Indian Hockey Nonagenarian Legend from Himachal Charanjit Singh is No More

Kuldeep Chauhan

PadamShri and Arjuna awardee Charanjit Singh had led India to a sensational victory in 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. His death is a big loss to Indian Hockey as he was an inspiration for young players in Himachal.

Charanjit Singh was a great admirer of three sporting legends of all time- Major Dhayan Chand, the hockey wizard, who had led Indian hockey teams to win three successive Gold in 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympics, Soccer legend Pele and Cricket wizard Don Bradman.
Charanjit Singh had batted for honouring Major Dhayan Chand with Bharat Ratna saying that it would give a big boost to sports mainly hockey in India.

He had lamented that the rules and regulations in hockey had been changed in favour of European style and speed. which is now name of the game. These things have put the "style and skill" of Indian and Pakistan hockey to a disadvantage, he used to say, recalled his fans. .

Charanjit Singh is survived by his son Er. Vipan Pal Singh, who has retired as MD, HP Transmission Corporation Ltd and daughter, Dr Kiran Guleria, who is married to Dr Randeep Singh Guleria, Director AIIMS, New Delhi.

in 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Charanjit Singh scripted victory in the annals of Indian Hockey. Other members of the winning team were Shankar Laxman, Rajendran Christy, Prithipal Singh, Dharam Singh, Gurbaksh Singh, Mohinder Lal, Jagjit Singh, Jogindar Singh, Haripal Kaushik, Harbinder Singh, Bandu Patil, Victor John Peter, Udham Singh, Darshan Singh and Syed Mushtaq. Very few of them have survived till today and Charanjeet Singh was one of them, revealed the Hockey enthusiasts.

India had defeated the defending champion Pakistan by 1-0 goal in a cliff-hanging final in Tokyo in 1964. It was for the first time that Australia had won its first Olympic medal in Hockey claiming bronze by defeating Spain by 3- 2 goals in the extra time, recalled the Hockey old timers.
After this, Indian hockey went into a bad phase. It was in 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics that India won the Gold medal defeating Spain by 4-3 goals. This till now remains the last Gold for Indian Hockey.
Charanjit had also joined Director, Sports and Students Welfare Himachal Pradesh University till his retirement.

All of his close relatives - Prof Vijayvir Singh(retd), who was his real maternal nephew and Dr Kuldip Singh Tanwar a CPM leader, Bhupendra Kunwar, Kunwar Yogendra Singh and Er Manmohan Singh Verma- who live in Engine Ghar and Sankti in Sanjauli have expressed their grief over the death of the hockey legend. "The death of my Mamaji marks an end of of an era, but his legacy will continue inspiring the coming generations", said Prof Dogra.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Union Information and Broadcasting Youth affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur have expressed their grief over the demise of the former captain and sympathy with the bereaved family members of the former Indian hockey captain.

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Sword of Uncertainty Over Six CPSs’ Fate Temporarily Lifted: Relief for Sukhu Government

In a major relief to the Himachal Pradesh government, the Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s directive to initiate disqualification proceedings against six MLAs who were appointed as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPSs).

This decision, welcomed by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has brought a temporary reprieve to his administration, which was grappling with the political and legal ramifications of the High Court’s order.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court had earlier quashed the appointments of the six CPSs, deeming them unconstitutional, and directed the Assembly Speaker to initiate disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law.

However, the Supreme Court’s stay has effectively paused the implementation of this directive, offering the government some breathing space to strategize its next legal move.

CM Sukhu Hails Supreme Court’s Clarity

Speaking to media persons in New Delhi, CM Sukhu expressed his satisfaction with the Supreme Court’s interpretation, which he said provided much-needed clarity on the matter.

"The relief granted by the Supreme Court is significant, and we will deliberate on the next steps after considering all legal aspects,” he said.

The Chief Minister also emphasized that the apex court’s interpretation differed from paragraph 50 of the High Court’s verdict, which had been the basis of the controversial directive.

Opposition’s “Childish” Behavior Criticized

Shifting his focus to the opposition, Sukhu took a sharp jab at their tactics, describing their behavior as “childish” and lacking focus on real issues.

“There are no controversies here, but their behavior is simply immature. From toilet tax to ‘Samosa Politics,’ they are just distracting from the real issues,” he said.

Sukhu accused the opposition BJP of attempting to create diversions because of its failure to make a dent in the Congress’s strength during the Vidhan Sabha elections.

“Their ‘Operation Lotus’ was decisively rejected by the people, and Congress retained its 40-seat strength. Now, they resort to personal attacks to divert attention from our welfare schemes,” he added.

Relief Amid Mounting Challenges

The Supreme Court’s stay on the High Court’s order has momentarily eased the pressure on the Sukhu government, but the sword of uncertainty continues to hang over the six MLAs who served as CPSs.

With questions around their appointments still unresolved, the case remains a legal minefield.

The CPS appointments had drawn criticism for allegedly violating constitutional provisions, which prohibit the creation of such posts without legislative backing.

The High Court’s scathing remarks and the directive for disqualification had added fuel to the controversy, creating a storm in the state’s political landscape.

While the Supreme Court’s intervention provides temporary relief, the Sukhu government must now prepare for a protracted legal battle to defend the appointments and protect its legislative majority.

Opposition’s Counterattacks

The BJP, meanwhile, has been quick to pounce on the issue, accusing the government of flouting constitutional norms for political convenience. Party leaders have argued that the CPS appointments were a backdoor way to reward loyalists, a claim that Sukhu has staunchly denied.

The opposition’s attacks, combined with the ongoing legal scrutiny, highlight the precarious nature of the government’s position. For now, the Supreme Court’s decision is a welcome pause, but the final word on the matter could still have far-reaching consequences for the political stability of Himachal Pradesh.

Sukhu’s Call for Responsibility

Amid the controversy, Sukhu reiterated his commitment to governance and welfare. He called on the opposition to act responsibly and raise issues that matter to the common man.

“Significant progress has been made in improving the socio-economic status of the underprivileged during this tenure, and that remains our priority,” he stated.

With the legal wrangling far from over, the fate of the six CPSs—and the stability of the Sukhu government—remains inextricably tied to the unfolding courtroom drama.

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Indian Hockey Nonagenarian Legend from Himachal Charanjit Singh is No More

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