New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI): Major Dhyan Chand, a name synonymous with excellence in Indian sports, continues to inspire the nation. His birthday, August 29, marks National Sports Day, and India's highest sports award now bears his name. Yet, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, remains beyond reach for the legendary hockey player.
In 2021, the Indian government renamed the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Many, however, question why the Bharat Ratna still evades the man who propelled Indian hockey to global acclaim.
Hockey India president and three-time Olympian, Dilip Tirkey, spearheaded a campaign at Jantar Mantar in 2016 to advocate for this cause, even raising the issue in Parliament, yet success was elusive. "Dhyan Chand was unparalleled in his era. Hockey delivered India's first Olympic golds, and his contribution was immense," Tirkey told PTI Bhasha. “If our top sports award and the National Stadium honor his name, why is the Bharat Ratna not bestowed upon him?”
Dhyan Chand orchestrated India's gold medals in the 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles), and 1936 (Berlin) Olympics, establishing a formidable Indian presence in global sports. With a remarkable record of 570 goals in 185 matches, his legacy is unparalleled.
His son, Ashok Dhyan Chand, who was part of India’s victorious 1975 World Cup team, reflects on his father’s modesty, "He never sought self-promotion. Forty-six years posthumously, his legacy resonates. Despite challenges, he maintained dignity and refrained from seeking awards for himself. When we sought a gas agency in 1977-78 during hardships, he refused to sign the application, insisting it was the government's role to recognize his contributions."
Despite receiving the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third-highest civilian award in 1956, the Bharat Ratna continues to remain elusive for Dhyan Chand. In 2013, the Bharat Ratna was awarded to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, making him the first sportsperson to receive it.
The campaign for Bharat Ratna gathered momentum in 2016, with several Olympians and renowned personalities advocating for the honor. Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik created a sand sculpture to further the cause, while Tirkey, then a BJD member of parliament, presented a memorandum endorsed by over 100 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, yet every effort fell short.
Historically, Bharat Ratna was confined to fields like art, literature, science, and public service until an amendment in December 2011 expanded eligibility to "any field of human endeavor," allowing sportspersons to be considered. Despite efforts by the Indian Hockey Federation and delegations, including one led by cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi in 2013, the honor remains elusive. Although former Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, acknowledged the informal recommendation of Dhyan Chand for Bharat Ratna in 2014, no official recognition followed.
In recent years, personalities like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Pranab Mukherjee, Bhupen Hazarika, and others have been conferred with the Bharat Ratna. However, for the 'hockey magician,' this prestigious honor remains a distant dream as hope continues to wane.
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