The Golden years

The Anglo Indian was not just a pioneer in the field of railway administration, he was also the frontrunner for the game of field hockey. While “hockey” can be traced to ancient civilisations, the modern game was developed and codified from the 1850s onwards. A British construct, the game was exported to the colonies, where it took root, especially in India and Pakistan. When it became an Olympic sport, in the year 1908, it did not establish itself. That happened only in 1928, and for a long time, the British Indian team lapped up all the honours. The team comprised 8 Anglo Indian players, including Vice-Captain Broome Eric Penniger and the unbeatable goalkeeper, Richard J. Allen. Incidentally, the Manager of the team was also an Anglo Indian, A B Rosser. The team won all of its 5 matches, scoring 29 goals and conceding none! If that isn’t unique, I don’t know what is. The 1932 Olympics saw 8 Anglo Indians in the team again, but the whole world was mesmerised by the artistry of Dhyan Chand and Roop Singh, who hammered Japan and the US into total submission. Noteworthy names include Dickie Carr and Carlyle Tapsell.

Richard J Allen was back as goalkeeper in the 1936 Berlin games, and was unfortunate to concede a lone goal, to Germany, in the final. India won 7-1, proving that skill, provided by Dhyan Chand and others, would always triumph over brawn. Joe Galibardy, Carlyle Tapsell and Lionel Emmett are other noteworthy names.

Then, after Hitler’s horrendous war, came the London Olympics of 1948. Independent India had lost many a hockey stalwart to immigration., but all was not lost. Under captain Kishan Lal, the team was solid, with the likes of Leslie Claudius, Patrick Jansen, Laurie Fernandes and Reginald Rodrigues providing cover and support. India won, the scoreline read 4-0, and after the final whistle, India’s first High Commissioner to Great Britain, Mr. V. K. Krishna Menon, ran on to the playing field to congratulate the team and to commemorate the country’s first Olympic gold medal. Unique in every way, don’t you think?

Unfortunately, women’s hockey made its way to the Olympics only in the truncated 1980 Moscow games. The women’s team has not had the success that their male counterparts have had, but the sport is very popular among our women. In fact, when I was just beginning my hockey journey, I remember being encouraged by a relative of mine, a bustling, lightning quick forward in the women’s game. And, after I had almost hung up my boots, another cousin was creating news with her prowess under the bar. Today, perhaps, the stigma of old has gone, and more and more young women are now taking to the sport. For a buff like me, that is a good sign and certainly the way forward.

I had my tryst with hockey in 1975. I was selected to represent the Madras University in that year, and I was proud that all my hard work had finally paid off. I had captained 2 College teams in Trichy, had been selected for the Tamil Nadu Combined District’s team, but to be a University Blue was the ultimate. Along the way I played, for and against, some guys who made the national level, but that was, I confess, beyond my league. I’m happy to have done so much during my student days. Not unique, I’m sure, but more than enough for me.

More about the greats of the past in my future blogs. There’s still so much to write about.