Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 12

Tirath Singh (32) and Manpreet Singh studied together up to Class V. When Manpreet, along with Mandeep and Varun, returned to the village after winning the bronze medal in hockey at the Tokyo Olympics, Tirath was playing the dhol to cheer for the Indian hockey team captain and his team mates.

Friends in school, both studied together up to Class V

Tirath Singh (32) and Manpreet Singh studied together up to Class V. Both were friends in school. Manpreet later shifted to a private school. Manpreet chose hockey and Tirath music. At Alipur village, he played the dhol for the second time at Mithapur this month, the first was on August 5 - the day the Indian hockey team won the bronze medal. But Tirath could not contain his happiness.

As the Olympics bronze medal winning feat was repeated at Mithapur after 49 years, the friendship between captain Manpreet and dholi Tirath Singh was also remembered.

Both were friends in school. Manpreet later shifted to a private school. Manpreet chose hockey and Tirath music.

At Alipur village, he played the dhol for the second time at Mithapur this month, the first was on August 5 — the day the Indian hockey team won the bronze medal. But Tirath could not contain his happiness.

“I cannot tell how happy I am. Pehlan 5 nu pata lagga. Manpreet mere naal school vich parhda si. (I got to know first on August 5 when called to play dhol. He studied with me in school). Mere bhra ne medal jitteya. Mennu bari khushi hai. (My brother won a medal, I’m very happy.)

Thirtytwo-year-old Tirath has been playing the dhol at Mithapur on all key occasions. He and his friend Suraj Kalyan (the other dholi) are regularly called. But yesterday was special.

Tirath quipped, “I played dhol like I never did. One of the reasons for the happiness is that Manpreet has a wonderful nature. He recognised me and waved at me from the vehicle he was riding. Back in school also, I remember him as a kind, soft-spoken boy who was gentle and polite with everyone and respectful to elders. He played then too. But I never thought he would touch such great heights in hockey.”

Tirath adds, “It feels good that friends have achieved such greatness. I wish the team achieves even greater heights during the 2024 Olympics.” Suraj Kalyan said, “I am from Subhanpur. I did not know them personally. But it is an occasion for great happiness. Pind da naa roshan kita ehna ne. (they have brought glory to the village.)