'Major Dhyan Chand - World’s envy, India’s pride,' chronicles former Indian Hockey Captain

name Dhyan Chand rings bells in hearts of millions of hockey lovers from all over world. Though re may be only a few alive w who would have witnessed him play: ors would have eir read or heard about him. He was for hockey what Pele was for football and Don Bradman was for cricket. He is a household name in world of hockey/India who is remembered for his wizardry with hockey stick.  

late Major Dhyan Chand is in news again after government of India on August 6, 2021, anunced renaming of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award to Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award- highest hor for a sportsperson in India. This has come into effect after a constant clamour coming from sports lovers of India. 

Incidentally, August 29 is also birthday of Major Dhyan Chand. August 29 of every year is remembered as national Sports Day- day in which President of India gives away different sports awards like Khel Ratna, Dronacharya Award, and Arjuna Award to deserving recipients. national stadium in New Delhi is also named after Major Dhyan Chand.   
Though Maj Dhyan Chand is already a recipient of Padma Bhushan in 1956,  ardent fans of Major  Dhyan Chand were upset over fact that ir hero was t given Bharat Ratna posthumously.    

Ashok Kumar, Dhyan Chand’s son, himself a hockey player, who represented 1975 world cup winning India hockey team also echoed same.   

Former Hockey Captain & Olympian Dr Ashish Ballal chronicles Major Dhyan Chand's career & life

Major Dhyan Chand was born in 1905. His original name was Dhyan Singh and was also kwn as Dhyan Chand Bais. re are two opinions on why he was called Dhyan Chand: Chand means moon in Hindi. Some say he was called Chand as he shone like moon on hockey field. Ors say after performing army duties during day he came out in night to practice his hockey skills like moon came out in night. 

To reminisce about greatness of Maj Dhyan Chand I will take you through se three incidents. -

• Before Berlin Olympic games in 1936, Dhyan Chand leads Indian field hockey team on a tour of Australia. During tour, Indian team scored 584 goals of which 200 were scored by Dhyan Chand. great sir Don Bradman was so impressed with Dhyan Chand he is quoted to have said - 'I wondered wher this record was done by a cricket batsman or a hockey player. You score goals like runs.'
• Dhyan Chand was extremely popular world over and people were er to see magician in action. During Berlin games in 1936, before India’s match, re were several posters put across Berlin city that read- visit hockey stadium to witness hockey magician in action. Whenever India played, stadium with a capacity of 20,000 used to be full with many disappointed fans returning home unable to get a ticket. 
• During Berlin Olympics 1936, India defeated Germany 8-1. In all matches Major Dhyan Chand scored 13 goals. 
• Hitler Nazi dictator was kwn to propagate Aryan Race supremacy. In same Olympics Jesse Owens, legendary Afro- American athlete performed stupendously and won 4 gold medals for his country. Adolf Hitler refused to shake hands with him or meet him. re were many media reports on this incident on how Hitler snubbed Jesse Owens.
• After Germany was defeated by India,  Dhyan Chand received a mess from Fuhrer. His heart sank after hearing about this as he had already heard about Hitler’s dislike for blacks, Jews, and n-white people.  On reaching headquarters he was taken to private box of Adolf Hitler. During discussion, Dhyan Chand was supposedly offered German citizenship and post of Field marshal in German army by Hitler, himself. Dhyan Chand is reported to have politely declined offer pledging his love for his country. 

In his entire career, Major Dhyan Chand scored 570 goals from 185 matches from 1926- 1949. He brought home three Olympic gold medals – Amsterdam in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932, and Berlin in 1936.  He scored 39 goals in all se Olympic games. His contribution to Indian hockey is so great that as a player, coach and selector he helped India win seven out of 8 Olympics from 1928- 1964. 

Major Dhyan Chand was a highly patriotic man, he showed unparalleled dedication and determination in leading country towards victory and supremacy. During Berlin Olympics circumstances in second half of play forced him to take off shoes and stockings: barefoot he scored three goals. 

