The man who held the Indian flag high

No Indian has written for more foreign and Indian journals on sport than Gulu Ezekiel. Numerous articles of his have been published in the best of publications worldwide.

For sheer orbit and depth of research, Gulu has few parallels in India and abroad. He has not restricted himself to his favourite sport of cricket but has deviated into diverse sport disciplines. Football, hockey, athletics and tennis have received almost as much attention.

He began life as a sport journalist with leading newspapers. In time he realized that his canvas would be broad and more meaningful if he went alone. That’s exactly what he did.

As a freelance researcher and exemplary analyst, Gulu dived into the ocean of sport history to unearth unsolved mysteries and to tackle improbable issues. Without a single godfather whether in the media or in the world he created a trail of his own. Therein lies the exceptional quality in this most unassuming of all men. Quiet yet confident he knew he was born to uphold the national flag on international podiums.

Gulu knows how to write. He knows how to convince from a position of strength. He knows how to reveal the truth. He knows how to uphold justice against odds. He cares only for what is good for the nation and is not bothered about any province or community or individual. His is an insular existence.   

When the Olympic historian David Wallechinsky mentioned that Norman Pritchard represented Britain in the Paris Olympiad of 1900, the nationalist in Gulu Ezekiel went up in arms. Promptly he took out his sword and slashed Wallechinsky’s logic into shreds. He brought back the two silver medals won by Norman Pritchard to India.

Gulu in characteristic fashion showed the world what his blood was all about. He would never accept injustice, no matter the opposition. He gave a blow by blow account of Norman Pritchard’s birth, education and employment at Calcutta and the man’s stardom in various fields in three continents: Asia (athletics), Europe (stage acting) and North America (Hollywood hero). The world was transfixed to find how one man stood up against the unjust appraisal and acknowledged his victory.

As a cub reporter he suffered at the hands of his superiors. But never gave up. Confident of his own potential, he silently fought on and showed his critics his actual worth. Today to foreign publications he is the most sought after sport historian of India.

So engrossed was he with sport that he married cricket and did not regret the decision. His collection of books, periodicals and memorabilia would put to embarrassment many a library. Literally in thousands, well indexed and lovingly preserved. 

First met him at Calcutta, through Rajan Bala. Unassuming and modest, the trainee journalist drew my attention.Very next moment he was transformed into an absorbing conversationalist of remarkable cricket knowledge. From that very day we became close, really close. As co-conspirators! Gulu spent his early life in three distinct seats of learning: Pune, Calcutta and Chennai.

His penchant for the written word is an ancestral influence of his famous poet-uncle, the esteemed Nissim Ezekiel. His mother’s – a Marathi-speaking Parsee – liberal vision made Gulu the generous and remarkably conscientious soul that he is. On either side of his family are exceptional talents in various fields.

Voracious reader, prolific writer, outstanding analyst, Gulu’s elephantine memory resides between those dark eyebrows on his handsome widening forehead. He never needed any help from any quarter but the magnanimous self is ever willing to help all and sundry. I can vouch as a beneficiary myself.

An asset he is to India’s sports cavalcade.