AFTER DILIP KUMAR INDIA LOST ANOTHER GEM KESHAV DATT
New Delhi, July 08, 2021: After the sad demise of legendary actor Dilip Kumar, we lost another gem of India. Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Hockey, legend Keshav Datt passed away yesterday, due to age related ailments. As per his attendant Dolly Bairahi, had confirmed the news of his death.
He was 95. The former centre halfback died around 12:30a.m. at his residence in Santoshpur, Kolkata. Datt was a part of India’s golden era in hockey.
Born in Lahore in 1925, Datt pursued his academics and sports at the Government College in the western Punjab city. He was mentored by the legendary Dhyanchand and progressed rapidly, playing alongside KD Singh Babu. Datt came into the limelight while representing Punjab in the National Championship in pre-Partition India. After independence, he moved to Bombay and later to Calcutta in 1950, representing Bombay and Bengal at the National Championships.
“In 1956-57, when I landed in Calcutta, I saw Keshav playing for Mohun Bagan. He was a great centre-half and a thorough gentleman. I played a few matches against him and he was my selector also. Hockey was played on grass in those days and it was a lot more difficult to control the ball and distribute it on that surface. Now on Astro Turf, it’s much easier. Yes, physically it’s more strenuous now but on grass, it was a different ball game,” Singh added. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condoled Datt’s death. Tennis star and 1996 Olympic bronze medalist Leander Paes posted a heartfelt condolence message on Twitter.
As a hockey player, Calcutta Port Commissioners was Datt’s first port of call. Famous Bengali film actor Jahar Ganguly, then hockey secretary of Mohun Bagan, took him to the green-and-maroons. At Mohun Bagan, Datt won the Calcutta League six times and the Beighton Cup thrice. He was widely regarded as one of the finest half-backs in Indian hockey.
Mohun Bagan conferred him with the Mohun Bagan Ratna in 2019.
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