View source for Keshav Dutt

{{Short description|Indian field hockey player (1925–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
|name=Keshav Dutt
|image=
|fullname=Keshav Chander Datt
|birth_date={{birth date|1925|12|29|df=yes}}
|birth_place= [[Lahore]], [[British India]]
|death_date= {{death date and age|2021|7|7|1925|12|29|df=yes}}
|death_place= [[Kolkata]], [[India]]
|height=
|position=[[Field hockey#Positions|Halfback]]
|youthclubs1=
|youthyears1=
|clubs1= Calcutta Port Commissioners
|years1= 1950
|caps(goals)1=
|clubs2= [[Mohun Bagan AC (field hockey)|Mohun Bagan]]
|years2= 1951–1960
|caps(goals)2=
|clubs3= 
|years3= 
|caps(goals)3=
|clubs4= 
|years4= 
|caps(goals)4=
|nationalteam1=[[India men's national field hockey team|India]]
|nationalyears1= 1947–1956
|nationalcaps(goals)1=22 (2)
|updated=
|show-medals=yes
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport|Men's [[field hockey]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Field hockey at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}} [[File:Olympic rings.svg|center|80px]]
{{MedalGold|[[1948 Summer Olympics|1948 London]]|[[Field hockey at the 1948 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Helsinki]]|[[Field hockey at the 1952 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
}}

'''Keshav Chandra Dutt''',<ref>Other sources spell his name ''Datt''.</ref> also spelt as '''Keshav Datt'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 July 2021|title=Two-time Olympic gold medalist Keshav Datt dies aged 95|url=https://www.espn.in/field-hockey/story/_/id/31774721/keshav-datt-dies-aged-95|access-date=9 July 2021|publisher=ESPN|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184851/https://www.espn.in/field-hockey/story/_/id/31774721/keshav-datt-dies-aged-95|url-status=live}}</ref> (29 December 1925 – 7 July 2021), was an Indian [[field hockey]] player and played as a [[Field hockey#Positions|halfback]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Former Olympian Keshav Dutt slams IHF |url= http://www.planetfieldhockey.com/PFH/Item-View-18163-27 |publisher=planetfieldhockey.com |date= 1 September 2005 |access-date= 10 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141017023337/http://www.planetfieldhockey.com/PFH/Item-View-18163-27 |archive-date=17 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was a part of the team that won gold medals at the [[1948 Summer Olympics|1948]] and [[1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sahni |first=Jaspreet |date=24 May 2021 |title=India's Olympic Firsts: Maiden medal as an 'independent' nation, a hockey gold in 1948 {{!}} Tokyo Olympics News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tokyo-olympics/indias-olympic-firsts-maiden-medal-as-an-independent-nation-a-hockey-gold-in-1948/articleshow/82902287.cms |access-date=9 July 2021 |website=The Times of India |language=en |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711212919/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tokyo-olympics/indias-olympic-firsts-maiden-medal-as-an-independent-nation-a-hockey-gold-in-1948/articleshow/82902287.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> He made 22 international appearances for India and scored two goals in his career. Keshav was the last surviving member of the Indian hockey team which participated at the 1948 London Olympic Games.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Sarangi|first=Y. B.|date=7 July 2021|title=Olympic gold-winning hockey legend Keshav Datt dies|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/hockey-legend-keshav-datt-dead/article35185012.ece|access-date=9 July 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185448/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/hockey/hockey-legend-keshav-datt-dead/article35185012.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wbsportsandyouth.gov.in/hockey|title=WB Sports & Youth Dept — Hockey in West Bengal|access-date=26 January 2024|archive-date=15 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415220739/https://wbsportsandyouth.gov.in/hockey|website=wbsportsandyouth.gov.in|publisher=West Bengal Department of Youth Services And Sports|location=Kolkata}}</ref> He was regarded as one of the finest Indian hockey centre half-backs.

