Former hockey players march for Dhyan Chand to be conferred with Bharat Ratna

Hockey legend Dhyan Chand

On Wednesday, former hockey players and several fans marched to the Prime Minister’s office to submit a memorandum demanding that late hockey legend Dhyan Chand be conferred with the Bharat Ratna.

Ashok Kumar, son of Dhyan Chand and former hockey player led the the rally which also featured stars of the past like Zafar Iqbal, Dinesh Chopra, Rajesh Chauhan and former coach Harendra Singh. Ashok Kumar along with noted hockey historian K Arumugam submitted the memorandum at the PM’s office where the march started from Barakhamba Road had finished.

Retired cricket Legend Sachin Tendulkar, became the first sportsperson to be honored with the Bharat Ratna, and ever since Dhyan Chand’s name has been touted to be conferred with it. Dhyan Chand’s name has also been recommended by the Sports Ministry for the honour.

“We, a volunteer based NGO, Hockey Citizen Group, appeal and urge to confer top civilian award Bharat Ratna to hockey legend Dhyan Chand. Government of India has already declared his birthday as Annual Sports Day when the sporting excellence award such as Arjuna and Dronacharya are given away by the President of India,” the memorandum submitted to the PM read.

“Dhyan Chand’s contribution in building our nationhood does not just lie solely on the three Olympic Gold medals India obtained in pre-colonial India due to his great game, but the idea and the impetus his game and persona gave to the Indian Olympic Movement itself, is more important,” it added.

“We, the public of India, therefore urge your goodness to expedite conferment of Bharat Ratna posthumously to Dhyan Chand so that his role in nation building gets its due recognition, and the same is presented on this year’s Republic Day,” the memorandum said.