Yogi immortalises his Master

Sunny Kaul

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 13

“Whatever I have achieved in my life, it is because of him,” this is how London Olympics bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt remembered his first guru, Master Satbir Singh, as he unveiled his bust at his native village of Bainswal Kalan near Sonepat today.

Satbir Singh, who passed away on July 18 last year, when his most famous ward was preparing to leave for the Rio Olympics, played an instrumental role in building Yogeshwar into a world-class grappler.  

“It was he who initiated me into wrestling. I remember I was four-five years old when I first went to him and he told me to be regular at the akhara. I started wrestling under his tutelage, he was my first guru,” Yogeshwar told The Tribune. “When he passed away on July 18 last year, I performed his last rites at a piece of land owned by me and I had this idea in my mind that I would install his statue at this place and unveil it on his birthday — April 13. And with the grace of God, I have been able to do that today,” Yogeshwar said. Yogeshwar had a disappointing finish at the Rio Games as he bowed out in the first round of the 65kg freestyle event, and he missed being greeted by Satbir Singh on his return.

“Whether I used to win or lose, he was always there for me. Whenever I used to go for any tournament he would come to drop me to the airport and then was there to receive me when I returned,” Yogeshwar said when asked how his guru felt when he had returned with a bronze medal in the London Olympics.

“He had a lot of faith in me even when I was very young and used to tell everyone that I would become a great wrestler one day,” he said.

Yogeshwar said that Satbir Singh was a well-known folk singer too, and thus a ragini (Haryanvi folk music) competition was also held today.

“He used to sing Haryanvi ragini. He was a physical instructor by profession and also used to sing, besides running the akhara,” said Yogeshwar.