1936 Olympics And Major Dhayan Chand

The Indian hockey team in the Berlin Olympics 1936 comprised the following:

Dhyan Chand (captain), Iqtidar Ali Shah Dara, Richard James Allen, Mohammad Hussain, Ahmed Sher Khan, Carlyle Carrol Tapsell, Baboo Narsoo Nimal, Ernest John Goodsir-Cullen, Syed Mohammad Jaffar, Ashan Mohammad Khan, Joseph Gallibardy, Roop Singh, Gurcharan Singh Grewal, Lionel C Emmet, Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Masud, Paul Peter Fernandes, Joseph Phillip, Shabban Shaahab-ud-Din. 

The 1936 Berlin Olympics final was watched by a crowd of 40,000 that included top Nazi officials like Hermann Goering, Joseph Goebbels, Joachim Ribbentrop and the Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler.

"When the match ended with India defeating Germany 8-1, there was complete silence over the vast stadium. Hitler was to have presented the gold medals to the Indian team, but Hitler had left earlier, in frustration and in anger.

The next day, Hitler asked to see Dhyan Chand. When he received this message, Dhyan Chand became very worried. He had heard stories of how Hitler used to get people shot as he was a dictator. Dhyan Chand could not eat properly and spent a sleepless night.

In the morning Dhyan Chand went to meet Hitler. The German dictator welcomed Dhyan Chand warmly in his private box and showed him his view of the stadium.

Hitler asked Dhyan Chand what he did in India. Dhyan Chand replied that he was a soldier in the Indian army. Hitler offered him a high post in the German army and requested him to come and live in Germany.

Dhyan Chand politely refused, stating that his family was settled in India, and it would be difficult for him to relocate to Germany. Hitler said he understood his position and ended the meeting.

Dhyan Chand was probably the first Indian to meet Hitler personally. There are many accounts of Dhyan Chand's famous meeting with Hitler, but this is what he had recounted to his family and close friends. 

Dhayan Chand is considered to be the greatest hockey player of all time. He is most remembered for his goal-scoring feats and for his three Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, and 1936) in field hockey, during an era where India was dominant in the sport. Known as “The Wizard” for his superb ball control, he played his final international match in 1948, having scored more than 400 goals during his international career. 

Major Dhyan Chand died on 3 December 1979. His regiment, the Punjab Regiment, accorded him full military honors.