Rampur village is a vibrant and lively community, deeply rooted in history and tradition. Our village is blessed by the sacred footsteps of the Gurus. The Tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, visited Rampur and rested under the Reru tree, a site that is now revered as Gurdwara Sri Reru Sahib. Esteemed saints such as Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji, Sant Baba Bhagwan Singh Ji, and Sant Baba Isar Singh Ji personally rendered service at this holy Gurdwara.
Rampur is well known not only for its religious heritage but also for its strong sporting culture. Hockey is the pride of our village, having been played on our grounds even before the partition of the country. This rich hockey tradition continues to thrive today, symbolizing the spirit and unity of our community.
- 1. Late Rachpal Singh Ji :
Late Rachpal Singh Ji was an outstanding hockey player from our village who had the honor of representing PEPSU at the national and international levels in 1957 (Bombay). He displayed exceptional skill and dedication to the game and brought great pride to our community.
- 2. Late Jarnail Singh Ji :
Late Jarnail Singh Ji represented Punjab at the national and international levels in 1958 and 1959 (Bombay). A hardworking and inspiring athlete, he remained deeply connected to the hockey field throughout his life. He regularly shared his experiences with younger players and served as a constant source of motivation, helping to uplift and strengthen the morale of aspiring athletes.
- 3. Late Master Harchand Singh Ji :
Late Master Harchand Singh Ji was a distinguished national-level hockey player who not only excelled on the field but also inspired future generations. As a Physical Training (PT) teacher at the village school, he made a significant contribution to the promotion and development of hockey among young players.
- 4. Late Surinder Singh (Neeta) Veer Ji :
Late Surinder Singh (Neeta) Veer Ji was a calm, humble, and highly respected hockey player who competed at both national and international levels. Known for his warm personality, Veer Ji connected effortlessly with players of all ages—playing with senior athletes as a peer and with children as a mentor and friend. His smiling presence and sportsmanship left a lasting impact on everyone he met.
All of these players have been a great source of inspiration for us. We learned from their dedication and achievements and pledged to follow the path they showed. With the collective efforts of our villagers and NRI heroes, a commendable initiative was undertaken to revive the proud hockey tradition of our village.
Beginning in April 2016, villagers and NRIs joined hands to rejuvenate hockey in the village. Once again, the sound of children’s sticks echoed across our grounds. Participation steadily increased, and the standard of play began to rise from where it had once declined. Soon, players from our village were once again competing at state and national levels, and the village regained recognition and prominence.
With the support of villagers and NRIs, a U-14 Sports Education Wing was established at the village school. Talented players from across Punjab were selected for this program. The children were provided with excellent accommodation and nutritious meals, ensuring a supportive environment for both education and sports development.
Every possible effort was made to secure a strong future for the children. Their hard work and discipline led to outstanding performances on the field. While boys from the village continued to excel in hockey, enthusiasm among the girls also grew significantly. The girls embraced the sport with equal passion, dedication, and success.
To further strengthen development, coaching camps and training sessions were organized under the guidance of national and international-level coaches, providing the children with high-quality instruction and mentorship.
FIH Accredited, International coach Shiv Jagdey (Beera Ji) visits our village every year to provide hockey coaching to our children. His visit is made possible through the dedicated efforts of our village’s NRI brothers—Amandeep Singh, Jagdeep Singh (Jaggi), and Ranbir Kahlon. During his time with us, Shiv Veer Ji introduces modern hockey techniques and training methods, which the children learn with great enthusiasm and dedication.
Like every village, our community dreams of seeing its children compete at the national and international levels and bring pride and recognition to their roots. These aspirations have been embraced as a shared responsibility by our villagers and NRI Veers, who have taken on the challenge of turning these dreams into reality. Standing firmly beside us in this journey is the entire team from PAU Ludhiana University, who have assured their full commitment and support in promoting and developing hockey in our village.
Rampur village is now receiving an encouraging response for hockey from across Punjab, and once again, its name is appearing in the headlines. We are confident that in the coming years, the children of our village will reach great heights and achieve remarkable success.
May God bless our villagers, NRI heroes, and children with strength, dedication, and unity. May our village continue to prosper and achieve the highest levels of progress.