A hockey lover and a sports journalist, Rakesh Thapliyal, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to urge the Sports Ministry to vacate its office from the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium.
In 1995, the Central government declared the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand on 29 August as National Sports Day. The historic National Stadium in the country was also named Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and a life-size statue of Dhyan Chand was also placed near the main gate of the stadium. Prestigious National Sports Award on 29 August was added to embellish the importance of his birthday. Dhyan Chand Award was also given in his name. There is no doubt that the Government of India did much to honour Major Dhyan Chand’s contribution and to establish it as an inspiration for the new generation. A few years ago, the central government took a step that would have brought grief to the soul of Major Dhyanchand. The office of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been opened in the main part of the historic and heritage building of Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi. Namami Gangue’s office was already running in the other building of the stadium. This move of the government is extremely disappointing for not only hockey lovers but also for general sports lovers.
Interestingly, two former Sports Ministers Mr. Vijay Goel and Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore opposed it during their tenure. Kiren Rijiju is now the Sports Minister. The office of the Ministry of Home Affairs was opened at Dhyan Chand Stadium when Mr. Rijiju was the Minister of State for Home Affairs.
When Vijay Goel was the Sports Minister, the process of opening this office started. When I talked to him about this, he said that “I am trying to stop this” Rathore was very hopeful that the advance rent paid by the Ministry of Home Affairs would be returned and space will be vacated.
Despite many efforts of Goel and Rathore, this could not happen and both were removed from the Sports Ministry. Some times ago I asked Kiren Rijiju why the Home Ministry office was opened at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium? On this, the Sports Minister had stated his compulsion and said, “we need money for the salary of the Sports Authority of India’s employees. When I was the Minister of State for Home, it was decided to rent this place at Dhyan Chand Stadium and open this office. I had talked to many people about this and nobody had any problem.” At this, I told him that two former sports ministers, who are leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, have openly opposed it. Rijiju said, “I can assure you that players would not be facing any trouble.”
In the letter, Rakesh wrote, “No international hockey tournaments were held in Major Dhyan Chand stadium since the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs shifted here. The training program of the National Hockey Academy runs on the main turf here. Once this stadium was the bastion of organizing international hockey competitions but now this is not happening here. Surprisingly, why is the Govt. is opening offices of various ministries in the stadiums? On the one hand, the Sports Ministry says that there will be no shortage of funds for the development of sports and sportspersons. On the other hand, the buildings of stadiums are being given on rent to get the money.”
There was a time India was recognized around the world by Mahatma Gandhi and Dhyan Chand. We were Olympic champions in hockey. Nobody has been able to match the Olympic record of winning our eight gold medals in hockey between 1928 and 1980. Apart from this, India also had a diamond of hockey in the form of Dhyan Chand, which has mesmerized the world for many years with the glow of its magical game.
