Pankaj Gupta
Encyclopedia
Pankaj Gupta was one of the earliest India
n sports administrators involved in football
, hockey
and cricket
. However, he gave his life for hockey, as a manager, administrator, and even a referee
. Many called him “Mr. Hockey”.
and graduated from Bangabasi College
of the University of Calcutta
. He made an entry into the administration of the Indian Football Association
, as a representative of Sporting Union club. In 1924, he was manager of the IFA team that went on a tour to Java
, then part of Dutch East Indies
and presently Indonesia
Starting with Los Angeles Olympic Games
in 1932, he was manager or coach of the Indian team or contingent to many sports events in Europe and America. He attended the World Football Congress twice as the Indian delegate, was manager of the Indian football team to Russia. and of the Indian cricket team visiting England in 1946 and 1952, and Australia in 1947-48. He toured Australia, New Zealand, and many countries of Europe and America with the Indian hockey team.
. The latter's actual name was Dhyan Singh. Gupta gave him the title of “Chand” or moon, and predicted that one day he would shine like a moon. So close were the two that when Jhansi Heroes went to Kolkata to participate in Beighton Cup
all the players put up in hotel, but Dhyan Chand stayed with Gupta. Dhyan Chand has narrated many stories about Gupta. Here is one about their drive through the Dutch countryside, “Pankaj Gupta took us for a drive through a small narrow village which lay on our way to Doorn. We saw Dutch women lining up the streets peddling fresh fish caught from the dykes. The Bengali that he was, Pankaj Gupta remarked that the sight reminded him very much of the villages in Bengal. These Dutch women in their colourful costumes and wooden shoes presented a typical rural Dutch scene.”
In the 1936 Olympic Games
at Berlin
, there was panic in the Indian team after a shock defeat by Germany in the trial matches. On the final day, when India met Germany again, Dhyan Chand recalls, “all of us were wondering as to what would be the result of the day. Never before had we ever doubted the issue of a game. Suddenly Pankaj Gupta produced a Congress Tricolour
. Reverently we saluted and prayed and marched onto the field.”
A crowd of 40,000, which included the Maharaja of Baroda
, the Princess of Bhopal
and a large number of Indians who had travelled from all over Europe, was present there to witness the final match. The vast crowd cheered as both teams entered the field. In contrast to the despondency of the Indians, the Germans appeared to have the feeling that they were up against an inferior side.
Dhyan Chand, who was not feeling well, was not playing. He was sitting on the sideline. At half-time interval, India led by a solitary goal. Dhyan Chand could not sit idle any more. He removed his shoes and took to the field. Bare-foot, he tore the German defence apart as India went on to score seven more goals in the second half. The final scoreline: India 8, Germany 1.
. He was Honorary Treasurer of the organisation in its year of inception and was president subsequently. He was instrumental in the founding of the National Cricket Club and the construction of the stadium at Eden Gardens
. He was made a MBE
in recognition of his contribution to sports administration.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n sports administrators involved in football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. However, he gave his life for hockey, as a manager, administrator, and even a referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
. Many called him “Mr. Hockey”.
Formative years
He studied Intermediate Arts at Sanskrit CollegeSanskrit College
Sanskrit College is a specialized state-government administered liberal arts college offering an undergraduate degree in Sanskrit language, Pali language, linguistics, and ancient Indian and world history. It is one of the affiliated colleges of the University of Calcutta. Founded on 1 January...
and graduated from Bangabasi College
Bangabasi College
Bangabasi College is a Kolkata based liberal arts, commerce and sciences college. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses of the University of Calcutta. It was founded by Acharya Girish Chandra Bose, the eminent educationist, social reformer and agriculturist in 1887...
of the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
. He made an entry into the administration of the Indian Football Association
Indian Football Association
The Indian Football Association , [abbreviated as IFA] is the organization that administers association football in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the oldest Football Association in India and was founded in 1893. Amongst the founders was former England international Elphinstone Jackson....
