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Kishen Karve, the lonely Hockey warrior from Gujarat, is no more. He passed away recently, after being briefly ill in Ahmedabad at the age of 84. I had met him several times last year while trying to do my own research on why the Indian sports were lagging behind in most international meets. My aim was to compile suggestions and publish a layman’s report either in the print or digital form. “Mama” (uncle), as he was fondly called by his pupils, friends and well wishers, had warned me against going with this exercise. “You won’t reach anywhere doing it,” he quipped. “Many dreamt of changing this whole system, but nobody could even move a single pebble. Better do something worthwhile, and earn money. Don’t try to peep inside a messed up world”

And most other people I had spoken around him carried similar views; these included the ex-Ranji cricket players and the cricket, hockey and tennis coaches from Gujarat. Karve was speaking based on his experiences of the last six decades in hockey, most of which revolved around the Gujarat College Hockey Ground in Ahmedabad. He would drop early in the morning there, clean and trim the grass around, provide tips to the young budding students, and leave very late in the evening. He had seen the transformation of the Indian hockey and society both over last few deacdes. Having learned the basics of hockey from the famed duo of Dhyan Chand and Manna Singh, Karve was one of the last surviving links from that golden era.

Before he could be selected for the national side, Karve started coaching the Gujarat boys and girls, after Manna Singh had asked him to do so. He lived bachelor the whole life, and never accepted any salary from the Gujarat College authorities. Thousands from Gujarat got trained in hockey during all these years. He had numerous tales, some depicting the glory of the past era, and others telling the abject disregard that India had for its own budding talents (read an example here) .

On being asked about what ailed the Indian sports, his eyes would flicker in anger and frustration, his hands would start shaking as if one had opened up Pandora’s box. He would tell numerous stories, but also add in the end, “you shouldn’t have asked this. My mind starts flaring up with the events of the bygone. I have been through it (hockey’s downfall) and don’t want to live it again.”

Some termed him as a lonely, frustrated figure. Those others, who had seen him closely, would hail him up. I was somewhat shocked, amused and surprised at his dedication towards the game of hockey. I never carried on with my personal research thereafter. Suddenly, his death was reported in the local print media some days ago. I write this post with a sad and guilty conscience. Sad, for having lost such a devoted hockey freak from India, and guilty, for not having taken up with my writing on the Indian sports after having interviewed him…it just proved how lazy, selfish and ignorant I was like others that Mama had spoken me of earlier!

Read the same story here as well.