Jaipal Singh Munda, one of the icons of the State and one of country’s first Olympian Hockey Player seems to have forgotten by people and the Government as his birth anniversary remained a low key affair on Saturday. Surprisingly, none of the concerned department officials of the Government could mention the reason behind the negligence.
Sports Department Principal Secretary-in-Charge l Khiangte said only the schedule of 60th SGFI Hockey Games could be managed on this date in order to celebrate the renowned player’s birthday. Other officers at Art and Culture said they are not much aware on any other programme apart from the national tournament. However, as a courtesy Sports Department officers and Hockey Jharkhand members paid tribute to the local player by garlanding his photograph at Astro Turf Stadium and his statue at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium.
Munda was born in Khunti Sub Division near the state capital on January 3, 1903. He was good in studies as well as sports. After completing primary education at village, Munda took admission in St Paul’s School. Thereafter his talents was outstanding performance was observed by Missionaries who admitted him at University of Oxford for higher education. later, he was selected in the university’s hockey team named ‘Oxford Blue’. While, staying at Oxford, he became Probationer for Indian Civil Services. He requested for leave, when he was asked to host the Indian Hockey team. But, his application was rejected. He quit the job and accepted the Captainship of Indian team.
In 1928, he led the Indian Hockey team at Amsterdam Olympic Games. Here, he played 17 league matches and won 16 matches. In the final match, India defeated Holland by 3-0 goals. In 1929 he got associated with Mohan Bagan Club where he formed the Hockey Team Club in 1929.After retiring from Hockey, he was the Secretary of Bengal Hockey Association and member of Indian Sports Council. Tribal residents felicitated him with the name of ‘Marang Gomke’ (Big leader). He was the first lok Sabha member from Jharkhand. He took his last breath on March 20, 1970.