A " COMPLEX " winding path that led him here - The Atif Idris Story is About India’s Hockey Heritage
Pic - :: The year was 1988, and Atif Idris is seen here representing Indira for his FIRST Senior assignment .The Indian Hockey team Captain, Mohinderpal Singh introduces him to the Chief Guest
Tales of valour and unheralded prowess speak to the heart of Indian hockey. Atif Idris, a scion with a distinguished lineage, is a story worth recounting and remembering.
His father, Idris Ahmed,
played alongside the luminary Dhyan Chand and the indomitable K D Singh Babu –
names that resonate with the very soul of hockey’s rich history. Furthermore,
Atif is the maternal uncle of Danish Mujtaba, a modern-day talent twice adorned
with medals from the Asian and Commonwealth Games. Atif Idris, a name that once
promised to adorn the annals of Indian hockey with unmatched brilliance, now
stands as a poignant reminder of “what could have been.”
In a lengthy conversation with TSC’s Ravi Mandapaka, Atif Idris
remembered his father.
Atif Idris: He was no mere player but a stalwart who graced the
field in an era many consider the zenith of Indian hockey. To have shared the
turf with legends such as Dhyan Chand and K D Singh Babu is an honour few could
boast.” Though fate did not smile upon his endeavours to don the Indian jersey
at the 1952 Olympics, Idris Ahmed’s passion for the game never waned. Atif
Idris says his tale, not one of laurels but of perseverance, became the
tapestry upon which my dreams were woven. “If thou choosest the path of
hockey,” he would oft remind me, “I shall not hinder thee, but neither shall I
pave thy way.” Thus, with a heart stirred by the weight of his words and his
unfulfilled legacy, I sought my fortune at the Sports Hostel in 1981.
In the halcyon days of his youth, Atif Idris displayed a flair and
finesse that captivated all who beheld him. His stickwork, reminiscent of his
father’s artistry, was poetry in motion and a symphony of skill and talent.
Atif spent his childhood amidst the bustling streets of Allahabad and was
defined by a singular yearning—to stand tall amongst the ranks of Indian
Airlines. This mighty institution had stirred his imagination.
Atif’s first big moment as a hockey player came during the year of
“Seoul Olympics.” For Atif Idris, the 1988 Nehru Cup was not just a tournament;
it was the culmination of a lifelong dream.
Reflecting on the experience, he recalls, “It was a moment etched
in my heart, not just because we won, but because we defied the odds and fate
itself.” Having been sidelined due to an ankle injury, Atif was entirely out of
gear with his kit packed away and resigned to miss the final. However, fate had
different plans. The unyielding persistence of Inam-Ur-Rehman, then adviser of
the Airlines team, and Zafar Iqbal, the coach, pushed him back into the fray.
“They insisted I play,” Atif says, “and I was even forced to take an injection
just to be able to stand on the field.”
Against all odds, Atif stepped back onto the field in the final
against RCF Kapurthala, captained by Pargat Singh. With a stunning display of
skill and determination, the Airlines team triumphed with a 5-1 victory. “That match,” he says, “was the best of my career,
always etched in my memory.”
The victory secured the title and catapulted Atif into the
limelight, earning him a Junior Asia Cup team spot. “That performance,” he
reflects, “was pivotal in my journey to representing India.” Four years later,
in the 1992 Nehru Cup, history repeated itself. Atif again delivered an
outstanding performance and helped his team claim the title by beating BSF
Jallandhar in the final. “It was total hockey at its finest,” he says, his
passion for the sport still palpable after all these years.
Yet, the corridors of power that should have lauded his talent
became the labyrinthine paths that ensnared his dreams. The sport’s domestic
structure, mired in its anachronisms, did little to nurture the prodigy within
him. The system, rife with its follies, rendered unto him opportunities missed
and potential unfulfilled, and the whispers of political machinations and the
caprices of fate conspired to thwart his ascendancy to the national
team. Despite immense talent, Atif’s journey was to follow a path
different from the gilded path of his forebears.
Atif Idris recalls playing in the qualifiers from 1989 to 1995
with a bittersweet pride. “I was called upon consistently for the
qualifiers and played in every one of them,” he reflects. “But when the final
selection for the tournaments came, I was purposely dropped, making way for
others.”
A match against Pakistan during the qualifiers still burns
brightly in his memory. “Mukesh Kumar and I completely dismantled the Pakistani
side, which had the great Shahbaz Ahmed, ‘The Maradona of Hockey’ in their
ranks. We reduced them to nothing,” Idris recounts. He vividly remembers Hasan
Sardar, one of Pakistan’s finest, running to the Indian coach and asking,
“Where did you get that inside-left and inside-right from?’ At the time, Idris
played on the left as a forward while Mukesh commanded the right.
