Madam President,
As I pen this letter, my heart brims with reverence and hope. Major Major Dhyan Chand ’s story is not just history; it is the lifeblood of every Indian who has ever dreamed of transcending limitations. It is the quiet pulse of a nation that, even in its darkest hours, found in him a reason to believe, to stand tall, and to stride forward.
I write to you not just as a columnist, a poet, or a chronicler of our nation’s achievements, but as a citizen humbled by the magnitude of Major Dhyan Chand ’s legacy. I write as someone who believes in the India he envisioned through his brilliance—an India that rises above challenges, that celebrates its heroes, and that never forgets its roots.
In the chronicles of this vast and venerable land, there exist few names that ring as true and pure as that of Major Dhyan Chand. Much like the eternal flame at Rajghat, a solemn tribute to the Father of the Nation, the legacy of Major Dhyan Chand burns brightly and unyields to the winds of time.
It is a flame that not only illuminates the annals of Indian hockey but also serves as a beacon of inspiration and casts its warm light upon generations yet to come. To let this flame flicker or fade would be an abdication of our duty to remember, to celebrate, and to honour.
Madam President,
It is a truth most grievous that, despite his deeds shining brighter than a thousand stars in the firmament of our sporting history, Major Dhyan Chand yet waits for the honour most befitting his unparalleled legacy—the Bharat Ratna.
His achievements, spanning over two decades, include three Olympic gold medals in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles), and 1936 (Berlin), alongside a gold medal at the 1934 Western Asiatic Games in Delhi.
A curious oversight, this, as though the sands of time have conspired to shroud his worth. Yet, we must not let the hand of fate, unkind and capricious, dictate his remembrance. For if ever a man deserved the laurel wreath of eternal renown, it is he.
In the days of yore when India lay shackled by the yoke of foreign dominion, the stick of Major Dhyan Chand became a sceptre of defiance. On the hallowed grounds of the Olympic Games, he led the charge like a knight of old, his every move a rallying cry for a nation yearning to reclaim its dignity.
He played not merely for gold but for the soul of India herself, proving to the world that our spirit, though bowed, could never be broken.
It was said that his feats on the field beggared belief, his stick a wand, and he the magician. The ball, it seemed, obeyed his every whim, and defenders fell before him as autumn leaves before the wind.
Indeed, his very name struck fear into the hearts of adversaries, and yet it kindled a fire of pride within the breast of every Indian. Were his life’s work to be weighed against the treasures of kings, it would tip the scales without effort.
To delay his recognition any longer is to trifle with the sands of history, to let slip through our fingers the chance to honour a man whose shadow looms large over the annals of time. For as surely as the rivers carve their course to the sea, so too does justice find its way, albeit oft belatedly.
Yet, as we contemplate the towering legacy of Major Dhyan Chand , it is not merely his mastery on the field that demands our recognition. It is the broader resonance of his achievements—their ability to transcend the bounds of sport and embody the aspirations of a nation.
His story is not one of individual glory alone but of a collective awakening, a testament to what a resolute spirit can achieve even in the face of adversity.
This is where the conversation about the Bharat Ratna takes on a deeper significance. Majoy Dhyan Chand, who served both the British Indian Army and later the Indian Army exemplified the very ethos of selfless service and excellence.
For in honouring Major Dhyan Chand, we are not merely celebrating an individual; we are paying tribute to an era of dreams, determination, and dignity. His name is more than a reminder of a golden age in Indian hockey; it is an invocation of values that define the very essence of our nationhood.
Madam President,
Humanity, in its essence, is a social animal, drawn inexorably to the warmth of community and the balm of shared purpose. In this theatre of life, recognition acts as both salve and spur—a mark of acceptance, an affirmation of one’s worth in the eyes of the world. It is no mere trifle, for even the ancients knew that a laurel wreath upon the brow could stir the heart more deeply than gold or gemstone.
