Dhyan Chand is probably the most deserving candidate for Bharat Ratna, says former India skipper Zafar Iqbal

Image Source : PTI Hockey wizard Dhyan Chand 
Hockey wizard Dhyan Chand is probably the most deserving sports activities character for the Bharat Ratna award, says the previous captain of the Indian males’s hockey group Zafar Iqbal.
“As far as sports is concerned, Dhyan Chand is the most deserving candidate for Bharat Ratna,” Iqbal advised IANS in an unique interview.

In 2014, legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar turned the primary and the one sportsperson to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. However, even earlier than that, calls have been made over time to award Dhyan Chand with nation’s highest civilian award.
“Sachin Tendulkar has been given the Bharat Ratna award. At that time also, we had requested the government to bestow the prestigious award to Dhyan Chand. In fact, we have been requesting the government for decades. I still remember after Sachin was conferred with the honour, we had taken out a procession from the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Barakhamba traffic crossing to Jantar Mantar and we also sat down at the Jantar Mantar also for quite some time just to remind the government,” stated Iqbal, who himself has been awarded with the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award.
“Even before Sachin was considered for Bharat Ratna, Dhyan Chand’s file had moved from sports ministry to the PMO. But his file could not be processed further. I remember there was an opinion poll to decide which sportsperson should be given the Bharat Ratna. And a majority of the people voted for Dhyan Chand. In fact both him and Sachin could have been conferred with the award. It would not have created any controversy,” he added.
Dhyan Chand was a part of three gold medal-winning Indian groups on the Olympics — in Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932) and Berlin, the place he was the captain. For twenty years till he bid goodbye to worldwide hockey in 1948, Dhyan Chand’s identify was synonymous with the game as he performed quite a few matches and scored a whole bunch of targets.
The National Sports Day is noticed in his honour yearly within the nation on August 29.
Iqbal, below whose management India gained bronze medal on the Champions Trophy 1982 in Holland, stated Dhyan Chand — regardless that he did not get the Bharat Ratna — will nonetheless stay a legend recognized for his “magical game”.

“My personal feeling is that even though he didn’t get Bharat Ratna, he will still remain a legend. His contribution to the country in the field of hockey is immense and something which we are very proud of. He is recognised by his game and not by Bharat Ratna,” stated Iqbal.
“Same is the case with Sachin. He is known for his game, not by just Bharat Ratna. Sportspersons are known for their game not by awards,” he added.
Asked concerning the probabilities of Dhyan Chand getting Bharat Ratna within the close to future, Iqbal stated: “I don’t know. It can be done within seconds. If someone sends a message to the Prime Minister that Dhyan Chand deserves the award, it can be done within seconds. Otherwise, just like in the past, it can go on for years.”
“We are still trying and we have been proposing his name for the Bharat Ratna from different sources. However, sometimes our feelings do get hurt and we wonder what’s the use of requesting the government,” he added.
The 64-year-old additional stated that Dhyan Chand, who died in 1979 on the age of 74, was a quite simple, humble and right down to earth man who did not run after cash.
“He was the simplest man I would say in sporting history. He never asked for any money or boast about himself. I was lucky to have a chat with him. We used to stay in the same colony in Vasant Vihar. We often chatted.”
Recalling an incident from 1978, Iqbal revealed how Dhyan Chand, his son Ashok Kumar and he travelled in a basic compartment of the Indian railways from Delhi to Jhansi.
“In 1978, we travelled with him from Delhi to Jhansi. Ashok was also there. We had to play a match there. We got into a third class (general compartment) and it was fully packed. There was no place to sit. Dhyan Chand, however, kept standing and didn’t say anything to anyone. After some time, we requested a person to offer us a place to sit. Such was his simplicity,” stated Iqbal.
“We didn’t have enough money to travel by first class. But Dhyan Chand never created any fuss,” he added.