BB Nimbalkar: victim of a ruler's inferiority complex
The
small territory of Kathiawar based in the western part of India in the Gujarat
peninsula had a ruler whose heart was as small as the land he governed. He was
known as the Takore Sahab of Rajkot, Pradumansinhji.
Kathiawar
was included among the teams for the Ranji Trophy championship in the season
1948-49. The Kathiawar cricket team travelled to Poona to play against the
might of Maharashtra at the Poona Gymkhana ground, which was known to be a
bowler’s graveyard. Mammoth totals were recorded on this ground over the years.
Winning
the toss, the Kathiawar captain Pradumansinhji decided to take the first
strike. Considering the reputation of the docile pitch, newcomers Kathiawar
recorded an unimpressive total of 236, which included a dashing 77 by the
skipper.
When
Maharashtra came to bat one could feel the difference in strength and strategy
between the two teams. While the debutant Kathiawaris appeared disoriented and
the leadership hesitant, Maharashtra adopted the no-nonsense approach as
exemplified by their mentor-captain-guru combined, Prof Dinakar Balwant
Deodhar.
The
two openers, MR Rege and Kamal Bhandarkar attacked the weak opposition bowling
from the beginning and raced to 81 when Rege left. Now, the prolific Ranji
Trophy run-getter BB Nimbalkar appeared on the scene with his trademark
handkerchief around his neck.
Bhandarkar
and Nimbalkar added a world record score of 455 runs for the 2nd
wicket in just 300 minutes. After Bhandarkar (205) left, Bhaosahab Nimbalkar
continued with his judicious stroke-play.
When
Nimbalkar’s individual score had reached 443, the Kathiawar captain Pradumansinhji
decided that his team would not take further part in the match!
There
was no earthly reason behind the strange decision. Except that the prolific
Bhaosahab Nimbalkar was on 443 just 9 runs short of Donald Bradman’s the then world record of 452.
It was a most unsportsmanlike decision on the part of the Kathiawar captain,
Pradumansinhji.
Nimbalkar
was denied a world record by his own countryman. It appears that so enamoured
was Pradumansinhji by the supposed ‘superiority’ of white-skinned people that
he did not want a fellow dark Indian to overhaul the white man’s achievement.
Just
goes to show that ‘royals’ are no different from people who are not born with
the supposed ‘blue’ blood. They have the same weaknesses, the same
mean-mindedness and the same failings as the ‘commoners’. Magnanimity,
humility, integrity have nothing to do with one’s genes, environment, financial
background or academic accomplishments.
The
pathetic gesture happens to be a blot on Indian cricket.
Dear Raju kaka:
ReplyDeleteBhaosahab Nimbalkar has earned an exalted position for himself notwithstanding the apparent wriiten-about petty act of the Takore Sahab of Rajkot, Pradumansinhji, who then ruled over the princely state of Kathiawar. Posterity is bound to judge Nimbalkar creditably and with respect.
That region, which included the princely state of Kathiawar, has now been absorbed into the state of Gujarat was earlier often referred to collectively as a separate entity, called Saurashtra. As Nimbalkar brought it name and repute in the realm of cricket before our country achieved freedom, another person brought that region to notice in post independent India. He was the reputed Union Commerce Minister, Shri Manubhai Shah; he was brought over to New Delhi from Saurashtra circa 1956 by the then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Before Manubhai arrived at his office within the corridors of power in New Delhi, ministers, bureaucrats, journalists, and commentators were enthusiastically talking about the impending arrival of a rather energetic, efficient and honourable new person as the boss of the Union Commerce Ministry. Subsequently, Manubhai Shah served our country as its Commerce Minister for more than a decade with credit; he accrued an unblemished record.
Manubhai Shah must have known about and been proud of Bhaosahab Nimbalkar. Today, through this article of your, Bhaosahab Nimbalkar has become known to various persons and myself.
Thank you for writing about Bhaosahab Nimbalkar.