: India is not for sale: Ex-hockey coach recalls Dhyanchands response to Hitler #IndiaNEWS #Hockey New Delhi, Aug 10 | The date August 15 holds a great significance for every Indian around the world

India is not for sale: Ex-hockey coach recalls Dhyanchands response to Hitler #IndiaNEWS #Hockey
New Delhi, Aug 10 | The date August 15 holds a great significance for every Indian around the world but 11 years before that day in 1947, the Indian flag flew highest in another part of the world Germany. At the 1936 Olympics, the players of the Indian hockey team were creating an unbelievable sort of frenzy around them, courtesy of their performances in front of packed arenas of Berlin.
France felt the brunt of Indias might in the semi-final, especially from Major Dhyanchand, who scored four of teams 10 goals to completely annihilate the European powerhouse. The stage was now set for India to take on hosts Germany on August 15. However, the mood inside the Indian camp wasnt that of excitement but of fear and anxiety. The reason being Adolf Hitler who was scheduled to watch the final along with more than 40,000 Germans.
Come the fateful day, Dhyanchand ran riot in front of the fuhrer, and what followed next holds much more importance that just an Olympic gold.
It was Dada Dhyanchand, called the wizard of hockey, who in 1936 Berlin Olympics had scored six goals against Germans as India had won 8-1. Hitler had saluted Dada Dhyanchand as he offered him to join the German Army, former India hockey coach Saiyed Ali Sibtain Naqvi told IANS.
It was during the prize distribution ceremony and Dada was silent for a few seconds, even the packed stadium went completely silent and feared that if Dhyanchand refused the offer then the dictator might shoot him. Dada had narrated this to me that he replied to Hitler with closed eyes but in a bold voice of an Indian soldier that India is not for sale.
To the utter surprise of the entire stadium, Hitler saluted him, instead of shaking his hand and said, German nation salutes you for the love of your country India and your nationalism. His title of Wizard of Hockey was also conferred by Hitler. Such players are born rarely in centuries, he added.
Naqvi also gave an insight into what differences he finds in hockey of yesteryear in comparison to contemporary times. India is still longing to recreate their age old performance, especially in the Olympics, and while there have been some encouraging displays, the gulf in class between the two different generational teams is clearly apparent.
The Indian team at present is being trained and coached by European and Australians and now are playing in the European style. They have changed the entire concept of artistic hockey and mainly concentrate on physical fitness, said Naqvi, who also coached the womens team at 1978 Womens World Cup in Madrid.
The Australian coaches try to teach them a combination of European and Indian style which is why they are successful.

Stock Market NEWS Best intraday tips Intraday Stocks below 100