Beginning as a hockey player:

According to popular accounts, Dhyan Chand expressed his desire to play hockey to Bale Tiwari, the Subedar of his battalion. Bale Tiwari cooperated and gave training to Dhyan Chand. Within no time, Dhyan Chand became the best hockey player of the battalion. It was 1926 when the army sought to send a hockey team to New Zealand, prompting the search for the right players. Ultimately, they chose Dhyan Chand as one of them. This was the turning point of Dhyan Chand’s life.

India’s unparalleled success in the New Zealand matches was a testament to the incredible talent of Major Dhyan Chand. His remarkable feat of scoring 100 out of 192 goals is a feat that will not soon be forgotten. The 121 matches played in New Zealand were a showcase for India’s immense potential, with 118 victories and only 3 losses. Major Dhyan Chand’s contribution to this success is unrivaled, and his legacy as one of the greatest hockey players of all time will long live on.

Hockey Magician:

At the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, Dhyan Chand was part of the Indian team. Unfortunately, the Hockey Association lacked the funds to support them, however Bengal Hockey Association stepped forward and offered financial aid. When the team playing on loan earned the world championship title, they were talked about in foreign newspapers as having done something like a “magic” – hence Dhyan Chand became known as the “Magician of Hockey”. Words such as ‘magic’, ‘magician’, and ‘magic stick’ were used to describe his accomplishments.

Questions raised on hockey stick:

Dhyan Chand’s brilliant performance in Holland in 1928 raised many eyebrows, including from the opposing team. His hockey stick was thoroughly examined to make sure there were no magnets attached and it was eventually determined to be a normal stick. When the ball came close to Dhyan Chand, his stick had an uncanny ability to guide it straight into the goal without any need of dribbling. He was able to score from any angle with finesse.

Meeting Hitler and turning down an offer to play from Germany:

The Olympiad of 1936 is primarily remembered for the unplanned meeting between Indian captain, Dhyan Chand and Hitler. While the Indian team striving for success was greatly appreciated, it was overshadowed by this momentous event. It was the first Olympics to be televised. This was the era of Hitler. On 15th August, India and Germany faced each other in a match. Unfortunately, Dhyan Chand suffered an injury to his teeth during the game and stayed outside the field for a while but then returned. Stayed outside the field for a while but then returned. Shortly afterwards, a goal was scored quickly. India defeated Germany by an impressive score of 8-1. Reports suggest that Hitler left the field during the match following this result. Later, when Dhyan Chand received his medal at the Olympics in front of Hitler, he was astounded by his skill and impressed with him. Dhyan Chand was offered the position of General in his army, but he declined it. Additionally, he refused to discuss the possibility of playing hockey with a German team.

Dhyan Chand acquired the name “Chand” from the moon:

Dhyan Chand’s practice sessions under the moonlight at night left his teammates astonished. Witnessing his immense dedication and relentless efforts, the word “Chand” was incorporated into his name, eventually giving rise to the renowned name “Dhyan Chand.”

Dhyan Chand’s last moments:

They say that the true measure of a person’s achievements becomes apparent on their final day. In this regard, Dhyan Chand truly exemplified this notion during his last journey, as nearly 1 lakh people gathered in the small district of Jhansi. Despite the opposition from the police, his last rites were conducted at the stadium, necessitating the intervention of the army. Prior to his cremation, hockey sticks and balls were placed upon his body as a tribute.