== Biography ==
He was born on 29 December 1925 in [[Lahore]] (which was then part of British India before the partition). He pursued his higher studies at the [[Government College University, Lahore]].<ref name=":0" /> He moved to [[Bombay]] and later settled in [[Kolkata]] in 1950 at a time when his birthplace Lahore (which later became part of Pakistan after it gained independence in 1947) endured post-independence riots in 1948.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Keshav Dutt: A legend, a crowd-puller and a winner {{!}} Kolkata News – Times of India|language=en|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/keshav-dutt-a-legend-a-crowd-puller-and-a-winner/articleshow/84216383.cms|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-date=3 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103154742/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/keshav-dutt-a-legend-a-crowd-puller-and-a-winner/articleshow/84216383.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 July 2021|title=Keshav Datt: A life and career shaped by Partition|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/hockey/keshav-datt-a-life-and-career-shaped-by-partition-101625672240214.html|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709064833/https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/hockey/keshav-datt-a-life-and-career-shaped-by-partition-101625672240214.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dutt served as president of both the [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|CC&FC]] and Saturday Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/sports/keshav-datt-giant-on-the-field-with-simple-ideology/cid/1821670|title=Datt, giant on the field with simple ideology|first1=Gurbux|last1=Singh|date=8 July 2021|website=telegraphindia.com|publisher=The Telegraph|location=Kolkata|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103160327/https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/keshav-datt-giant-on-the-field-with-simple-ideology/cid/1821670|archive-date=3 November 2023|access-date=26 August 2023}}</ref>

== Career ==
He was part of the Indian team captained by [[Dhyan Chand]] which toured East Africa to play in a hockey tournament in 1947.<ref name=":0" /> Dutt was also mentored by Dhyan Chand during his early playing days.

He made his maiden Olympic appearance representing [[India at the 1948 Summer Olympics]] and was part of the Indian squad which thrashed Great Britain 4–0 in the final to clinch gold.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 October 2017|title=Hockey at the 1948 London Summer Games: Men's Hockey {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1948/HOK/mens-hockey.html|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026164628/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1948/HOK/mens-hockey.html|archive-date=26 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sportstar|first=Team|title=On this day: India bags first Olympic hockey gold post independence|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/india-beat-great-britain-hockey-gold-medal-after-independence-1948-london-olympics/article32331814.ece|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Sportstar|date=12 August 2020 |language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190856/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/india-beat-great-britain-hockey-gold-medal-after-independence-1948-london-olympics/article32331814.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> He was the vice captain of the Indian team at the [[India at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952 Summer Olympics]] where India secured gold medal in the final against the Netherlands with a comfortable 6–1 win.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 July 2017|title=Hockey at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games: Men's Hockey {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1952/HOK/mens-hockey.html|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729043358/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1952/HOK/mens-hockey.html|archive-date=29 July 2017}}</ref> He was also in the radar for the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] but could not make it into the team due to his professional commitments with [[Brooke Bond]].<ref name=":0" /> It was revealed that his employer Brooke Bond did not grant him permission to participate at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 July 2021|title=Keshav Datt, 1948 and 1952 Olympic star, passes away|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/indian-hockey-legend-keshav-datt-passes-away-7393001/|access-date=9 July 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184617/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/indian-hockey-legend-keshav-datt-passes-away-7393001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He played for Calcutta Port Commissioners in 1950 and then joined [[Mohun Bagan AC (field hockey)|Mohun Bagan AC]] in 1951 after accepting the invitation from [[Jahar Ganguly]] who served as the then secretary of Mohun Bagan Hockey.<ref name=":0" /> Dutt also captained the Mohun Bagan side from 1951 to 1953 and was also reappointed as captain for one season from 1957 to 1958. He played a key role during the 1952 Beighton Cup where Mohun Bagan emerged as winners for the first time in the tournament history. During his ten-year career with Mohun Bagan club, the club won a total of three [[Beighton Cup]]s and six [[Calcutta Hockey League]] titles.<ref>{{Cite magazine|via=Press Trust of India|date=July 7, 2021|title=Olympic gold-winning hockey legend Keshav Datt dies|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/hockey/story/olympic-gold-winning-hockey-legend-keshav-datt-dies-1824945-2021-07-07|access-date=9 July 2021|magazine=India Today|language=en|archive-date=7 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707074915/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/hockey/story/olympic-gold-winning-hockey-legend-keshav-datt-dies-1824945-2021-07-07|url-status=live}}</ref> He also played badminton, representing Bengal at the national level.<ref name=":1" />

