For those enquiry about Dr. Carmo D'Cruz and his initiative at Indian hockey - here's an archive article at Bharathiya Hockey (June 2006 issue):
Carmo D'Cruz is this edition's Visitor of the Month. Carmo has suggested an innovative concept to raise awareness for Indian hockey. Here's Carmo in his own words: I am Dr. Carmo D'Cruz, a former hockey player from India in the 70s, now residing in the US. I played for Bombay in the Junior Nationals in 1975, and also for Indian Airlines, and attended the Combined Universities camps in NIS Patiala and Bangalore in the late 70s. I still keep in touch with my former coach Balbir Singh Sr and others in India. I read with interest the recent ranking of the Top Ten Sardars of Indian hockey. I was happy to know that my former coach, Balbir Singh Sr., was selected to be at the top of that list. Such lists may may play their own role in India regaining its past hockey glory. We need Indian hockey fans, officials and the active Indian hockey players to get used to the practice of competitive ranking by position, without protests, boycotts, etc. Competitive ranking will also ease the pressure on the national selectors, who usually get to see the players only for a few weeks at national tournament and camp/selection trials. With the press and media publicity involved, selectors at the various levels may not easily show favouritism and bias based on caste, colour, creed and so on. The ranked players will also be pressured to maintain top physical fitness and form throughout the year in order to keep their ranking. To initiate a Hockey Renaissance in India by creating excitement and regional pride for hockey all over India, I recommend that the following 'Top 11 Player' lists (by position) be created: Lists by Religion Top 11 Muslim hockey players of (pre-partion and post-partition) India Top 11 Hindu hockey players of India Top 11 Christian (Anglo Indian, Goan and others) hockey players of (pre-independence and post-independence) India Top 11 Sikh hockey players (already compiled) Lists by Region Top 11 Kodava/Coorgi hockey players of India Top 11 South Indian hockey players of India Top 11 North-Eastern (e.g., Manipuri) hockey players of India List by Race Top 11 Tribal (Santhals/Munda/Oraon) hockey players of India List by Decade Top 11 Players of the 1930s, 1940s, etc. Lists by City Top 11 Bombay hockey players, etc. Lists by State Top 11 hockey players from Punjab, from Goa, and so on for each state of India Such lists would include all-time greats like Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh Sr., Leslie Claudius, Leo Pinto, the late goalkeeper Shankar Lakshman, Udham Singh, A. I. S. Dara, Inam-ur-Rehman, Aslam Sher Khan, B. P. Govinda and M. P. Ganesh. Lastly, we need to put together a list of the Top 11 Indian Hockey Players of All Time, by position. I know that there may be communal riots as a result of this list - that is why this should be the last list compiled. Going through these inspiring lists will invoke regional/national pride and interest in the present and future generations of Indian hockey lovers, and they will become cognisant of the Golden Era of Indian hockey and the characteristiics of our outstanding past hockey players which we appear to have forgotten among all these bronze medals and qualifying tournaments of recent years. Best Regards, Dr. Carmo D'Cruz, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida http://radiovv.org/download_konkani.htm Season's Greetings to All ! http://www.goa-world.com All about Goa and Goans worldwide http://www.goa-world.com/goa/music __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com