A former coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, Naqvi, who passed away on November 10, was mentor to five Olympians including Joaquim Carvalho, Merwyn Fernandes, and international players like Mir Ranjan Negi. In his playing days, he had rubbed shoulders with the likes of Dhyan Chand
By Mehre Alam
An expatriate life comes with its myriad hues. Let’s put it this way: If you’re an expatriate you sure are not a citizen. Which means you’re like a bird. If you’re a bird you’re ready to fly up to the next — most often greener — pastures (jobs). Which implies you’re living a transient, even if not a fleeting, existence.
In the six GGC countries — what we usually refer to as the Gulf countries — the expatriate life assumes a slightly different hue since expats form a fairly large section of their populace. The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries namely Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, are known to be destinations where expats, mainly those from the South East Asia region, often spend long years.
The Sultanate of Oman is one such destination.
For a very large number of Indian expatriates who live there, or have worked there in the past, the name of S. A. S Naqvi rings a familiar bell. The diminutive figure, a very long-time resident of Oman who breathed his last in Muscat on Wednesday (November 10) morning at age 90, was one of most respected and loved expatriates, one who was always eager to extend a helping hand to people in whatever ways he could.
When one lives away from one’s home country it’s not unusual to feels lost at times, especially in the initial years as an expatriate, as getting to know people like Naqvi saheb, the hockey coach who played a key role in the growth of the Olympic Movement in Oman, comes as a true blessing. To most Indian expats who knew him, including this writer, this help would often come one’s way in his kind words, his encouragement, the reassurance he would give that we were good enough and that we were sure going to do well in our careers. There was this special way he would make you feel he’s known you for a long, long time even if you had just about started interacting with him. That, I think, was an integral part of Naqvi saheb’s persona.
A former coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, Naqvi saheb was mentor to as many as five Olympians including Joaquim Carvalho, Merwyn Fernandes, and international players like Mir Ranjan Negi. Having rubbed shoulders with the legendary Dhyan Chand, Naqvi used to be a star player for Western Railways in the 1960’s. Once his playing days were over, he took up coaching. He was the Indian women’s team coach for the 1978 World Cup.
He first arrived in Oman in 1982 ahead of the country’s participation in the Asian Games in New Delhi. He coached Oman at the Asiad and was later roped in by Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) in 1983 as a technical advisor. One of the key persons to set up OOC, he served it for nearly 18 years.
Naqvi saheb was 90 at the time of his demise. He had been battling illnesses for a long time but you could never tell seeing the way he lived his life, full of zest. Call him as a guest at an event and he would be there on the dot, neatly dressed, almost always wearing a tie.
Way back in 2005 when I joined the Oman Economic Review, a monthly magazine in Oman, as a principal correspondent, and was expected to churn out ‘big’ stories for the niche publication, with practically nil contacts to boost, Naqvi saheb was one who would often encourage me. It was in the later months that I came to learn that he would do the same with everyone – always have encouraging words to say.
His flat near Ruwi in Muscat was a sort of must-go for families, especially Indian expats. Silhouetted against a wall adorned with sports memorabilia, he would proudly pose for the camera with his guests.
“A keen collector of sports memorabilia, he painstakingly set up a sports treasure home, which reflects his love for sports. Oman and India have lost a shining sports jewel,” says Ashok Purohit, an Indian journalist with over two decades of experience as a sports editor with leading news dailies in the Sultanate of Oman.
In fact, his passion for collecting memorabilia and archiving history was amazing and this led him to setting up his ‘Sports Treasure House’, popularly known as ‘Naqvisaab Museum’ in Ruwi. With newspaper cuttings from the early 50’s to documents and awards, he had all of these in his personal collection.
Recipient of the Indo-Oman Friendship Award, he played a huge role in strengthening Indo-Oman sporting ties. As much as I knew him, since being introduced to him by my friend Ashok Purohit, Naqvi saheb was an embodiment of the Ganga-Jamuna tahzeeb. I have not known many more people who were as firmly ensconced in the values of secularism as he was.
I deeply regret the fact that after I returned back to Oman in 2011 to work for the Times of Oman newspaper as a news editor, and later as its deputy editor, I could not remain in regular touch with him. But Naqvi saheb never stopped doing his bit. Often, when he would spot some article of mine on the newspaper’s page and call me, or send a message, to convey he had really liked that piece.
Ashok Purohit, who was closely associated with him, says, “Naqvi saab, as he was popularly known as, was the ‘sporting ambassador’ of India, and played a phenomenal role in enhancing relations between India and Oman. One of the best hockey players in India during the 60’s, he devoted his whole life to sports.”
Purohit adds: “Widely recognised for his contribution to Oman Olympic Movement and Oman hockey, he was a mentor for many young players for more than five decades.”
Agrees Mohandoss T Kalathil, assistant editor at DTNext and a former sports editor with the Times of Oman, as he says, “His [Naqvi’s] demise is a huge loss for the global hockey fraternity and a personal loss for me and my family having been associated with him during my days as Sports Editor of the Times of Oman in Muscat. Though physically diminutive, he was a towering figure as far as knowledge of hockey is concerned. When he used to reminisce about his past, he always poured out volumes and there was a special spark in his eye when he talked about hockey wizard Dada Dhyan Chand and KD Singh Babu among others.”
“A player of repute often addressed as ‘Moulana’ by Dhyan Chand, he strived hard to enhance the Indo-Oman Friendship in sports all through his stay in Oman. The sorry side is that though recognised by the Government of Sultanate of Oman, he breathed his last yearning and hoping that one day the Indian government will one day recognise his service. He, though, has been an inspiration for many in India and Oman,” points out Mohandoss.
“However, I have the satisfaction of writing the script, directing and producing a documentary ‘Evergreen Ace’ on his life history and I thank the then Oman Sports Minister Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy to have launched the film, which won rave reviews,” adds Mohandoss, while narrating his association with Naqvi saheb.
“During this moment of sorrow, I still hope this legendary father of hockey will be recognised by his mother land at least posthumously. Naqvi saab, you will continue to live in our hearts and you will remain ‘evergreen’ for Indian and Oman hockey #RIPSASNAQVI,” says Mohandoss on a concluding note.
Mehre Alam is a senior journalist. He is currently working as a Consulting Editor with the Qatar Tribune newspaper. He has worked in senior positions at leading newspapers in India and abroad including Hindustan Times, Khaleej Times, Times of Oman etc. He can be reached at mehrealam@gmail.com
exceptional site post. I’m going to bookmark and check out much more often. I adore the site template