'His Soul Was In It': Why Hockey Legend Shahid's Home Is Being Razed in Varanasi

Shahid's family explains the real reasons that led to the authorities demolishing the late hockey player's home.

Why was Olympic hockey player Mohd Shahid's home razed in Varanasi?

(Photo: Aliza Noor/The Quint)

Twins Mohammed Saif and Heena Shahid, now 34, were born in an old ancestral house at Kachahri road in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This is where their late father, Hockey legend Mohammed Shahid lived and it's this house which was partially demolished on Sunday, 28 September to make way for a road development project.

Shahid's home and his story came into limelight after a video from Varanasi went viral. In the video, a visibly Muslim man could be seen pleading in front of a police official to not demolish the house.

As it turns out, Shahid's son, Saif told The Quint, "A lot of media and people are misreporting. The man in the video, requesting the police is a distant relative, Papa was Kashi Ki Shaan and got much respect. Though the demolition came as a little shock, it was not news to us."

Shahid was the last hockey player to get India a gold medal at Olympics in the history of the sports. Known as the 'master dribbler,' he won Gold at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. He was also the former Captain of the hockey team (1986).

Mohd Shahid during the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow, Russia.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

He was the recipient of Arjuna Award (1980-81), the Padma Shri (1986) Yash Bharti award (1992) by SP's Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Laxman Award (2016) by Akhilesh Yadav, posthumously.

And today, a significant part of his legacy has been erased.

'Too Painful To See The House Being Torn Down'

A century ago, in 1920, Shahid's ancestral home was built by his grandfather, Salamtullah who ran a hotel in a civil court premises.

After the 1980 Olympics victory, Shahid was able to properly build this three-storied house further. This house saw generations being brought up, first it was Shahid and then his children.

"We were born and raised in that house, our family spent 26 years there before we moved out. We had Hindu and Muslim neighbors. It wasn't just a house but also a testament to his legacy, it was this house he got all his medals and awards to," recalled Saif.

An old photo of the house before it was renovated by Shahid.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

Shahid had also worked as a cleric in the Indian Railways. He was due to retire in 2021 but he passed away in 2016 due to prolonged jaundice and liver malfunction. Saif, who is a rifle shooter, also works with the Railways and plays in the inter-department matches.

In 2012, the family moved to another house barely 600 meters away from the old one. It was built by Shahid primarily for his son to shift after his marriage. "He never wanted to leave the old house, his soul was in that home," said Parveen Shahid, 58, Shahid's wife.

Now, years later when the PwD authorities arrived on Sunday to carry out the demolition for Shahid's house as well as others in the area, his family was called to witness the demolition.

It's heartbreaking. When the house was being razed, it was too painful to see. My mother couldn't bear to see the demolition and returned. Four generations of our family lived in his house and today, it's broken down.

Muhammed Saif to The Quint

The house has been partially demolished by the PwD authorities.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

However, there's more to it than what meets the eye. While it's true that the road development project to make a four-lane road is taking away Shahid's house, there's also an element of family politics and disputes.

'I Gave The Green Signal For The Demolition': Shahid's Wife

Parveen stated that she knew beforehand about the demolition as they have been sent notices in the past one year.

She also collected necessary documents and submitted it to the PwD for them to request an appropriate compensation for all family members. The family received the compensation of Rs 32 lakh between July-August this year. Shahid was the youngest of seven brothers and three sisters so the money was distributed to each of their families except two brothers.

These two brothers were living in Shahid's house up until now and as Parveen alleged that they have ulterior motives, plans to take ownership of the house. They were also granted a stay on the demolition by the Allahabad High Court.

"We had already accepted the compensation. Hence, as much as it pained me, I gave the green signal for the demolition, to at least raze down my portion of the house so Shahid's brothers would back off. I had tears in my eyes when I saw it being demolished. Shahid invested his every rupee in that house. It also wouldn't have been fair when all other houses are also being razed for the road project," said Parveen.

Shahid with his mother Habiban Bibi. He was born and raised in that house.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

KK Singh, Executive Engineer, PwD is handling this particular road development project.

Speaking to The Quint, he stated that the project was sanctioned in November 2021 for a 9.6 kilometers road, out of this, 9.3 kilometers has been constructed and around 300-400 meters are left.

Shahid's house is located in that bracket and therefore, had to face demolition.

"Out of total 69 houses, we have demolished 47 houses so far. For Shahid's home, we intentionally only razed half the house as his brothers have gotten a stay for some portion so we have informed the family to bulldoze the rest on their own," said Singh.

This has become equivalent to rubbing salt on the family's wounds. "How do we demolish the home that belonged to our father, where spent our entire childhood?" asked Saif.

Mohd Shahid being bestowed with the Padma Shri award in 1986.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

'We Demand A Memorial For Shahid'

Shahid's sports legacy has spanned through the 1980's. After Gold in Olympics (1980), he was also a member of the team that won Silver at Asian Games (1982) and Bronze in Asian Games (1986). In 1986 World Cup, though their team lost, he was awarded the 'Best Player of the Tournament.'

With the loss of this home has also come the realisation that a significant part of Shahid's life and history has also gone with it.

Albeit for years, Parveen voiced her concerns to provide recognition for the hockey player's legacy. In 2018, she threatened to return his awards, stating that promises by the state, including a tournament in his name, were not fulfilled.

In 2019, Saif stated that a pan-India hockey tournament was started in Shahid's name and it is held in January/February annually.

"He was such a big player from UP. But except a stadium in his name in Lucknow, there's nothing to commemorate him in his own hometown. This is shameful. Hence, we demand that a memorial is built in his name on that chauraha (chowk) where his home was," said Saif.

Shahid in 1980 Olympics held in Moscow.

(Photo: Accessed by The Quint)

When we asked Singh if there are plans for a memorial for Shahid, he told The Quint, "Yes, we have intentions to construct a memorial for Shahid if his family wants. Another poet Jaishankar Prasad's home was demolished. So we will build something for them so when anyone visits, they know about them."

Parveen's voice choked the more she talked about the home and Shahid. She said that while Shahid's brothers are fighting to get a piece of the house, her fight is different. A fight to make generations remember a great hockey player.

She said, "A house might not stand tomorrow, one day it would fall or tear down but a memorial will stay forever. People might remember Shahid but how else will they know where he was from? Future generations must know of his legacy."