which has been awarded annually from 2002 to sports persons who contributed their best in performance as well as sports guide.
Indian Prime Minister NARENDRA DAMODARDAS MODI has glorified the name of our Legendary hero MAJOR DHYAN CHAND by launching “Fit India Movement” in 2019 and observing “Run for Freedom” from 15th August to 2nd October 2020 to create awareness of physical fitness in the country.
DHYAN CHAND skillful stick work in the field, judicious passes to the team mates in the field earned him the title of Hockey Wizard. After attaining the age of 74 years he died on 3 December 1979 and will always be remembered by the nation for his excellent performance in the Game of Hockey as player as well as a Chief Coach.
Author is a Sports Administrator.
