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By Paritosh Pramanik
BETUL, Mar 16
IF BETUL is searched on Google one is guided to a small district in the southern part of Madhya Pradesh. The 2001 census (as per Google) shows a thin population of around 83,000. But a few die-hard hockey lovers of this nondescript place did something unthinkable, unimaginable, something which no one did in India.
To celebrate 38 years of hockey World Cup win, Hemant Dubey, in support with Pratidhwani Sanstha and Kantishiva Theatre, procured a CD of the final match between India and Pakistan played at Malaysia on March 15, 1975. They invited members of that gold-winning Indian team and showed them the entire match on 70mm screen making it a ‘Friday Blockbuster’.
Ashok Kumar, Aslam Sher Khan, Onkar Singh, BP Govinda, Ashok Diwan, Leslie Fernandes and VJ Phillips made it a point to celebrate the triumph by reaching Betul and they watched the ‘First Day First Show’. The icing on the cake was added by Afaque Ahmed, a railway employee from Jhansi and a commentator, who added Hindi commentary of the match a day before it was shown. The match CD had Malaysian commentary but the young Afaque did the commentary as if it was done live, 38 years ago.
Not a single member, present in the hall, had ever seen the recording of that match ever. They might be remembering every second of that 70-minute epic final and might have narrated them on ‘n’ number of times, to media, to friends and to players. But never in their life, for 38 long years, they got a chance to witness how they played, how they tackled, how they dribbled, and above all…how they celebrated the triumph on that hot and humid day at Kuala Lumpur stadium. “It is something unique. It’s (the CD) a treasure....priceless,” said Ashok Kumar while talking with ‘The Hitavada’.
Some 2000-odd spectators, along with hockey stars, present at Kantishiva Cinema Hall were taken 38 years back in Malaysia where our hockey heroes turned lucky, on third attempt, winning the trophy after missing the gold at 1971 (bronze) and 1973 (silver) World Cups. The 70-minute ‘Friday Blockbuster’ at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ brought tears of joy, not only to the eyes of players but also to those who were not even born, and who had only heard about that historic triumph.
It was as if sitting in a Time Machine, going several years back. The match was recorded in black and white. Those were the days where wooden goal posts were used and matches were played on ‘chat’ or lawn grounds with white balls. The sticks were less curved at the bottom and had wide blades.
All the ‘young’ players looked smart in creased shirts and knickers. A slim goal-keeper Ashok Diwan’s thin legs were covered with caned pads with cotton kickers stitched along, the hand gloves were barely helpful to save his palm and fingers. No helmets, no chest guard, no thigh pant and no elbow guards. The protection was limited to bare minimum. he present bald BP Govinda looked the most handsome of all with stylish hairstyle. So did defender Aslam Sher Khan, tall, smart and fair. Captain Ajitpal Singh, VJ Phillips, Ashok Kumar, Shivaji Pawar and all others looked fit as fiddle. All the players sat in the middle row amidst public to see the match. At times, they felt embarrassed when were tackled. But on most of the occasions, their chest grew wider when they saw themselves beating a Pakistani player.
The entire match was fast-paced, a rarity now-a-days. Even after 38 years, that match had a gripping effect on those present in hall. BP Govinda and Ashok Kumar were simply outstanding in the centre. Watching them dribbling, passing with a tap and running at an unimaginable speed was a treat to watch. They were the two who made most of the threatening moves.
Ajitpal Singh looked robust and hard worker who ran front to help forwards Shivaji Pawar, VJ Phillips and others and at the same time was quick to support Aslam Sher Khan and Surjit Singh in defence clearing the ball with his long reach.
Aslam Sher Khan clearly was the best defender of the match, thwarting Pakistan forwards’ moves several times. On Friday, Aslam Sher Khan, sitting besides Ashok Kumar, nodded in dejection when Mohd Zahid scored from the left to put Pakistan ahead in the first half.
But the smiles were back when their team-mate Surjit Singh converted a penalty corner. They all gestured in appreciation after Surjit’s cracking hit stormed into the board as scores read 1-1.
However, the best shot of the ‘movie’ was when Ashok Kumar got a pat on his shoulder from Aslam Sher Khan and shook hands after Kumar had pushed the ball across the goal line off a melee to put India ahead (2-1)!
For the first time spectators saw how Ashok Kumar celebrated his goal. Immediately after scoring, he ran towards India’s half. Defender Surjit Singh kissed him and so did Shivaji Pawar while captain Ajitpal Singh hugged him, with a sigh of relief. Ashok Kumar, wearing jersey number 17, raised his hands heaven wards as cameras got locked on him to capture the defining moment. The son of hockey legend Dhyanchand took a short but fast stroll on the field moving forward and returning back like a triumphant tiger after killing his prey.
The hall reverberated with ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ even though there were still several minutes left in the match. They were aware of the result. In the dying minutes ’keeper Ashok Diwan invited a huge applause when he made a daring save advancing and stopping Pakistan’s Akhtar Rasool’s hit from right with those bare minimum protective gears.
Indian supporters ran onto the field as umpire blew the final hooter. The 1975 heroes wiped their misty eyes and the hall echoed with applause which was followed by a long felicitation function where the players received one of the prized and most sought gift—the final match CDs.
Harendra Singh, Olympians, Jalaluddin Rizvi, Jamsher, Mukhbain SIngh, Deepak James, Yusuf were also felicitated.
A silent cinema hall
THE Kantishiva Cinema Hall in Betul turned into an ‘indoor hockey stadium’ where the 1975 World Cup final between India and Pakistan was replayed. The atmosphere was unlike any movie hall as every one present there, players, women and kids, watched the history-making game with pin-drop silence. The usual comments during a movie were eschewed as the excited lot kept glued to then fascinating action. The mobile phones too were silent, a complete rarity! Mobile lights did go on but it was only to click glimpses of the match on screen. It was one film that was to be savoured for eternity. —Paritosh Pramanik
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INDIA’S FINAL XI (WITH JERSEY NUMBERS):
Ashok Diwan-2 (goal-keeper), Aslam Sher Khan-5, Surjeet Singh-4, Varinder Singh-6, Ajitpal Singh-7, (captain), Mohinder Singh-8, VJ Phillips-10, Ashok Kumar-17, S R Pawa-16, B P Govinda-11, Harcharan Singh-15.
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