My maternal uncle, M D Umapathi, had a strong passion for hockey from a young age. After school, he would hasten to the nearby field to observe the barefooted players in action and comprehend the game’s intricacies. Finally, one player, who had taken notice of the young man’s regular appearance, extended an invitation for him to join the fun.
Umapathi, who did not possess a hockey stick, was delighted to receive an invitation and spent the subsequent days musing on how to obtain one. But, unfortunately, there were no generous benefactors who could gift him a freebie in the form of a used blade. So, with his piggy bank savings, the uncle made his way to the sporting goods shops a couple of kilometres away to search for a suitable stick.
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During the 1960s, a wooden hockey bat cost an exorbitant Rs 10. But Sharma Sports on Cavalry Road (now Kamaraj Road) offered second-hand sticks for just Rs 2, which thrilled the uncle. So with his find, the uncle became the proud possessor of a hockey blade!
Alas, another challenge remained! Lieutenant M Dharmalingam, the uncle’s father and my maternal grandfather, a former player, was unwilling to allow his son to participate in a risky game like hockey. Uncle, thus, scheduled his practice sessions to match his father’s evening walk and would quickly make his way home before the latter’s return, the stick concealed under a mattress. Nevertheless, he quickly established a strong connection with the game.
The uncle’s first appearance was with the Bangalore Muslims, a mixed group of Tamils, Anglo-Indians, and Muslims from East Bangalore who competed in the lower division. He was fortunate to have an athletic build and delighted in being a fullback. As he enrolled at St Joseph’s College, his involvement in the game became more intense.
The college hockey trials conducted in groups at the hostel grounds lasted an entire week. There were over 200 contenders. Despite my uncle’s attempt to join the team, the college think-tank, predominantly controlled by the captain and his confidants, chose only to select their associates. Politics and sports were intertwined even then!
However, the selection fiasco did not discourage Umapathi, and he kept donning the Bangalore Muslim colours. Then, by an unpredicted twist of fate, the team encountered St Joseph’s College in the BUS Cup Hockey tournament–a fixture for non-medallists held by the Mysore State Hockey Association (MSHA) at the BRV Grounds. The scoreboard remained blank during the first half, but the uncle scored the winning goal just before the hooter sounded!
That success was pivotal, giving him a ticket to the college team! Upon realising that the match’s standout performer was from his college, the sports in charge, Rev Fr Sequeira, observing the game from the sidelines, quickly urged the uncle to join the college team. Subsequently, the uncle was appointed captain, guiding his institution to several victories.
After college, the Accountant General’s office hired the uncle in Bengaluru. He played a crucial role in cobbling an office team and steered the group to the upper echelons of the State hockey league. The uncle achieved outstanding success as a coach, manager and selector for the former Mysore State (now Karnataka). He ended a successful career by serving as a technical delegate for international matches. The octogenarian still shows a passionate interest in hockey and follows India’s progress on the global stage.
