LIFE AND LIES #31 | For Name Sake

Dear Modi Ji,

Thanks for the honour. It feels great to know that even after all these years, my achievements are brought to the fore and regarded in such a manner. Though, I feel you shouldn't have taken the trouble. I, anyway, receive a lot of love when everyone celebrates National Sports Day on my birthday. Now by renaming an award that was formerly dedicated to an erstwhile PM, you have dragged me into something I was never interested in. Politics. As usual, the tirade will follow. Congress lamenting: WHY? Your party commenting: WHY NOT? Amidst all this, the men and women who have done nothing but strive for success, who rarely receive the limelight will recede in shadows once again. Someone as competent as you must have seen this coming for I'm sure this wasn't deliberate. You had your heart in the right place and you just wanted to honour me. But this honour that you bestow on me is also accompanied by a sadness, a realisation that in light of our recent achievement, you couldn't think of any other hockey player to honour. Did you fall short of names? If yes, then why?

What these men and women have achieved is remarkable. But, it's just a start. Bronze is not something you aim for, it's something you settle for. I have won Gold. I want Gold. India wants Gold. These men and women want Gold. And if it takes another four years to achieve that, so be it. We'll work for it.

All I want to ask you is: What are you going to do about it?

Regards,

Major Dhyan Chand

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