Indian Hockey & Sansarpur Hockey

        The respondents agreed  with all the factors. ( See table 3.II )  However some other observations were also made by the respondents, which are given below:

      Gurjit Singh Kullar considered Sansarpur’s proximity to Cantonment as the main reason for Sansarpur’s performance of hockey over other games.  Gurjit Singh Kullar said that though other games like football, volleyball etc. Were also played by military men at that time but game of hockey was taken up more seriously by them.  And standards of hockey of army teams of that era was quite high.  This had its impact on Sansarpur as the village was very near to Cantonment and Sansarpuri’s also started playing hockey.

      Darshan Singh Sethi feels that the most important factor was the influence of senior hockey players.  Since they used to take their hockey very seriously, watching them play the game and prestige attached to the game by other village elders motivated the youngsters of his age to take to the game.

      According to Lal Singh Sohal that once a game gains popularity in a certain region due to whatever reasons, younger generations continue to play the game.  As it becomes a part of their tradition.  If we look at our own region we find that hockey is popular in Sansarpur, football in Mahalpur, Hoshiarpur and basketball in Kapurthala.

      Kullar family of Sansarpur, which took to hockey in a big way, is a family of hard working, disciplined and energetic people.  They brought these inherent qualities.  Kullar helped them a great deal in rising in the field of hockey .  As success begets success, having been successful in hockey, they got opportunities in other fields and they did well there too.  Success of some early Kullars in hockey in particular in life in general became motivating factor for others. ( Pritam Singh Kullar )

      As Cantonment acquired village land, so less land was available for cultivation and thus village folk was forced to look for other avenues.  When Sansarpuri’s started getting jobs in army and other such departments because of their hockey skills, they got more opportunity to practice the game and could improve further.  Thus nonavailabilty of other occupations and getting good jobs due to the game worked in random to motivate Sansarpuri’s to take their hockey seriously and it became almost an obbession with them.  All village life got centered around the game and hockey was most discussed topic in the village.  Thus hockey played a crucial role in economic advancement of the village people.  Due to the game, they got opportunities to visit various places which provided them with new experiences and thus helped in social advancement of the village.  By nature Sansarpuri’s are hard working, competitive and possess desire to excel in life.  Hockey was one such area which suited their temperament and they took to the game whole heartedly. (Jarnail Singh Kullar)

      Though initially Sansarpur took the game due to the fact that it provided them with a job.  Later, it became the identity of the village and a matter of prestige for Sansarpuri’s.  For every Sansarpuri’s the greatest honour was to achieve distinction in the game.  Thus it became the part and parcel of the village, so much so, that no Sansarpuri could think of being alienated from the game.  Sansarpur hockey reached its zenith in late thirties and early forties.

      For Sansarpuri’s hockey was the only passion and no destruction from the game was allowed.  If a youngster was found in indulging in any other recreation or activity, e.g. visiting a Cinema Hall, he was severely reprimanded by his seniors as well as his team mates.  He was socially boycotted and was not allowed to enter the field. For Sansarpuri’s, it was almost a sin even to think of anything other than hockey .

      There were three teams in Sansarpur, comprising of different age groups: A senior team, School Boys team and children team. Even children, when practicing, used to try to copy senior team heroes in their own way.  Udham’s dodge and Gurdev’s tap were the common cries which could be heard even at children matches. ( Rajinder Singh Kullar )

Filed under: Factors