Charan Singh (Kenya)

Charan Singh Umpired at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

Charan Singh Purba, known as ‘Chari’ was born on October 17, 1935 near Ludhiana, Punjab.

He arrived in Kenya after the second world war and studied at Duke of Gloucester Secondary School, Nairobi.

After further education, he joined Barclays Bank. In 1954, Chari returned to India to marry his childhood fiancée, Harjit.

Chari and his family lived next to the Sikh Union Club and played hockey for the club in the 50’s and 60’s and captained the Barclays Bank Cricket team in 1965/66.

At the same time Chari took up hockey umpiring and officiated at many international tournaments.

He achieved his full International Class One hockey umpire status in 1970.

Chari was known for his sharp umpiring skills and he would characteristically bring both the teams together in the middle of the field before the start of the game and issue a disciplinary warning to all the players!

Chari officiated at the first hockey world cup in Barcelona in 1971.

He was chosen by the FIH to officiate at the Munich Olympics in 1972 where he was voted as one of the top umpire by his peers.

His last international assignment was at the second hockey world cup in Amsterdam in 1973.

Chari and his family then moved to England and lived in Crawley, Sussex and owned a sports shop aptly named as ‘Olympic Sports’ and carried on with his sporting activities for the local town.

Sadly he died suddenly on July 10, 1983 aged 47.

He left behind his wife Harjit, daughter Davinder and two grand children, and sons Harpal, Rajinder and Amarjeet.