Dhyan Chand had immense control over his stick work and his opponents found it hard to wrest control of ball from him. He was kwn for his ball dribbling and spectators were mesmerized seeing him play magic with hockey stick. 

Once, authorities in Nerlands wanting to find out secret behind his wizardry broke his stick hoping to find a magnet or some or object re that was assisting his brilliant play- but to ir disappointment re was ne.

Once asked during an interview about secret of his greatness, he replied- ' secret is in both my hands, my fitness, and my mind.’ re is a sports club in Vienna, Austria that displays a photo depicting Major Dhyan Chand bearing four arms and four hockey sticks.   underlying mess was that he was equal to four arms with four hockey sticks. 

In just-concluded Tokyo Olympics, 2021 Indian men’s hockey team bagged a bronze. With this medal coming after 41 years of hockey India has silenced skeptical thinking- hockey is finished, hockey in India is dead. women's team in this same Olympics finished fourth. 

road map for future has been cast and future of Indian hockey looks bright- thanks to legacy left behind by predecessors like Major Dhyan Chand.  

Profile of Padma Bhushan
Hockey Wizard Major Dhyan Chand
                 

Lived From                                                                                                                                                   Lived Till
29th August 1905                                                                                                                               3rd of December, 1979

Name:
Major Dhyan “Chand” Singh – title of Chand (Moon) was given by people of India because he shone like moon.

Place of Birth:
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Resting Place:
Jhansi Heroes Ground, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

Far’s Name: 
Shri Someshwar Dutt

Service Record:
Joined British Indian Army – Punjab Regiment Services at of 17 years
Retired as a Major from Indian Army.

Coach (Early Years):
Subedar Bhole Tiwari

Domestic Team Represented:
Services Hockey Team
Jhansi Heroes Team

Olympic Quest:
3 times Gold Medallist and captained Indian Team for 1936 Berlin Olympics

1928 Amsterdam Olympics – Gold Medal
1932 Los Angeles Olympics – Gold Medal
1936 Berlin Olympics – Gold Medal

In Final Match between Germany and India, India scored highest number of goals, score being 8-1. This was first time any team had won 3 consecutive Olympic Gold medals.  Adolf Hitler, offered Major Dhyan Chand a very suitable job in German Army which was politely refused, as Major Dhyan Chand only wanted to serve his morland. 

Major Dhyan Chand’s Olympic career was cut short with advent of World War II. 

Participation in International Events:
1926 ---- Australia – New Zealand Tour
1927 ---- London Folkstone Festival Tour
1936 ---- World Tour
1947 ---- East African Tour

Goals Scored:

Olympics-
1928 Amsterdam Olympics                              – 14 Goals (Total)
1928 Amsterdam Olympics Final Match        – 3 Goals
1932 Los Angeles Olympics                              – 12 Goals
1936 Berlin Olympics                                         – 13 Goals
1936 Berlin Olympics Final Match                   – 3 Goals

International Matches-
1926 ---- Australia – New Zealand Tour          – 201 Goals in 43 Matches
1927 ---- London Folkstone Festival Tour       – 36 Goals in 10 Matches
1936 ---- World Tour                                          – 59 Goals
1947 ---- East African Tour                                – 61 Goals in 22 Matches

Overall, Dhyan Chand has scored more than 1000 goals in his active hockey career. 

Life After:

Retired from Active Hockey in 1949 after playing for a span of almost 25 years. 

Got promoted as 2nd lieutenant and again promoted as a lieutenant in 1952, under Indian army, and in 1954 was promoted to rank of Major. 

Retired from Army in 1956, awarded Padma Bhushan in 1956 by His Excellency, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, n President of India. 

Joined Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur`s Scheme in Delhi. Joined National Institute of Sports at Patiala and served from 1962 to 1978 as Chief Coach. 

He was appointed as Indian Selector and Coach for team on many occasions. 

International Olympic Association sent a special invitation to witness 1972 Olympic Games. 

He Joined Orissa Sports Council in 1978, left job in 1979 due to illness, and returned home to Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. 

