The ancestral home of Indian hockey icon and Padma Shri recipient Mohammad Shahid was demolished on Sunday as part of a road widening initiative at the Court Road intersection, under the Varanasi Court Road to Sandha infrastructure development plan.
The demolition was part of a broader drive that saw 13 residential structures razed to facilitate the expansion of the road network. Shahid’s house, built in the 1920s, held deep emotional and historical value, particularly for the local sporting community, having served as a symbol of inspiration for generations of hockey players.
City officials said that all families affected by the project, including Shahid’s, were offered compensation. However, despite repeated notices and a final ultimatum, some residents—including a few members of Shahid’s family—did not vacate the designated portions of their homes. This led to the use of bulldozers by municipal authorities to clear the area.
According to City Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Alok Verma, seven out of nine family members accepted the compensation, but two remained in the house citing a lack of alternative accommodation.
Family members expressed deep anguish over the demolition. Nazneen, a relative, spoke of the immense emotional loss, describing the house as not just a family home, but a site of legacy and pride. Shahid’s widow and son have since appealed to the administration to establish a memorial at the site, in honor of his contributions to Indian hockey.
Officials have stated that the request for a memorial is currently under consideration.
Mohammad Shahid was a key member of India’s gold medal-winning team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and is remembered for his dazzling stickwork and speed on the field. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1980–81 and the Padma Shri in 1986. He passed away in July 2016.