From the halls of social psychology, it is well espoused: the act of acknowledgment, of applause from one’s peers, releases in the soul a cascade of joy, as sure and as steady as the river flowing to the sea. A simple “like,” a heartfelt comment—these, though transient, bring cheer; how much more, then, does a nation’s gratitude, expressed through its highest honours, elevate the spirit?
Among these pinnacles of recognition, the Bharat Ratna shines brightest—a jewel of unparalleled lustre, bestowed sparingly and with solemnity. It is more than a mere award; it is a nation’s most hallowed whisper of reverence, a testament to contributions so profound that they shape the very identity of India herself.
Yet, as we speak of such immortal glories, a question arises: how many of us, dwelling in the clamorous rush of modernity, can name even ten Bharat Ratna awardees? I daresay the number is woefully small.
Indeed, in the teeming multitude of India’s population, few are those who bear the names of these luminaries in their hearts. The swift currents of social media, with its relentless tide of information, have made remembering an arduous affair, a feat akin to holding water in one’s hands.
But herein lies the rub—among those whose names endure, who are recalled even amidst this storm of forgetfulness, are the ones who have left an indelible imprint on the collective conscience. And is this not the true measure of greatness? To live on in memory, long after the mortal frame has returned to dust, is a feat far greater than any temporal accolade.
This, then, brings us back to Major Dhyan Chand —the magician of hockey, the colossus who strode the sporting arena with grace and might unmatched. His greatness was never in pursuit of reward, for he played not for the Bharat Ratna, nor for gold, but for the joy of the game and the honour of his motherland. Like a true karmayogi, his work was its own reward, selfless and steadfast, yet it is this very purity of purpose that renders him most deserving of the nation’s highest recognition.
We are all, in our own way, seekers of meaning, striving to leave behind a trace, a legacy that whispers, “I was here.” Yet, the Bharat Ratna is not given for such striving alone—it is reserved for those whose lives have not only enriched themselves but ennobled the lives of countless others. Its recipients are not seekers of glory but its quiet custodians, their work imbued with the rare virtue of selflessness.
As the nation debates who among its many greats should next receive this honour, let us remember the words of the poet, who said, “The light of a single candle can illuminate the darkest night.”
Major Dhyan Chand , with his singular brilliance, not only illuminated the field of hockey but also kindled the spirit of a nation yearning for freedom and dignity.
In contemplating Major Dhyan Chand ’s unparalleled contributions, it is apt to liken his artistry on the hockey field to the timeless works of India’s illustrious painters. Much like Raja Ravi Varma, who immortalized mythological epics on canvas with his brush as a wand, and Sailoz Mookherjea, who captured fleeting emotions in bold, fluid strokes, Major Dhyan Chand transformed his medium—the hockey turf—into a vessel of transcendent beauty.
His strokes, not with paint but with the deft movements of his stick, rendered matches into masterpieces, leaving audiences awestruck by his creative genius.
While Ravi Varma articulated India’s cultural identity through his mythological masterpieces and Mookherjea revolutionized modern Indian art, Major Dhyan Chand forged a legacy that carved Indian hockey’s name into the annals of world sport.
Just as the canvases of these painters hang in galleries as national treasures, Major Dhyan Chand ’s brilliance resides in the hearts of every Indian, his artistry a symbol of excellence and pride. To honour him with the Bharat Ratna would be to acknowledge his place among these creators of India’s cultural and sporting heritage—recognition long overdue.
Madam President,
I implore you to consider this plea not as a demand but as a heartfelt request. Bestowing the Bharat Ratna upon Major Dhyan Chand would not only honour the man but also rekindle a spirit of national pride and unity. And, in doing so, we will be immortalizing a man whose legacy is etched not only in the annals of Indian hockey but also in the collective consciousness of the nation
I leave this letter in your hands, and trust in the wisdom and grace with which you steer our nation. To honour Major Dhyan Chand is to light a torch for the generations to come, illuminating a path of perseverance, artistry, and unwavering commitment to one’s purpose. Let us keep this flame alive, brighter than ever, as a symbol of what we, as a nation, hold dear.
Yours sincerely,
Ravi Teja Mandapaka.
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