India’s first double-international sportsman

It was truly Dickensian: the best of times; the worst of times. Morappakam Joysam Gopalan was in a dilemma. He was needed by the Indian hockey team for the Berlin Olympic Games; he was also required by the Indian cricket team in the English summer of 1936.

 

The man from Chennai had excelled in both his chosen sports. In 1932-33 Gopalan made his official Test debut for India at Eden Gardens against Douglas Jardine's side. In 1934-35 Gopalan had shown outstanding merit with the all-conquering Dhyan Chand’s Indian hockey team in New Zealand. He happened to be India’s first double-international sports personality.

 

 And within a year in 1935-36 he had Jack Ryder's Australians in no end of trouble with figures of 6 for 23 and 5 for 62 for the Madras Presidency team.

 

The right-arm pace bowler had a difficult choice ahead of him because the tours to Germany and England coincided. He had to opt for either one of the two. His choice fell on cricket. On post-mortem it appears to be a strange decision indeed considering the merits of the two teams.

 

The defending Olympic hockey champions, Dhyan Chand’s India were the favourites to retain the gold medal in the Berlin Olympics of 1936. And in England with the cricket team he would only be a second fiddle to the magnificent duo of Mohammed Nissar and Amar Singh Ladha.

 

 But cricket was probably his first love and off he went to England with Vizzy’s Indians. It must also be admitted that the India hockey team for the Berlin Olympic Games was yet to be chosen when the India team for the cricket tour to UK was announced. Gopalan obviously settled for the certainty – as everyone would do – rather than wait for the final selection of the hockey squad.

 

The Dickensian twist to the tale unfolded in a matter of months. Whereas Dhyan Chand's men returned with gold medals around their necks, Vizzy's band of segregated groups showed the world to what depths petty-minded Indian sportsmen could stoop. On such a slender thread hangs one’s destiny.

 

 Gopalan did not get to play a single Test match in UK and got very few opportunities. He and the other in-form fast bowler Shute Banerjee even witnessed how one fast bowler (Baqa Jilani) played a Test (at Oval) because he abused another player (CK Nayudu) as directed by the captain (Vizzy)!

 

The man who deserved an Olympic gold medal round his neck, was cold shouldered by petty people engrossed in intrigues and worse. Just sad destiny, what else?

 

However, by then, Gopalan had already printed his name in gold in the annals of Indian sport by becoming the country's first double-international sportsperson.

 

 In 1961 MJ Gopalan was awarded the Padma Shri. He left us in 2003 fully deserving the awards and recognition that came his way. A wonderful person he was, who earned overwhelming respect both on and off the field. Let us wish that we have more and more such wonderful sportspeople among us.