Yuvraj Walmiki: The story of a Yuvraj from a humble background

The Punjab government has announced a cash award of Rs 25 lakh for the entire team that won the Asian Champions trophy hockey campaign Ordos, China. The Maharashtra government has also announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh and a permanent job for their state’s star performer Yuvraj Walmiki‘s family to support Yuvraj and his family with decent facilities conducive for better living standards.

Whatever his name might indicate, Yuvraj Walmiki’s life until the Champions trophy hasn’t been something strewn with roses.

Being a part of the Indian Hockey team isn’t as glamorous as representing an IPL franchise let alone the Indian cricket team. But ironically, the publicity aspect has been the driving force behind Yuvraj pursuing Hockey dreams. Through Asian Champions trophy hockey campaign, that happened a month before, Yuvraj Walmiki made it a case to the country’s future forward prospects.

His mother, Meena wanted to celebate his success exuberantly by spending extravagantly on cooking Yuvraj’s favorite Chicken biriyani and Chicken fry. But the expenditure of Rs 1000 over sweets few days before meant that they had to borrow that amount from his father’s employer to afford it.

“I have asked his father to borrow another thousand from his employer and get the finest chicken and basmati rice on his way home from work. I have also reminded him to get extra packets of candles, as our home has not received power supply for 18 years now,” said Meena.

“He has made not only us, but also the entire nation proud. Our entire family will be going to the airport to receive him,” she added unable to control the tears falling out of her eyes.

The 21-year old’s life in the Marine Lines without basic amenities like water and electricity has indeed been an excruciating journey as it is an awe-inspiring one. His family had lived in a CHS compound that lacked the luxury of even a main door and had only a curtain to separate itself from the outside world. For them it was the neighbouring offices that offered them to perform their daily ablutions.

When Yuvraj grew up Meena’s words of advice weren’t any different from what our mothers used to tell us. “My son was obsessed with hockey since his childhood. I would always tell him that education, and not hockey would help him make a living when he grew up, but he would contradict me, saying that he would put in all his best efforts in both arenas.”

Sunil, his father exuded a combination of pride and emotions as he said, “He would sleep under the open skies — in the monsoons, he would be sheltered from the pouring rain by only a thin plastic sheet. He would study for his exams under a streetlight. He wouldn’t miss a single practice session”.

He added, “The society residents do not want us to stay in the compound, and have asked us to vacate the premises a number of times, but we have no place to go. We barely managed to educate our children, and had no surplus income to offer them any luxuries.”

In fact Yuvraj himself was wary about the problems that normally come his way. “Everyone has problems. But it is how you handle them that is important. I have never let these affect me when I stepped on the hockey ground. Many people have helped me at various stages,” Yuvraj told the reporters.

He was quick to recall the contributions of his friend Boon D’Souza, who introduced him to hockey coach and mentor Marzban Patel or Bawa as he is referred.

It is interesting to hear from his mentor how the clarity of his ambition made him turn a weakness into his strength. “As a young teenager, he had very thin legs and I was worried he may have some deformity. So, I sent him to KEM hospital for a check-up. Thankfully, it was only a case of weak knees and with time he built up some muscle. Today, he can take on any opposition,” Bawa said.

Following his recent performances his state government has promised that it will ensure that Yuvraj gets a permanent job to earn his crust.