an excerpt from Lo Bir Sendra — A Hunter within the Burning Forest by Jaipal Singh

Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India, trying on the wicket together with Jaipal Singh (close to the stumps) earlier than the beginning of the MPs trial cricket sport on the Nationwide Stadium, Delhi on September 05, 1953.
| Picture Credit score: The Hindu archives

The Olympic successful hockey captain of the 1928 Amsterdam Video games and a stalwart of the Adivasi motion organised a number of sporting occasions as a parliamentarian. In his memoir, Lo Bir Sendra: A Hunter within the Burning Forest, Jaipal Singh remembers organising a cricket match for MPs. Jawaharlal Nehru, S. Radhakrishnan and a number of politicians took the sphere. The editors of the memoir be aware that it was written throughout an extended sea voyage to Europe in 1969, a yr earlier than Singh’s loss of life. It was first printed by ‘Prabhat Khabar’ with a foreword by Stan Swamy, however quickly went out of print. With its republication, a brand new era of readers will study of Singh’s life and occasions. An edited excerpt:

Jaipal Singh
| Picture Credit score:
PIB

There have been additionally events when sporting occasions needed to be organised for MPs. The primary one I took cost of occurred in September 1953, within the wake of the floods that besieged Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. I discovered there have been sufficient cricketers in Parliament, a few of them high class, just like the maharaja of Dungarpur and Sardar Surjit Singh Majithia. The Parliamentary Sports activities Membership was fashioned with Nehru as chairman, the president of the republic as patron, and I, supervisor. I appointed the maharajadhiraj of Darbhanga as treasurer. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was a eager member of the manager committee.

I made a decision that there ought to be a match between the Prime Minister’s XI and the Vice-President’s (Dr. Radhakrishnan). The press took all this as a joke to ridicule the MPs. I organized internet follow and gave press communiques. Particular blazers and caps with the parliamentary badge have been additionally issued for the collaborating gamers. Even the Prime Minister needed to pay for his blazer and cap.

Bata sneakers for Gopalan

Attribute ‘native’ issues cropped up. Kaka Gadgil, a Cupboard minister, insisted on enjoying in his dhoti. Gopalan, the communist chief, had by no means worn boots. Rajkumari Kaur and Begum Aizaz Rasul insisted on their inclusion. A deputation of Nehru’s admirers demanded he shouldn’t play. Though I had taken the choice with out consulting anyone, Nehru needed to play so I included him. No dhotis in cricket, I made a decision. I purchased Bata sneakers for Gopalan. I promised the ladies I’d not go away them out if I couldn’t get twenty-two male gamers. I mentioned they might even umpire.

The brochure was a giant job. Anthony de Mello, fomer president of the Board of Management for Cricket in India, took cost of this job. I acquired a letter of assist from the Prime Minister, and this acquired ‘Tony’ a whole bunch of ads. We made almost ₹50,000 on this one merchandise. Tony, who was additionally honorary common secretary of the Nationwide Sports activities Membership of India, organised a Parliament-like seating association within the Nationwide Stadium Gallery for distinguished guests, the Speaker’s company, within the officers’ field and the President’s field. Seating additionally needed to be organized for the gamers. Lala Sir Sri Ram, a giant businessman, undertook to lunch us. Beer, I acquired free from Dyer Meakin.

Printing the tickets was additionally an issue. In Delhi, and maybe elsewhere, it rapidly turns into a money-making enterprise, with black markets rising nearly instantly after tickets are printed. Tony related me with one in all his many stooges. Twenty-five thousand one-rupee tickets have been printed for the hoi polloi. Then, ten- and five-rupee tickets for the Bhavnagar Pavilion. I organized for one row of thousand-rupee tickets simply behind the groups. Each ticket bought out. Maharajas have been eager to sit down close to the Prime Minister. I had no issue with the twenty-five thousand one-rupee tickets. I gave them to P.L. Mehta, the Delhi police chief, and acquired ₹25,000!

The President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, an amazing lover of sports activities, arrived by the entrance lane. I offered the 2 groups to him. Dr. Radhakrishnan placed on the cricket cap for a change. The 2 captains needed to exit to the sphere for the toss. Nehru, the Harrovian, inspected the pitch and Tony commentated on the ongoings. A gold sovereign donated by [Ramnath] Podar, the left-hand bowler, determined in Nehru’s favour. Majithia and M.Ok. Krishna thrashed the bowling. An Indian crowd will not be within the finer factors of cricket. They need boundaries. Majithia gave them the boundaries. The spectators weren’t actually excited about cricket. They solely needed to see the nationwide hero in motion. I put him in with Gopalan, who had by no means performed cricket in his life.

Shah Nawaz bowled to Nehru. The primary ball he utterly missed. The second narrowly contacted his bat and he scored two. The third ball whizzed previous him and went to gully. He ran, Gopalan didn’t. When the ball was thrown again to the wicket keeper, Barrow, he wouldn’t stump Nehru and threw the ball to the boundary. I declared the innings.

Caught by Nehru

The maharaja of Dungarpur Maharawal Sir Lakshman Singh captained the Vice President’s XI. He opened the innings. Normal Maharaja Ajit Singh bowled from the NSCI finish. Lakshman Singh hit the very first ball up into the air straight in my path. It was a straightforward catch, however I dropped it. Keshav Malaviya got here in third. He was a left-hander and was caught by Nehru. The gang went rapturous with applause. For months, Nehru talked of the catch.

The ladies insisted on enjoying. Begum Aizaz Rasul had turned up in trousers. I disillusioned them. As a substitute of enjoying, I requested them to promote the brochures. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and Renu Chakravarty introduced in essentially the most gross sales.

The match was broadcast by All-India Radio. The Speaker, Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, was launched by the maharajkumar of Vizianagram, Vijay Ananda Gajapathi Raju, an outdated Take a look at participant. Nehru additionally spoke. I too needed to make my feedback. Hirendranath Chattopadhyay amused us all together with his topical limericks. The umpires have been Normal Rajendra Singhji and Anthony de Mello.

One incident irritated me. The house minister, Dr. Kailash Nath Katju, turned up with out a ticket. On the major gate the police didn’t dare cease his automobile. However when it approached the principle stadium entrance, he wasn’t allowed in. A senior policeman rushed to me. I went down and informed Dr. Katju he couldn’t presumably be let in with out a ticket. His personal secretary produced the cash.

The Prime Minister threw a dinner for all of the gamers, organisers and attending dignitaries. His catch was the speak of the night. The entire occasion had an amazing impact on the political environment. It introduced collectively all political events and a pleasant environment developed in each Homes of Parliament.

The quilt paintings by Venkat Raman Singh Shyam relies on a photograph of Jaipal Singh receiving an honour in Oklahoma when on a U.S. tour in 1959. Singh was offered with Native American headgear and made Honorary Pelichi (chief) of the Chickasaw Nation. In Jharkhand too, he is called Marang Gomke, the Massive Chief.
| Picture Credit score:
Courtesy: Navayana

Lo Bir Sendra — A Hunter within the Burning Forest; Jaipal Singh, Navayana, ₹399.

Excerpted with permission from Navayana.