GOAL!

Autobiography of Hockey Wizard Dhyan Chand
Published by Sport & Pastime, Chennai, 1952

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In Memorium				Jaffar was very fond of duck shooting. Shortly after his return from Berlin, he went off to engage in his favourite pastime. Somewhere between Lahore and Amritsar is a big lake. While trying to retrieve a dead duck, he got entangled in the weeds and met a watery end. My unit was in Punjab for some time. During movements, I had many occasions to pass through the road near that lake. Every time, I could not help recall this tragic incident.
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efore I start narrating the exploits of the Indian team in Los Angeles, and the subsequent round-the-world tour, I want to mention an entirely personal matter. I have before me a photograph of the 1932 Olympic team, and as I look at it, it makes me very sad. Two of the members - Syed Mohammad Jaffar and Masud Minhas - are no more, having passed away at a very young age.

Jaffar, who also participated in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, was a Punjab civilian. He was very fond of duck shooting. Shortly after his return from Berlin, he went off to engage in his favourite pastime. Somewhere between Lahore and Amritsar is a big lake. While trying to retrieve a dead duck, he got entangled in the weeds and met a watery grave.

My unit was in Punjab for some time, and during movements, I had many occasions to pass through the road running nearby that lake. Every time, I could not help recall how a young life was tragically cut short.

The second was Masud Minhas, our right half-back. After his return from Los Angeles, Masud joined the Calcutta Customs, but his job was short-lived. He fell a victim to tuberculosis, and had to enter the Tambaram sanatorium near Chennai.

In 1935, when I accompanied the team to New Zealand and Australia, we passed through Chennai on our way to Colombo from where we had to sail. Whilst I was sitting in the lounge at Bosotto's in Chennai, I was surprised to see a forlorn figure, leaning heavily on a cane, slowly walk towards me and hail me by name.

It was Masud, and it took me a while to recognise him. His ailment had advanced so much that he was looking as pale as a ghost. I felt awfully sad at Masud's fate. Later on I learnt that he had passed away. If only he had been alive and healthy, I have no doubt he would have accompanied me in later tours.

Advertisement for the 1932 Olympic Games in the Saturday Evening Post