== Honours ==
He received the prestigious Banglar Gourav award in 2013 from the State Government of Bengal.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nilesh Bhattacharya|date=Jul 8, 2021|title=Keshav Datt, a link to hockey's golden era, passes away {{!}} Off the field News – Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/off-the-field/keshav-datt-a-link-to-hockeys-golden-era-passes-away/articleshow/84225888.cms|access-date=9 July 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708050917/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/off-the-field/keshav-datt-a-link-to-hockeys-golden-era-passes-away/articleshow/84225888.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> He was conferred with the Mohun Bagan award in 2019 and became the first non footballer to receive the award.<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 July 2019|title=Olympic Gold-medallist Keshav Dutt, Ex-India Football Skipper Prasun Banerjee to Receive Mohun Bagan Ratna|url=https://www.news18.com/news/sports/olympic-gold-medallist-keshav-dutt-ex-india-football-skipper-prasun-banerjee-to-receive-mohun-bagan-ratna-2241549.html|access-date=9 July 2021|website=News18|language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185920/https://www.news18.com/news/sports/olympic-gold-medallist-keshav-dutt-ex-india-football-skipper-prasun-banerjee-to-receive-mohun-bagan-ratna-2241549.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, he received the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in the field of hockey.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sarangi|first=Y. B.|title=Olympian Keshav Dutt to receive Hockey Bengal lifetime achievement award|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/hockey-bengal-keshav-dutt-major-dhyan-chand-lifetime-achievement-award-sports-news/article32475475.ece|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Sportstar|date=29 August 2020 |language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190533/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/hockey-bengal-keshav-dutt-major-dhyan-chand-lifetime-achievement-award-sports-news/article32475475.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

He also received honorary mention in Dhyan Chand's autobiography ''Goal'' where Chand rated Dutt as one of the greatest half-backs during the post-independence years in India.<ref name=":0" />

== Death ==
He died on 7 July 2021 at the age of 95 due to age-related ailments in [[Santoshpur, Kolkata|Santoshpur]], Kolkata.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dutta|first=Koushik|date=7 July 2021|title=প্রয়াত দু'বার অলিম্পিকসে সোনাজয়ী কেশব দত্ত, ভারত-চীন যুদ্ধের পর দান করেছিলেন মেডেল|url=https://banglahunt.com/two-time-olympic-hockey-gold-medallist-keshav-dutt-passes-away/|access-date=7 July 2021|website=Bangla Hunt|language=bn|archive-date=7 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707060903/https://banglahunt.com/two-time-olympic-hockey-gold-medallist-keshav-dutt-passes-away/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 July 2021|title=Keshav Datt Passes Away: Mamata Banarjee Offers Condolences To Indian Hockey Legend's Family {{!}} 🏆 LatestLY|url=https://www.latestly.com/socially/sports/keshav-datt-passes-away-mamata-banarjee-offers-condolences-to-indian-hockey-legends-family-2617935.html|access-date=7 July 2021|website=LatestLY|language=en|archive-date=7 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707051118/https://www.latestly.com/socially/sports/keshav-datt-passes-away-mamata-banarjee-offers-condolences-to-indian-hockey-legends-family-2617935.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Y.B.Sarangi|title=Hockey Olympians remember Keshav Datt|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/keshav-datt-death-hockey-olympians-remember-legend-gurbux-singh-bir-bahadur-chhetri/article35192914.ece|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Sportstar|date=7 July 2021 |language=en|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185100/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/keshav-datt-death-hockey-olympians-remember-legend-gurbux-singh-bir-bahadur-chhetri/article35192914.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{SR/Olympics|du/keshav-dutt-1|archive=20140717024627}}
* {{databaseOlympics|DUTTKES01|archive=20070216145546}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{Olympics.com|keshava-datt|Keshav Datt}}

{{India FH Squad 1948 Summer Olympics}}
{{India FH Squad 1952 Summer Olympics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutt, Keshav}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Lahore]]
[[Category:Field hockey players from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Olympic field hockey players for India]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Field hockey players at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Indian male field hockey players]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in field hockey]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Government College University, Lahore alumni]]