by Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
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There was a time during 1950s till 70s when spectators used to throng the Kolkata Maidan grounds to witness Hockey matches that used to generate lot of heat and interest because of the presence of some wizards of the game.
Today’s readers may not believe that in a Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal match in 1964, played in the morning, total eight players were sent off because of heated exchange & rough play resulting clashes on field. That was the kind of excitement and interests used to get generated during that time in Kolkata hockey matches !.
Gone are those days and those legends. Pattrick Jansen, Jaswant Singh Rajput, Meldric Daluz, Chaman Singh Gurung, Keshav Dutta, Leslie Claudius, Joginder Singh, Peara Singh, Dharam Singh, Gurbux Singh, Aslam Sher Khan, Kushal Kumar, Inam Ur Rehaman, Anis Ur Rehaman, Baloo, Thoiba Singh, Ves Paes, Ashoke Kumar, Shahid Noor, Jafar Iqbal, Bir Bahadur Chettri – most of them had been part of India’s medal winning teams at the Olympics – had played and glorified Kolkata Hockey once up on a time. The legendary Dhyan Chand played in Beighton Cup in 1938 and incidentally my late father was the Captain of Kolkata (then Calcutta) University Team that played against Dhyan Chand’s Jhansi Heroes.
And today, hardly any one goes to maidan to witness any hockey match. Though, the entire maidan area, during winter time, is still buzzing with youngsters with hockey sticks in hand, trying to play the game. Sadly, there is no taker, no one to group or train them to have organized hockey. Big clubs play their matches at Salt Lake SAI astro turf which is not in good condition. Imagine, in 5/6 decades, Bengal Hockey Association ( BHA and now Hockey Bengal ) could not create one Astro turf stadium exclusively for hockey in and around Kolkata while even Bihar has just hosted the Women Asian Cup in a beautiful Stadium that boasts a lovely artificial turf. Odisha and other states have more than one such facilities exclusively for hockey. But Bengal has allowed Hockey to be an extinct species through inept administration and lack of any initiative.
13 years in to power, the present West Bengal Govt. has done nothing in getting one Hockey Stadium with artificial turf where regular hockey can be played without depending on SAI. This is astonishing and shameful. Now, yet another political person, Sujit Bose, has become Hockey Bengal President, keeping in tradition with many other states and National sports bodies in India. More surprisingly, there is a lady in the Hockey Bengal committee, Ms. Sanaya Mehta Viyas who to the best of my knowledge, has never touched a hockey stick in her life in any competitive game. One may understand why and how Hockey in Bengal has died.
To cut the long story short ….
The Calcutta Hockey League (CHL) in the 1950s was the country’s most competitive meet with an array of top stars playing in it. Even the redoubtable KD Singh “Babu” played a season in CHL where he guided Bhawanipore Club to the title. This indeed was an exception as the reign of Kolkata hockey those days was mostly in the hands of teams like Mohun Bagan, Port Commissioners, Calcutta Customs and the Railways. Each match in the league used to be fiercely fought with a huge crowd turning out as well. The oldest hockey tournament in India, the Beighton Cup has also been a product of Kolkata.
It’s hard to believe that a land which once produced some of the best hockey players in the country does not even have one ground dedicated to the game !! The administrators cite lack of funds and opposition from some quarters as the reasons for this. Bengal Hockey Association was amongst the firsts to be formed early 20th century. The first Indian team for the Olympics in 1928 (Amsterdam) was selected in Kolkata after the nationals of the same year. Mind you ! Twenty-seven Olympic gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze is what Bengal hockey can still show case as its achievements. But that is very much a thing of the past.
While Olympic gold medalist Gurbux Singh says the absence of a stadium and an astro-turf were the biggest hindrances in grooming local talent. But then Gurbux himself has been one of the longest serving Chief of BHA. He should take the entire blame on himself not able to get any sponsor or motivate the Govt. to get those facilities. It is intriguing why sponsors have stayed away from Hockey in spite of the fact that India is currently the Bronze medal winning team in the last Paris Olympics. For any other sports, one finds money is pouring in more than required. Then why not for Hockey ? Lack of Govt. support is crucial for lack of interest. It is sad that no teams from West Bengal are participating in the Hockey India League (HIL). Again Hockey Bengal is to take the blame.
Once Rabindra Sarovar stadium was seriously thought to get converted in to a fully dedicated hockey stadium with artificial turf. But lack of initiative from the Govt. and those ruled hockey in Bengal has not helped the cause. It could have been a permanent solution to the need.
We must have a fully dedicated Hockey Complex soonest in the city. It could be in New Town, Rajarhat area also. Unless we have an exclusive hockey stadium with all the international facilities like practice grounds, changing rooms cafeteria etc, we can not think of improving hockey in Kolkata. Every game gets popularized with its idols. Sadly, Bengal hockey does not have any today. But if facilities are made, International competitions are brought, then gradually interests will come back. And who knows, Bengal might again produce Gold medalists from this land for the country. We need honest thinking, honest Endeavour and honest people who will not only remain seated on the chair but be pro-active to take back Bengal to its lost pride moments.
Let us hope the current Hockey Bengal, led by Sujit Bose will take much needed initiative to get us the best infrastructures for Hockey in Kolkata.
Concluded…..