How could one not be inspired by their artistry upon the field,
their deftness of foot, their mastery over the stick, as though it were an
extension of their very selves? Yet, time is a fickle mistress, and the game of
hockey has not been immune to her whims. Where once the game was a measured
dance steeped in traditional formations and the slow-burning grace of strategy,
today’s incarnation is a whirlwind of speed and ferocity. The rolling
substitutes are a marvel of modernity and have changed the very face of play
and added a new dimension to the game, recalled this humble man.
Atif Idris recalled with a
sense of wonder still fresh despite the passing of years, his first foray into
the world beyond our shores – In India’s national colors. He said, “It was in Berlin where I had the great honor
of representing my country. ‘Twas there, amidst the cheers and
jeers of foreign tongues, that I felt the weight of the Indian colours upon my
shoulders. At that moment, I was not merely playing a game—I was the embodiment
of all those who had come before me, whose sacrifices had paved the way for my
small triumphs.”
As to the future of Indian
hockey, the man from Allahabad believed that Indian Hockey has found
itself at the cusp of greatness. He further narrated, “The
bronze medal at the recent Olympics hath set us upon a path that can only lead
to greater glories. The groundwork had been laid, and the puzzle pieces now fit
together as they should. I am hopeful that India will claim the coveted gold
and that the dream will be fulfilled. Yet, let us not forget those who came
before, who toiled in the shadows of lesser recognition, for their deeds,
though unsung by the masses, are no less heroic.”
Undoubtedly, the Indian hockey fraternity gets emotional during
conversations over India’s untouchable past in India’s national game. Atif
Idris spoke about responsibility and the importance of carrying this legacy to
future generations.
In the autumn of my career, I find myself not without a sense of
responsibility to the younger generation. The game hath bestowed upon me so
much—a wealth of experience, joy, and sorrow. Now, it is my turn to pass the
torch, to share what little wisdom I have gleaned from the years spent in the
crucible of competition. My heart beats with a sincere wish that those who follow
in our footsteps will continue to uplift the grand tradition of Indian hockey
and that they shall do so with the same reverence and love for the game that my
father, my comrades, and I have held dear.
Long story short, Atif Idris’s journey in Indian hockey is defined
not just by the matches won or lost but by the complex winding path that led
him here—a story steeped in both triumph and heartbreak. His career reflects
the systemic maladies that once plagued Indian hockey, where merit often took a
backseat to influence.
A son shouldering the weight of his father’s legacy, Atif remains
part of an unfulfilled dream—victories that never fully blossomed into the
accolades they deserved. Yet, amidst this litany of disappointments, there
remains a deep reservoir of resilience and grit within Atif. Though not adorned
with the laurels of international acclaim, his life is rich with the love of
the game and the respect of those who witnessed his prowess.
Jai Bharat
That Is It and that speaks all about it
Mr Shyamal Bhattacharjee, the author was born at West Chirimiri Colliery at District Surguja, Chattisgarh on July 6th 1959 He received his early education at Carmel Convent School Bishrampur and later at Christ Church Boys' Higher Secondary School at Jabalpur. He later joined Hislop College at Nagpur and completed his graduation in Science and he also added a degree in B A thereafter. He joined the HITAVADA, a leading dailies of Central India at Nagpur as a Sub-Editor ( Sports ) but gave up to complete his MBA in 1984 He thereafter added a Diploma In Export Management. He has authored SEVEN books namely Notable Quotes and Noble Thought published by Pustak Mahal in 2001 Indian Cricket : Faces That Changed It published by Manas Publications in 2009 and Essential Of Office Management published by NBCA, Kolkatta in 2012, GOLDEN QUOTES on INSPIRATION , SORROW , PEACE and LIFE published by B.F.C Publications, Lucknow, , and QUOTES:: Evolution and Origin of Management Electives by Clever Fox Publishing, Chennai ,From Dhyan To Dhan :: Indian Hockey - Sudden Death Or Extra Time published by BOOKS CLINIC Publishing House , Bilaspur , Chattisgarh and his FIRST book on Hindi poem, which reads as " BHED HAI GEHRA - BAAT JARA SI " published by Books Clinics , Bilaspur , Chhattisgarh. He has a experience of about 35 years in Marketing , and Business Analytics .
Signature Of Shyamal Bhattacharjee
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