Every August 29th, the entire country remembers the hockey player nicknamed the 'wizard of hockey,' who once raised the Indian flag on the world stage. Every goal he scored with his stick on the field wrote a new chapter in the history of Indian sports. The Indian flag was raised three times at the Olympics, and the whole world called him the wizard of hockey. Today, the country's highest sporting award is named after him, and his day is celebrated as National Sports Day; however, there remains an unspoken regret: this player, who brought recognition to India globally, has still not been presented with the nation's highest civilian honor—the 'Bharat Ratna.'
The demands for Dhyan Chand, known as Dadad, to be awarded the nation's highest civilian honor are not new. This appeal has been voiced on various platforms, from athletes to parliamentarians. Protests took place at Jantar Mantar, the issue was raised in Parliament, a petition signed by over 100 MPs was submitted, and a recommendation was sent to the government. Nevertheless, despite all efforts, Dhyan Chand's name has not made it into the list of Bharat Ratna recipients.
Dhyan Chand's main contribution was not just in his goals or medals. He elevated Indian hockey to the world stage when India's recognition on the international sporting arena was not yet established. Thanks to his outstanding skills, the Indian team won three consecutive gold medals at the Olympics in Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932), and Berlin (1936). His ability to control the ball and score goals earned him the title 'wizard of hockey.' In 185 matches, Dhyan Chand scored 570 goals, which testifies to his dominance.
In 2021, the central government renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Award to the Major Dhyan Chand Sports Award, linking his legacy to the nation's highest sporting honor. However, this decision raised another question that was actively debated: if the country's highest sporting award can be named after Dhyan Chand, why has he not been given the 'Bharat Ratna'? This question has long been asked by many hockey veterans.
Dilip Tirkey, the current president of Hockey India and a three-time Olympian, led the campaign for Dhyan Chand's 'Bharat Ratna' at Jantar Mantar in 2016, which involved many former Olympians. Later, he raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha. He submitted a petition to the government signed by over 100 MPs, urging that Dhyan Chand be awarded the 'Bharat Ratna.' His argument was that the contribution of a player who brought global recognition to India in hockey should be recognized with the nation's highest civilian award. Famous sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik also supported Dhyan Chand, creating sand art demanding his 'Bharat Ratna' award.
The 'Bharat Ratna' was instituted in 1954, and the initial rules limited this award to fields of art, literature, science, and public service. Changes were made to the rules in December 2011, expanding the scope to include 'any human endeavor.' Following this, the path opened for athletes to receive the 'Bharat Ratna.' Immediately after this, in December 2011, the Indian Hockey Federation submitted a recommendation for Dhyan Chand to the central government.
In 2013, great cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was conferred the 'Bharat Ratna' and became the first and so far only athlete to receive this award. Supporters of Dhyan Chand often cite this fact, questioning why Dhyan Chand, whose merits formed the foundation of Indian sports, was overlooked when the decision to award the 'Bharat Ratna' in sports was made. In 2014, then Home Minister Kiran Rijiju stated in the Lok Sabha that the Ministry of Home Affairs had also recommended Dhyan Chand, but he never received the award.
Dhyan Chand's son, Ashok Dhyan Chand, played for the Indian national team that won the Hockey World Cup in 1975. Ashok spoke about his father's character, noting that he never sought any award himself. According to Ashok, the family faced financial difficulties, and there was even a thought of applying to the state gas company, but Dhyan Chand refused to sign it. He believed that what he did for the country should be decided by the government itself. He did not believe in asking for an award or any favor from anyone. This is why the demand for the 'Bharat Ratna' for Dhyan Chand is not just a request for an award, but an attempt to officially immortalize his legacy.
Demands for Dhyan Chand to be awarded the 'Bharat Ratna' have been put forward during different administrations. In 2013, a delegation led by great cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi reiterated this demand during a meeting with the then Sports Minister. The protest at Jantar Mantar in 2016 became a major public expression of this campaign. Despite all these efforts, the decision was not made in favor of Dhyan Chand. Meanwhile, many other personalities have been awarded the 'Bharat Ratna,' and the list of laureates continues to grow, but the name of the 'wizard of hockey' has not appeared in it.