Major Dhyan Chand passed away in December 1979 at AIIMS, New Delhi. His body was flown by helicopter to Jhansi and he was cremated at Jhansi Heroes Club grounds, where he used to once play, with Military hors by Punjab Regiment. 

His Samadhi and a statue still exist and people from all over world visit to pay hom.

Hours and Awards:

• Awarded third-highest civilian award in Republic of India, Padma Bhushan in 1956.
• Indian Postal Department issues a commemorative stamp in memory of Major Dhyan Chand on 3rd December 1980.
• Government of India anunces Major Dhyan Chand’s Birthday as National Sports Day.
• Government of India anunces Dhyan Chand Award - India's highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games in year 2002.
• Government of India awards meritorious sportsmen with Dhyan Chand Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, and Dronacharya Award at Rashtrapati Bhavan on his Birthday. 
• National Stadium in New Delhi is renamed Dhyan Chand National Stadium by Government of India in year 2002.
• Sports Authority of India erected a life-like statue of Major Dhyan Chand at National Stadium in year 1995. 
• Citizens of Jhansi have erected a 30 feet tall statue on top of hill overlooking city as a mark of respect. 
• A newly-laid Astro-turf hockey pitch, at a cost of 250,000 Pounds at Indian Gymkhana Club in London has been named after Indian hockey legend Dhyan Chand.
• Olympic Committee hored Major Dhyan Chand by naming a metro station in London as Dhyan Chand Station for 2012 London Olympics.
• Government of Madhya Pradesh named a stadium as Dhyan Chand Stadium in Bhopal. 

Famous Quote:

“You are doubtless aware that I am a common man, and n a soldier. It has been my training from my very childhood to avoid limelight and publicity.” – Dhyan Chand

Anecdotes and Quotes:

Berlin Olympics: Indian Hockey Team manr Swami Jagan Nath said of Dhyan Chand in his tournament report: “Dhyan Chand who once more proved himself as best center-forward in World, demonstrated his worth as a great captain. Held in great esteem, affection, and admiration by players, he was central luminary around whom members of team revolved.”

Kenya Tour: Such was fan following for Dhyan Chand that after Partition in 1947, he was included in Indian team on a goodwill tour of Kenya as invitation had a condition: Dhyan Chand tour. India won all 28 matches with Dhyan Chand scoring 61 goals.

Sir Donald Bradman: In 1935, he met cricket great Don Bradman at Adelaide. And, after watching him play, Bradman commented: "He scores goals like we score runs in cricket."

Captain Gurbux Singh: "His simplicity was his asset, he would connect with players easily. He commanded a lot of respect and awe from us. Like any great player, he would expect us to be like him, but everybody has ir limitations," said former India captain.

"re were Olympics in 1940 and in 1944, orwise he would have represented India to glory in five Olympics. entire sports fraternity should come toger and celebrate day," Gurbux, a member of 1964 gold medal-winning Olympic side, said.
"I remember Dhyanchand, Balbir Singh senior, KD Singh Babu, and Kishan Lal were selectors in 1959. That was for first time I witnessed magic of Dadda. player could get control over ball from him even at that . I regret that we don't have videos of his playing days,"

Padma Shri Leslie Claudius: "It is true that Dhyan Chand did t get his dues in country but that's how Hockey administration is in India. It is regretful,"

Shri S. Thyagrajan (Editor- Sportstar): More than his personal conquests, which earned Dhyan Chand such sobriquets as "Magician" and "Wizard," his achievements inspired a whole generation of players. If hockey was projected as India's national game, it was mostly due to aura of Dhyan Chand.

Shri L.K. Advani (Member of Parliament): "I fondly recall 1936 Berlin Olympics which was era of Major Dhyanchand and India excelled in hockey. We won golds during that period and one could score even a single goal against us." re should be a time-bound approach and efforts should be made to restore our glory in game of hockey.

By Dr. Ashish Kumar Ballal
(Former Indian Hockey Captain,
Olympian & Asian Games Gold medallist 1998
Arjun Awardee1996 & Ekalavya Awardee 2000)