Stuff legends are made of

CK Nilon

Extraordinary feats are a prerequisite, but are legends made on the basis of achievements alone? To become a legend, a person must leave an indelible impact on those around. Balbir Singh Dosanjh (affectionately called ‘Senior)’ remains India’s greatest sportsperson and the world’s greatest hockey player, owing to his unparalled achievements and an Olympic record that still stands unbroken. Yet, to his golden image one may even add a ‘halo’, as he was one of those rare gems whose personality carried the values of humility, gentleness and simplicity.

I remember meeting him for the first time and being suffused with the warmth of his welcome. Having built the image of a great Olympic hero in my mind, and feeling dwarfed in awe of his stature, I was floored to meet a self-effacing person who simply smiled and said, ‘God was kind, my hockey stick was merely a medium to score goals to ensure India’s victory. The Tricolour must fly high.’

He took a keen interest in me as I was representing India in shooting at the time, and each time we met, he would bless me to bring glory to the country. But hockey remained his first love. I can’t forget those countless times we sat with him during hockey matches that he would avidly watch every time our team played. He knew all the players’ names and even discussed their strengths and weaknesses. This was a regular affair till a couple of years back, even at the ripe age of 94. His zeal to bring back the golden era of Indian hockey was palpable as was his quiet dismay at the sad state of affairs due to the politics that has crept into Indian sport, to which our national game is no exception. But I cannot recall even a single instance of him indulging in harsh criticism. It was always constructive advice which he would offer about maintaining personal ethics or playing with a blend of both technique and the zeal to win.

I also recall Sush aunty, his daughter and his parchhai, telling me that once when some journalists asked her mum what Balbir Singh’s kamaai was, she promised to show it to them. She rushed inside the house and came out with something in her hand. On her palm rested a few bare knotted threads — all which remained from the many garlands that people had graced him with after each victory. She had kept them safe, his ‘ultimate’ winnings. Today, these garlands still remain, but in the form of a devoted circle of friends and well-wishers, each of whom is treasured by them as ‘more than family’. Truly, a legendary legacy.

It is a very personal statement I make when I say that his greatest feats could perhaps only be over-shadowed by his greater personality. We ‘millennial’ sportspersons need to take this leaf out of the vast book of his life. Greatness and excellence describe not only his professional, but also his personal demeanour, which can perhaps be summed up best with these lines: ‘Hazaaron saal nargis apni benoori pe roti hai, badi mushkil se hota hai chaman mein deedawar paida.’

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