The Golden Hat-Trick

The Autobiography of Balbir Singh (Senior)
By Samuel Banerjee, Vikas Publishers, 1977

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Off to Melbourne				My father Dalip Singh was a freedom fighter. He had wasted the best years of his life in jails, the longest being the one and a half year term in Mianwali Jail (now in Pakistan). He wrote to me, "You will not play for yourself but for your country. Keep the honour of the National Flag. I have sacrificed my entire career at the altar of 'Bharat Mata'. I have never in my life done anything that would tarnish the image of India."
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n my room at the Olympic village, I quietly opened my suitcase and read the letter my father had written to me on the eve of my departure for Melbourne. My father Dalip Singh was a freedom fighter. He had wasted the best years of his life in jails, the longest being the one and a half year term in Mianwali Jail (now in Pakistan).

His letter, in Urdu, was full of chaste counsel. It is one of those rare documents that I still possess and read in moments of despair. It read:

Dear Balbir,

Sat Sri Akal. As captain of your team, you will have to be extremely cautious

1. You must never be arrogant. Arrogance is a disease. Everyone has the right to have a certain amount of pride, but not arrogance.
2. It could be likely that some members of the team will be jealous of you. You must treat them with kindness and give them full justice.
3. On account of your brilliance, teams of various countries will be itching to pull you down. You will have to be very careful and guard against injuries.
4. You should be friendly with everyone.
5. You will not play for yourself but for your country. You will have to keep the honour of the National Flag. You will have to enhance India's prestige. I have sacrificed my entire career at the altar of 'Bharat Mata'. I have never in my life done anything that would tarnish the image of India.
6. You must score at the first available opportunity. Hockey is not a game for selfish players. You must never allow a good chance to go abegging.
7. You must always be calm and keep your presence of mind. Needless excitement will only spoil your judgment.
8. Alertness is the need of the hour.
9. You must always respect your well-wishers and be of help to them.
10. Every player must live in the atmosphere of mutual trust and friendship and play for the country. We in Moga are praying that India's hockey team wins another Olympic gold medal.

Photograph of Author