Negi after 'Chak De...': Life's a strange thing

Fixer, traitor, spy... He has seen more downs than ups in his career. Today, he is the toast of the country, thanks to 'Chak De India'. Mir Ranjan Negi opens up to Satya Siddharth Rath

Life has been cruel…

Nothing can be more humiliating than being branded a traitor in your own country. I pray to God that no one undergoes the kind of agony I went through. But I also thank Him that he gave me the courage to overcome it and carry on with life.

It was the darkest day of my life…

I still remember that day. The atmosphere was unbelievable; the stadium (National Stadium in New Delhi) was jam-packed. People had paid Rs 1000 for Rs 100 tickets. It was the greatest day of our lives. We were playing Pakistan in the final of the Asian Games at home. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, President Gyani Jail Singh were watching the game. We had played very well till then, and were confident of winning. But our dreams were shattered…

The pressure was too much…

Perhaps we were weighed down by the expectations. Our defence just crumbled. I tried my best, but it was just not my day. They pumped in goal after goal, seven in all. We couldn’t fathom what went wrong. Till then, we had played so well. But no one blamed the defence. I was the goalkeeper, so the nation’s ire fell on me. I was made the villain.

One lakh for one goal…

More than the defeat, what hurt more was the reaction of the people. And I became the sole target. They said I had taken money to fix the match, that I was a Pakistani spy. My house in Indore was stoned; they even cut off the electricity connection at my marriage. It seemed all over for me at that moment. I was virtually in hiding. So many thoughts went in my mind. I still shudder when I think of those days.

Hockey kept me going…

Even in those dark days, I never lost hope. The game was my life; whatever I have today is because of hockey. I was thrown out of the national team, but I kept in touch with the game, coaching local clubs. If I was branded a traitor because of it, I was also sure it would give me a chance to redeem myself.

The second coming...

Sixteen years after that fateful Wednesday, I was offered a chance to accompany the national men’s team for the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok as goalkeeping coach. We played South Korea in the final. The match went to tie-breaks. I had watched the Koreans earlier, most of their hits are normally aimed towards the right. I told Ashish Ballal about it just before the shootout. He responded well, saving three shots. We won 5-3. After 32 long years we had won the gold. I just couldn’t hold back my tears. After years of sorrow, I could shed tears of joy.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games gold in Manchester…

That will always remain my most memorable moment. When I took over as coach of the women’s hockey team, no one gave us a chance. It was a challenge to bring together a bunch of girls of varied talent, to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and groom them into a

winning outfit. For me, it was as if my life’s single-point mission. I am happy my efforts didn’t go waste. The girls rose to the challenge admirably well.

Life played another cruel game…

I lost my 19-year-old son two years back. It shattered me completely again. It almost made me numb. Two weeks after the tragedy, came this offer from Yashraj Films, to assist them in the making of Chak De. I told them no, but they kept persisting. I finally relented, but under the condition that my wife (Vinita) would accompany me during the shoot. We needed each other’s support, considering our mental state. They agreed.

The making of Chak De…

I trained the girls, many of whom didn’t even know the basics of the game. Barring two, the rest were all models and actors. It was like coaching the Indian women’s team again. For nearly nine months, I was their coach. Watch the movie, you’ll see they have done a great job.

It is not Negi’s story…

I can only say that Shahrukh Khan’s character in the film has a strong resemblance with that of mine. But it’s not exactly my life story. What gives me more joy is that someone thought of making a movie with hockey as the central theme. I do pray it helps give an impetus to the game in the country.

My autobiography…

I started writing Gloom to Glory in 1998. The manuscript is almost ready. I plan to release it very soon. That is Negi’s story.

It feels like a dream…

My phone hasn’t stopped ringing for the last few days. It feels great to be back in public memory. The last few months have been like a dream. I got to interact closely with someone like Shahrukh. His energy level and passion to his trade is amazing. Whole night he used to stand for the shoot, and then spend the morning signing autographs. The enthusiasm of the girls too was admirable. We were like one big family.

What next?...

I am no star. I was, and will always remain, a simple hockey player. I love this game. Despite the setbacks, it has always stood by me. It has helped me start life afresh. I will always be there for the game.