In Memoriam: MK Kaushik

He preferred to stay away from the limelight, always pushing others – in his opinion, more deserving folk – ahead. His passion, simplicity and his humility combined with his far-sighted vision and his clear thinking to endear himself to everyone whose lives he touched. Maharaj Krishan Kaushik’s passing due to Covid-19 related complications on May 8 brings several waves of such memories.

One more time.

We saw that in Bangkok in 1998 where he masterminded the Asian Games gold for the men’s team after a 32-year gap and in the 2002 Commonwealth Games where the women’s team beat Australia and England in successive matches to win gold. He chose to slip into the background and let the teams bask in the spotlight as they had truly earned themselves that right.

In his inimitable style, Kaushik got film-maker Jaideep Sahni to weave in the emotional story of 1982 goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi into what has now become an iconic movie, Chak De! This quality surfaced even during our last conversation, about the Sports Authority of India’s Academy teams that had won the Hockey India National Championship for Academies in March.

Typical of the man, he deflected attention to the coaches who helmed the teams rather than take any credit himself for bringing the eclectic team together under difficult circumstances. Yet, hard as he tried all his life, Kaushik can never slip away from the memories of those whose lives he touched with his simplicity and humility.

He never spoke about his work in making Haryana a powerful state on the Indian sporting firmament. He served the State’s Department of Sports as Deputy Director with as much commitment as he showed in his roles as a player or coach or selector.

Come to think of it, you did not need to have watched MK Kaushik sprint down the right flank and centre the ball into the circle with pace and precision nor did you not need to have seen him coach teams. Instead, you just had to spend a few moments, sometimes stretching to long hours, listening to him to feel his intense passion for hockey and all other sport.

Having risen from the ranks of the Combined Universities team in the National Junior Championships in 1972 to winning nearly 60 caps with the National team between 1975 and 1982 – with the 1980 Olympic Games gold medal as the crowning glory – he wore his stardom lightly. Even as a coach, he cared for his players and their rights while demanding responsibility from them.

It is not as if he did not face challenges and had everything handed to him on a platter. The fact that he was removed as coach of the team on return from the Asian Games in 1998 and a sexual harassment allegation that did not stick were tested his resilience and mental strength severely. He rallied each time, shaken but retaining focus on the tasks he assigned himself to speak for his sport.

It was almost as if Kaushik was blessed with a remarkable ability to make anyone who sought his time feel special by paying attention and sharing all that he knew. He would never disappoint. Nor would he say things for effect. He spoke his mind without inhibition and with a lucidity, sharing an insight that made him rare, if not unique.

If Maharaj Krishan Kaushik were to have his way, the waves of memories would pause as he would have directed attention to his team-mates, his colleagues, his friends and everyone but himself. One more time. But, now as the unthinkable has overwhelmed us, we lament his passing and let the memories tug at our hearts and souls, unaware that the tear-sacs have been unplugged.

Image: Courtesy Golden Boot, Triumph and Tragedy of A Coach, MK Kaushik and K Arumugam.