Chandigarh, August 2

A day after Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh appointed Lt Gen Jagbir Singh Cheema as the Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University at Patiala, a war of words has started over the name of the institution.

“The Punjab Chief Minister wished not to name the university after his grandfather, but the ministers in Punjab Government seem to be more loyal to the erstwhile feudal king. They even went against the Indian Constitution, which has long ago abolished the feudal titles of kings, princes and their privy purses,” said Prof Chaman Lal, senator, Panjab University.

“Also, Bhupinder Singh is said to be a cricketer, but was he bigger than Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli? And has he contributed to Indian sports like hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand?” Professor Lal asked.

Opinder Kaur Sekhon, a master athlete from Chandigarh, though said a person’s achievements and contributions should not be mixed with politics. “Any sportsperson who made a name in cricket, wrestling, athletics or some other sport was given a place in the state services by Bhupinder Singh,” she said.

“A number of athletes who have represented India in the Olympics enjoyed the patronage of the royal house. The National institute of Sports at Patiala houses one of the country’s best sports museums,” Opinder added.

She further said Bhupinder Singh started taking interest in the sports affairs after Patiala athlete Dalip Singh failed to make it to the Indian contingent for the 1924 Paris Olympics.

“Soon after taking the charge of the Indian Olympic Association, Bhupinder Singh faced the difficult task of sending the team to the 1928 Amsterdam Games. It was the result of his effort that India managed to send seven athletes and 15 hockey players to Amsterdam,” Opinder claimed.

“He was also instrumental in sending teams for the Eastern Games in Tokyo (1929), 1932 Olympic at Los Angeles and the 1936 Berlin Olympics,” she added. — TNS