Date:20/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112056922200.htm

Sport - Sports : General

Book on Dhyan Chand

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: For the first time, a book highlighting the life and times of hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand is out.

Written by Dhyan Chand’s daughter-in-law Dr. Meena Umesh Dhyan Chand, the 135-page book in Hindi was released by the Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill in the presence of several former players, including Dhyan Chand’s son Olympian Ashok Kumar, and hockey lovers at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here on Wednesday.

Dr. Meena, who hails from Jhansi, said she had been toying with the idea of writing the book since her marriage in 1985. “A lot has been written about Major Saab’s skills as a hockey player but I wanted to bring forth the other facets of his personality,” she said about the book titled “Hockey ke Jaadugar Major Dhyan Chand,” priced at Rs. 125.

One of a kind

Mr. Gill lauded the contribution of Dhyan Chand but lamented the poor state of Indian sports in general and hockey, in particular.

“He was one of a kind. He was the first, true ‘khiladi’ (sportsperson) from India. However, it is pity that he did not get the attention he deserved in independent India till he died in 1979. These days, cricket is our hobby but for long, hockey remains close to our hearts,” he said.

He agreed with the author’s suggestion that the National Sports Day on August 29, Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary, should be publicised more and celebrated like other “National Days.” He said, “I shall certainly try to do more to make people aware about the importance of sports in our country.”

“Only cricket offers good money but there is not much in other disciplines,” he said.

Interestingly, Mr. Gill was categorical in declaring that the sports policy is “made by officials of the ministry and not by the Minister. Some of them, like the one pertaining to monthly pensions for medal winners in the Olympic Games are completely absurd. Usually, even the Minister who gets the sports portfolio, is not really interested in the ministry.”

He went on to say, “I have a remark to make on our education system. The whole focus in our schools and colleges is on securing 99.9 per cent marks. Do we even have one period for sports each day in our schools and colleges? Many schools are without a playground. How do we expect our young talents to do well without proper facilities and encouragement? I don’t mind saying that in India, our children have no childhood. What is childhood without time for play?” he asked.