Day 423 - 11th March 2012

Today's blog post is dedicated to one of the unsung heroes of Indian cricket. Being a cricket fan I was appalled that I had never heard his name until recently when a Prof. Mathew mentioned his name in the Indian Cinema class. The name Palwankar Baloo does not feature in too many Indian cricket history magazines/journals. Consistent with public perception, I was always under the impression that 'Colonel' C.K. Nayudu was the first star of Indian cricket. However long before Nayudu played, there was a Dalit sweeper from Poona Club who had captured the imagination of the nation with his mesmerising slow left arm bowling. Palwankar Baloo used to roll the pitch at Poona Club and make the necessary line markings for the crease. Some the English players asked him to bowl at them in the nets and they soon realised that he had some serious talent. As would be the case for most of his cricketing career, Baloo did not get too much of an opportunity to play in conservative Poona. He then made the decision to move with his family to Bombay - the home of Indian cricket. Even over here his selection to the Hindu Gymkhana team was met with stiff resistance, however his cricketing talent overrode his caste in this case and he went on to become one of the highest wicket takers in the Quadrangular tournament in Bombay. Baloo also raised his three brothers - Shivram, Vitthal and Ganpat to become cricketers. Of them Vitthal was the most successful, he was one of the most prolific batsmen for the Hindu Gymkhana.

Baloo's struggle did not end after he was chosen for the team. He was overlooked for the captaincy because of his caste. He was never allowed to enter the pavillion, lunch and tea were served to him in separate vessels. In spite of this he continued to play cricket and take wickets. He toured England in the early 1900's and still remains the only Indian bowler to take more than 100 wickets in a tour of England. There were many instances when he was dropped from the team by high handed 'Brahmin' selectors and was brought back due to the public outrage at him not being included. Baloo however would have felt a sense of accomplishment when his younger brother - Vitthal was asked to captain the Hindu Gymkhana team. An untouchable leading a team of royalty and upper castes was unthinkable in those days!

I have been reading Corner of A Foreign Field for the past three days and this story has stuck with me. As a cricket fan I feel it is my duty to acknowledge the Palwankar brothers' contribution to the game in India. Biased historians have not given them their due. It took Ramachandra Guha's book which was released in 2002 to bring to our notice the brothers who have to be treated at par with the Waughs, Flowers, Chappels and Mohammeds of the world!