A Celebration Of Sports

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Sir Dorabji Tata was a selfless person who believed in the constructive utilisation of wealth for the welfare of the people and nation building.
Amongst his many passions was 'Sports'.

An embodiment of the pioneering spirit, Sir Dorabji Tata was a man deeply appreciative of the power of sports in transforming lives. A skilled sportsman, he was one of the key proponents of India's participation in Olympics.

To honour his immense contribution, we have instituted
'A Celebration Of Sports' lecture series.

The third ‘A Celebration Of Sports’ lecture will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at Fasy Auditorium, Loyola School, Jamshedpur.

The 2019 edition will witness an evening of scintillating conversation between badminton legend Pullela Gopichand and Boria Majumdar.

Pullela Gopichand is a recipient of Padma Bhushan, Dronacharya and Arjuna awards. He is the Chief National Coach - Indian Badminton Team, and also the founder of Gopichand Badminton Academy which has produced several iconic badminton players including Saina Nehwal, P V Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Parupalli Kashyap and Srikanth Kidambi.

A Rhodes Scholar, Boria Majumdar, completed his doctorate and thesis - the much acclaimed "Twenty-Two Yards to Freedom: A Social History of Indian Cricket" in 2004. He was subsequently nominated for publication in the Oxford monographs series. He was also the first Indian to be awarded a fellowship to work at the International Olympic museum archives at Luisanne, Switzerland.

This year the lecture will be held on Sunday, August 26, 2018 at the Fasy Auditorium, Loyola School, Jamshedpur.

The event will feature Padma Shri Zafar Iqbal, Olympic Gold Medalist & Arjuna Award recipient and Ric Charlesworth, Olympic Silver Medalist & Hockey Australia Hall of Fame Inductee speaking of their love for sports and the journey to glory. Boria Majumdar, eminent sports journalist and author will be the moderator for the session.

Former Captain Zafar Iqbal has made invaluable contribution to the Indian Hockey Team. He played and won the Silver Medal at the Asian Games in Bangkok and New Delhi. The crowning glory of his illustrious career was when he represented India at the Moscow Olympics and brought home the Gold Medal. He has also been conferred the Arjuna Award, the highest award for sports in India, for his outstanding contribution to Indian Hockey.

Ric Charlesworth is a former Captain and one of the most successful coaches in Australian Hockey. He is the first person to have played in and coached a Gold medal-winning World Cup team in hockey. He is an Officer of the Order of Australia and a Hockey Australia Hall of Fame Inductee.

About Sir Dorabji Tata (August 27, 1859 - June 3, 1932)

Sir Dorabji Tata, the elder son of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, attended the Proprietory High School in Bombay and, at the age of 16, was sent to a private tutor in Kent in England. At 18, he attended Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge.

It was in England that Sir Dorabji discovered his love for sports. During the two years he was at Cambridge, he distinguished himself at sports, winning honours for cricket and football. He also played tennis for his college, became an expert rower, won a number of sprint events and was a good horseman.

Sir Dorabji had an enduring love of sport, trying his hand at different disciplines in his younger days and, later, becoming a strong patron and supporter of the Indian Olympic Association. In fact, India owed its participation in the Olympic Games at Antwerp in 1920 in great measure to Sir Dorabji. As president of the Indian Olympic Council, he financed the Indian contingent that went to the Paris Olympiad of 1924. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Sir Dorabji had the country scoured for sports talent. He arranged for the then director of the Young Men’s Christian Association to tour the country and bring home to the people of India the importance of the Olympic movement. He helped found, among other institutions in Bombay, the Willingdon Sports Club, the Parsi Gymkhana, the High Schools Athletic Association and the Bombay Presidency Olympic Games Association.

Today, his love for sports resonates in our continuing work to promote and support athletes in every field.