, as a representative of Sporting Union club. In 1924, he was manager of the IFA team that went on a tour to Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, then part of Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
and presently Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
Starting with Los Angeles Olympic Games
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
in 1932, he was manager or coach of the Indian team or contingent to many sports events in Europe and America. He attended the World Football Congress twice as the Indian delegate, was manager of the Indian football team to Russia. and of the Indian cricket team visiting England in 1946 and 1952, and Australia in 1947-48. He toured Australia, New Zealand, and many countries of Europe and America with the Indian hockey team.
Link with Dhyan Chand
Gupta was the first coach of the legendary Dhyan ChandDhyan Chand
Dhyan Chand ; born August 29, 1905 in Allahabad, United Provinces, British India. – Died:December 3, 1979), was an Indian field hockey player, regarded as one of the greatest field hockey players of all time...
. The latter's actual name was Dhyan Singh. Gupta gave him the title of “Chand” or moon, and predicted that one day he would shine like a moon. So close were the two that when Jhansi Heroes went to Kolkata to participate in Beighton Cup
Beighton Cup
Beighton Cup is a field hockey tournament. Instituted in 1895, it is organised by Bengal Hockey Association and is usually held on the Mohun Bagan ground on the Maidan in Kolkata in India. The Beighton Cup was presented by T.D. Beighton, Legal Remembrancer of the Government of Bengal, and was run...
all the players put up in hotel, but Dhyan Chand stayed with Gupta. Dhyan Chand has narrated many stories about Gupta. Here is one about their drive through the Dutch countryside, “Pankaj Gupta took us for a drive through a small narrow village which lay on our way to Doorn. We saw Dutch women lining up the streets peddling fresh fish caught from the dykes. The Bengali that he was, Pankaj Gupta remarked that the sight reminded him very much of the villages in Bengal. These Dutch women in their colourful costumes and wooden shoes presented a typical rural Dutch scene.”
In the 1936 Olympic Games
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
at Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, there was panic in the Indian team after a shock defeat by Germany in the trial matches. On the final day, when India met Germany again, Dhyan Chand recalls, “all of us were wondering as to what would be the result of the day. Never before had we ever doubted the issue of a game. Suddenly Pankaj Gupta produced a Congress Tricolour
Flag of India
The National flag of India is a horizontal rectangular tricolour of deep saffron, white and India green; with the Ashok Chakra, a 24-spoke wheel, in navy blue at its centre. It was adopted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on 22 July 1947, when it became the...
. Reverently we saluted and prayed and marched onto the field.”
A crowd of 40,000, which included the Maharaja of Baroda
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
165454565Sayajirao Gaekwad III was the Maharaja of Baroda State from 1875 to 1939, and is notably remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule....
, the Princess of Bhopal
Bhopal (state)
Bhopal State was an independent state of 18th century India, a princely salute state in a subsidiary alliance with British India from 1818 to 1947, and an independent country from 1947 to 1949...
and a large number of Indians who had travelled from all over Europe, was present there to witness the final match. The vast crowd cheered as both teams entered the field. In contrast to the despondency of the Indians, the Germans appeared to have the feeling that they were up against an inferior side.
Dhyan Chand, who was not feeling well, was not playing. He was sitting on the sideline. At half-time interval, India led by a solitary goal. Dhyan Chand could not sit idle any more. He removed his shoes and took to the field. Bare-foot, he tore the German defence apart as India went on to score seven more goals in the second half. The final scoreline: India 8, Germany 1.
Sports administration
Gupta was the Secretary of the Bengal Hockey Association for more than a decade continuously from 1936. He held official positions in Indian Football Association and was active in founding the All India Football FederationAll India Football Federation
The All India Football Federation is the organisation which manages the game of association football in India. It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the I-League, India's premier domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions and...
. He was Honorary Treasurer of the organisation in its year of inception and was president subsequently. He was instrumental in the founding of the National Cricket Club and the construction of the stadium at Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens is a cricket ground in Kolkata , India. It is the home of the Bengal cricket team and the Indian Premier League's Kolkata Knight Riders, as well as being a Test and One Day International ground. It is the largest cricket stadium in India by seating capacity...
. He was made a MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in recognition of his contribution to sports administration.