On Sunday;At New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar,as many as 100 former hockey players and former hockey federation members staged a protest, wanting Bharat Ratna for famous hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
According to the Ashok Kumar, son of the legendary player said, “His father was inspiration for a number of players who won Arjuna award, Padma award and Khel Ratna. He said, the person who inspired others with his performance has been rejected”
The former players incorporated former captains Ajitpal Singh, Zafar Iqbal, Dilip Tirkey and Mukesh Kumar. Member of Parliament Dilip Tirkey said, it is a shame that they have to demand Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand whose contribution is not just limited to Indian hockey but to the world.
However, Zafar Iqbal said, “Dhyan Chand has been an inspiration to many and is no less than Muhammed Ali in Boxing, Pele in Football and Don Bradman in Cricket.”
Well-known sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik also offered an artwork on the occasion to support the demand.