About Major Dhyan Chand
Major Dhyan Chand Singh Bais, known as the “Wizard of Hockey,” was born on August 29, 1905, in Allahabad. He played international hockey from 1926 to 1949, scoring over 400 international goals.
He led India to three consecutive Olympic gold medals — Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932), and Berlin (1936) — and retired from the Indian Army with the rank of Major.
National Honors and Tributes Named After Him
- National Sports Day: His birth anniversary, August 29, has been observed as National Sports Day since 1995; the President of India confers national sports awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan on this day.
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: In August 2021, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (India’s highest sporting honour) was renamed after him; awarded by MYAS for outstanding performance over four years, carrying a ₹25 lakh cash prize.
- Dhyan Chand Award: Officially the Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games, established 2002, carrying a ₹10 lakh cash prize.
- Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium: The National Stadium, New Delhi, was renamed in his honour in 2002.
Honors Bestowed on Him
- Padma Bhushan: Conferred in 1956 — India’s third-highest civilian honour.
- Commemorative postage stamp: Issued by the Indian Postal Service in 1980, making him the only Indian hockey player with a stamp in his honour.
- The Vienna statue: Residents of Vienna, Austria, erected a statue depicting him with four hands and four sticks.
- Adolf Hitler’s offer: After his performance in the 1936 Berlin Olympics final, Adolf Hitler offered him a position in the German Army, which he declined.
- AMU and London recognitions: A hostel at Aligarh Muslim University and an Astroturf pitch at the Indian Gymkhana Club, London, are named after him.
- Gem of India: Awarded posthumously in 2012 by the Journalist Association of India, received by his son, Olympian Ashok Dhyan Chand.
The Bharat Ratna Question
- 2013 recommendation: Then Sports Minister recommended his name; the PMO instead chose Sachin Tendulkar (first sportsperson to receive it) and scientist C.N.R. Rao.
- Renewed demands: Figures such as former captain Dilip Tirkey have raised the demand in Parliament for the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, to be conferred on him.
Conclusion
Major Dhyan Chand’s three consecutive Olympic golds and 400-plus international goals established him as independent India’s most decorated hockey icon, commemorated through National Sports Day, the Khel Ratna, and the National Stadium. Even after his demise he remains a man of glory and inspiration to the nation
| This concept has been elaborately discussed in the following article — National Sports Day: Nation Pays Tribute to Major Dhyan Chand |
