I first met Gurcharan Singh, Guchi paaji as he is affectionately referred to by his admirers, in 1978-79 at the National Stadium in New Delhi where he was training some 50-odd boys.
He impressed me, not only because of his eye for talent but also for his discipline and hard work. Even after these 40-45 years, he hasn’t changed. I can still see the passion for the game in his eyes.
He is a man of few words. He may be 87 now. But he is as fit, if not fitter, than some of his 100-odd trainees at the Dronacharya Cricket Academy in Arwachin Bharti School, Vivek Vihar (East Delhi).
A Dronacharya awardee, he richly deserves the Padma Shri being bestowed on him by the Indian Government.
Excited to see a Padma Shri announced for Dronacharya S Gurcharan Singh Ji. His work is an inspiration for us all. Congratulations, sir. #PeoplesPadma pic.twitter.com/tgjFyxdNZi
— Rohan Jaitley (@rohanjaitley) January 26, 2023
During my 40-odd-year association with Guchi sir, as I still call him, I always found his zeal unmatched. Being a resident of the same locality, I have often seen him leave his Ramakrishna Apartments in I.P. Extension every morning around 8 on his bike for his academy. Whether in the scorching heat or December’s biting cold, he never missed his routine.
Once, when I asked him why he didn’t take a break at his age, his reply was: “I am what I am because of cricket. It has taken me places, introduced me to some wonderful people, and taught me to be humble. As long as my body permits, I would like to continue my mission.”
He added: “Hard work has always been my motto. When you are on the field in the company of youngsters, you never feel that you are past your prime.”
I personally know several instances where Guchi Sir has gone out of the way to get talented cricketers jobs in various PSUs. “They cannot survive on cricket. They need a decent job for their future,” he often said.
He has experienced several ups and downs in his life. From a young boy, who rose from the ashes of the 1947 partition, Guchi sir has, through hard work, become India’s most revered mentor of young cricketers. Nearly three decades since his retirement from the Sports Authority of India as the chief cricket coach, Guchi sir is still active.
He not only survived partition but the 1984 Delhi riots — thanks to the timely help of his trainees who shielded him from a violent mob.
Guchi sir was shattered when his younger son met with a serious accident many years ago. He spent several anxious months as his son recovered slowly. To come out of these personal disasters, one needs courage.
Over the years, he has trained generations of cricketers, including a dozen who went on to represent the country at the highest level: Surender Khanna, Kirti Azad, Maninder Singh, Sunil Valson, Vivek Razdan, Nikhil Chopra, Ajay Jadeja, Gursharan Singh, Murali Kartik, Gagan Khoda, Rahul Sanghvi and Vijay Mehra (who played for the UAE). And hundreds of others who represented different states in Ranji Trophy.
“My job was to guide them. They worked hard to earn the national colours,” he had said.
Some prominent Union ministers during the 1980s-90s, including Bhagwat Jha Azad and Madhav Rao Scindia, Surender Singh were regulars at the National Stadium nets. They had high regard for his dedication.
Guchi sir has always been a disciplinarian to the core. He never tolerated indiscipline on the field.
Former India skipper Bishan Singh Bedi, himself a tough taskmaster, had this to say about Guchi sir once. “His single passion and dedication in life has been cricket. Guchi paaji has been an example of humility and good old human values. He has been a selfless servant of cricket.”
A right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler, he first played for Southern Punjab. A century against Railways in the Ranji Trophy altered his life. He joined the Railway team, which had half-a-dozen players representing India, including Lala Amarnath, Dattu Phadkar, BBNimbalkar, Nari Contractor, Budhi Kunderan and Vasant Ranjane.
Besides the role of chief coach at the National Stadium, he donned many hats. He was also the director of the Gwalior pace bowling academy. He had a 2-year stint with the Indian team when Kapil Dev was the captain. He was also the head coach of Maldives in 1985.
During his stint with the National Stadium Cricket Centre (NSCC), he used to take some of the young trainees and a couple of seniors on cricket tours to England to give them foreign exposure they would not have got otherwise.
Despite being in the limelight for so long, Guchi sir remains down to earth. “There is so much to learn from this game. One life is not enough,” Guchi sir often remarked.
S Santhanam, veteran sports journalist who has followed the Delhi cricket scene for over 40 years, writes about Gurcharan Singh, an institution in cricket coaching, who has been bestowed with the Republic Day national honour
WWE 2K23 to release on March 17: Available for Xbox, Playstation, and PC
Gurcharan Singh ‘Guchi paaji’, doyen of Delhi cricket coaching, honoured with Padma Shri – The Indian Express
