 Ageing gracefully
A recent conversation with K R Rajagopal, the former Tamil Nadu and Karnataka opening batsman, led to reminiscences about a number of old timers, especially Raja's former mates at Jolly Rovers. Enquiries were made about Najam Hussain, the all-rounder who played an important part in that team's exploits in the sixties. It was soon learnt that Najam has not been in the pink of financial health for a while now. It is a tragedy that former sportsmen, even cricketers who are the object of the envy of many others, still do not have a secure future after their playing days are over, unless they happen to be Test cricketers or at least Ranji Trophy players, after their remuneration was revised to meet some decent standards. Najam was a simple man, who did not know much beyond cricket, at which he was very good, and therefore paid the price post retirement from the game. There is as yet no mechanism by which to try and ameliorate the condition of such indigent, former cricketers.
A couple of other former cricketers I met recently are fortunately doing much better. M G Bhavanarayanan was for years the twelfth man in the Madras team for the Ranji Trophy, mainly thanks to his brilliant fielding. He was also a more than useful medium pacer and capable batsman, but these qualities never won him a place in the playing eleven of the state team. Bhava is one of those natural athletes, who never put on weight and are naturally fit and agile, even after leaving their thirties behind them. In Bhava's case, the playing career extended itself into his sixties, when he continued to play for Port Trust where he worked, and in Tambaram, where he lived. Living in that distant suburb, he was one of the pillars of Chingleput district cricket. He had the unique distinction of playing in the league and other tournaments along with his sons Venkatesh, Ramesh and Suresh. Of the three sons, all rounder Ramesh, popularly known by the nickname of Jillu is the most accomplished cricketer, while Suresh briefly flattered to deceive as a leg spinner. Ramesh played most of his serious cricket for Chemplast and Jolly Rovers and Suresh played for State Bank of India in the seventies and eighties. Bhava has been a league umpire for many seasons and during the last few years, helped the organisers of the annual cricket event for naval officers in Chennai in the role of adjudicator of man-of-the-match and other awards. At seventy plus, he is still superbly fit.
The other veteran I ran into recently is K Radhakrishnan, for many years the mainstay of Bunts Cricket Club, of which he is now the secretary, besides being an executive of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. I have all along known that Radha is a law graduate who opened the innings for the Madras Law College team, but was recently surprised to learn from a magazine article that he is 'Dr K Radhakrishnan'. Meeting him recently at a function I asked him whether he held a doctorate, he gently reminded me that he is the scion of an eminent family involved in the manufacture of ayurvedic drugs. He heads the manufacturing side of Kesari Kuteeram, the manufacturers of such well known patented products as Lodhra, while his wife is a qualified physician of the same discipline. Like Bhava, Radha, who must be nearing seventy, looks very much younger than his age too, and is a natty dresser. Soft spoken and ever smiling Radhakrishnan is the proud father of the popular singer Unnikrishnan, who at one time was undecided whether to concentrate on cricket or music. (Music eventually won, as we all know). Radhakrishnan played some memorable matches in his time, but none more interesting than the one Mylapore Recreation Club—his team then—won in the 1960s, despite having only five players on the ground, beating Gopalapuram Cricket Club.
Bhavanarayanan and Radhakrishnan are examples of former cricketers who have preserved themselves well over the years, contributing usefully to society long after their retirement, and carrying themselves with dignity and grace. Fortunately, such people outnumber the Najam Hussains of cricket, who deserve our sympathy and help.
V Ramnarayan
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