Mother’s cricketing passion

Remembered by Krishnadas Varma

As the Champion’s Trophy tournament gets underway, I recall Mother who had, just after World War II, started reading about cricket, got passionate about it within a year, and became an armchair critic of not only the game, but the leading players of that era too.

Mother, Padmini Varma, had cricket-crazy nephews from erstwhile Cochin State, who were studying in Madras colleges like Presidency, Guindy, MIT etc. She being their de facto local guardian, found herself listening with them to the cricket commentaries on All India Radio (AIR) as well as BBC and Radio Australia (particularly when India toured England, Australia and the West Indies) and being tutored in the game.

Pretty soon, it was Don, Stan (Macabe), Len (Hutton), Walter (Hammond), Fred (Trueman), the 3Ws etc., who became household names and were bandied about at lunch, tea and dinner, particularly during weekends. It also included visits to Chepauk to watch from the MCC Members’ Enclosure visiting teams.

However, by the time the New Zealand team came to India in 1955, Test matches had shifted to the Corporation Stadium, much to her disappointment. Chepauk, with its trees, verdant surroundings and temporary wooden stands had been a joy to behold, compared to this concrete stadium. The shift, however, did not deter her interest, and the T(errace) stand became her favourite after the world record opening partnership of 413 by Roy and Mankad, the innings victory thereafter making it doubly sweet. The Palmtreewallah (Polly Umrigar was so named after his six-hitting exploits in the Caribbean) became her second favourite Indian player. Dattu Phadkar remained her all-time favourite in that era.

By now her reading habits were not confined to The Hindu or Sport and Pastime alone, but had extended to Indian Cricket Field Annual which Dicky Rutnagar brought out. The statistics were memorised and she startled many a cricket fan she came across at not only the ground, but at parties as well. S.K. Gurunathan, the then Sports Editor of The Hindu, was a close family friend and through him she gleaned even more details about Indian and visiting players and, as if it was, first-hand knowledge, she spread the word whenever the opportunity arose.

When India played at say Bombay or Calcutta, she would be glued to the radio, which became her personal fiefdom. If India was batting, she would stay put in her chair and expect everybody else to remain where they were. She was so superstitious, she felt that if an Indian wicket fell, it was because someone had shifted places. Bowlers or fielders of opposing teams never got the credit, but if a Gupte or Mankad dismissed a batsman, she would be overjoyed and start praying even more vigorously for many more wickets to fall. That apart, when the commentary was on, our tea, lunch and dinner (overseas tests) timings were always in sync with the matches, so much so that even the staff knew when to set the table and get the food piping hot!!!

During Test matches in Madras, we would have guests, mainly relatives from Bangalore, Cochin etc., who would be billeted under Mother’s supervision in different houses and all of them would have to assemble at our place on Anderson Road from where, after breakfast, we took buses or went by car to Moore Market from where we would proceed to the G & H stands in Corporation Stadium. My parents and uncles would all have tickets for the Terrace stand, so they would come much later. Come lunchtime, however, we would all assemble at the SIAA Club where our car was parked, father Ravi Varma being a member.

Between mouthfuls, Mother and others would talk animatedly about what had happened in the game and that stopped only when lunch was over and we got back to our designated seats looked after most diligently by our neighbours, who were then duly rewarded with snacks (when the vendors came by with their baskets) at our cost, since they had ensured nobody else encroached our designated bench. The bonhomie at these times, and during the matches, had to be seen to be believed. In those five days, apart from the rest day, we would become bosom pals and, if lucky, meet them again when the next Test surfaced.

The entire programme, including lunch, was coordinated with nary a hitch by Mother. Her passion only increased her efficiency.

This flashback has been to underline the fact that India hardly won Tests as frequently as we do now and I have tried to imagine what my Mother would feel with the recent team performing as it has been.

Dates for your Diary
Till June 28: Heavenly Bodies, a photo exhibition by C.P. Satyajit (at DakshinaChitra).
Till June 30: Hidden Faces of Venice, a photo exhibition by Melanie Chagneau (at DakshinaChitra).

Please follow and like us: