Current affairs

PM Modi puts his predecessor into history: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award gets new name!

By alagu, 06 August, 2021
Narendra Modi, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Hockey, Tokyo Olympics 2021

In an unanticipated move, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on Friday put his predecessor Rajiv Gandhi in history as he announced the rechristening of the nation's highest sporting award, which was named after Rajiv Gandhi. In his decision to honouring the historical triumph and outstanding performances of both men's and women's hockey teams in the Tokyo Olympics, the Prime Minister said that Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will be renamed after India's hockey legend Dhyan Chand as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. 

The announcement was typical of Modi's fashion and the Prime Minister said that he had received a pile of requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. Taking to Twitter on Friday concerning the renaming drive, the Prime Minister said, "I have been getting many requests from citizens across India to name the Khel Ratna Award after Major Dhyan Chand. I thank them for their views." 

"Respecting their sentiment, the Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award! Jai Hind!", Modi added by posting an image of him paying floral tribute to Dhyan Chand's statue. The Prime Minister said that the exceptional performance of the men's and women's hockey teams in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics has captured the imagination of the entire nation. 

He cited that there is a renewed interest towards the sport that is rising across the length and breadth of India and added that such emergence is a very positive sign for the coming times. Following the announcement from the Prime Minister, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had poured more weight to Modi's decision and said that Dhyan Chand is India's most legendary and loved sporting icons and claimed that it is only befitting that India's highest sporting honour be named after him. 

Thakur took to Twitter and wrote, "Major Dhyan Chand is India’s most legendary & loved sporting icons; it is only befitting that India’s Highest Sporting Honour be named after him. His life and achievements have inspired generations of sportspersons who have achieved glory for India." It must be noted that Dhyan Chand has won three Olympic golds for the country. 

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was constituted in 1990-91 and the first recipient of the award was chess champion, Vishwanathan Anand. The iconic accolade carries prize money of Rs 25 lakh and the legendary sports stars including Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Anju Bobby George, Abhinav Bindra, Leander Peas, Mary Kom, and PV Sindhu were conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Indian hockey legend Dhyan Chand, who was popularly known as 'The Wizard', was an icon and doyen of Indian Hockey. 

Besides winning three Olympic gold medals in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles), and 1936 (Berlin), Chand was known for his playing tactics and capabilities and he was a pivotal force behind the rise of our national game at the global stage and it also must be noted that the Indian men's hockey team has won eight Olympic gold medals. Dhyan Chand was born in Allahabad (now renamed as Prayagraj) in 1905 and played international hockey from 1926 to 1949. His birthday, 29 August, is celebrated as National Sports Day. 

Chand had also served in the Indian Army amid playing hockey and he rose to the rank of Major. He died at the age of 74 on December 3, 1979. Commenting on the unanticipated renaming, Congress MP K Suresh said that it's unfortunate that the name of the award was changed. He said, "It's unfortunate. Rajiv Gandhi was PM, he led the country into the 21st century. He encouraged sports, youth. This Govt wants to saffronise & that's why they gave another name".

 

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