Jasdev’s voice carried the lilt of jingling bangles, Doshi says, and as India started ceding dominance to Pakistan in late 70s and early 80s, his modulating voice and precise choice of words would soften the blow, as he would offer the cushioning ready excuse for listeners and viewers, post a loss. He remained the presiding voice of the 1982 Asian Games and 1987 World Cup.
Hockey legend Balbir Singh though recalls Jasdev’s voice in the golden years – especially the 19 December, 1966 Asiad final against Pakistan from Bangkok, and how he had returned to hear of the description of the move initiated by him. “There were 4 of us from my village in that team. And the speed of his calling was so fast that everyone in India could visualise what was happening. But most of all we were all very proud that though he was a Khalsa Sardar, his Hindi was so completely free of any accent. He was a pleasure to hear,” he recalls.
Narottam Puri who called matches with Jasdev – who had also been his father’s co-commentator – pins it down to three aspects – Jasdev’s cultured voice, his command over Hindi and knowledge of the medium. “There was clarity in his voice, and he was so fluent in Hindi that he didn’t need a takiakalaam (pet phrase) to stand out. Unlike today’s generation that keeps using the word ‘like’, Jasdev’s commentary would flow smoothly,” Puri says. “Not many could carry off the poignancy of a funeral of a state head or the grandeur of a Republic day parade like him,” he says of the consummate broadcaster, who was also around when India won its first Test in West Indies.
While Ajitpal Singh recalls how Jasdev knew the nuances about every hockey player, Balbir remembers sitting in the stadium once and listening to him on radio. “When we would return from competitions, people would tell us how it felt like watching the match when they heard his vivid commentary,” former star Govinda adds.
While Doshi insists that Jasdev’s was the most original style, his achievement was to always ‘stay with the ball’ and retain his dulcet voice. Though the story goes that at the German embassy he was once asked to open his mouth wide, as they joked that there was “no motor inside”. “Unme chup rehne ki kala thi. His pauses built drama,” Doshi adds, stressing that the mix of Urdu and Hindi which he mastered living in Jaipur greatly contributed to his charm.
He always landed an hour and half before the start of the game, and would have diligently done his background homework before every match – a habit that juniors at DD caught on.
Perhaps lesser known is his calling of athletics at the Games. “100m is not easy to cover. And in those days there was no action replay. He would take off at the right juncture and 9 times out of 10 would call the winner right even when races were close which they almost always were,” recalls Wagle, who found a mentor and a mine of words in Jasdev.
The ‘lekin’ would often bring down the crescendo of expectations as the hockey move fizzled out. On Tuesday the final whistle rang out. Like Jasdev Singh would’ve inimitably said: “Yeh hooter iss baat ka sanket ki 70 minutes samapat ho gaye hain aur Bharat is match ko …”