On  Rahul Dravid      part 2

In temples Rahul Dravid garlanded Hindu Deities not divas. Never hosted at home influential political personalities. Never thought of conspiring for political posts or important appointments. Never could visualize ‘fixing’ of cricket matches. In a country where even so-called ‘sadhus in saffron’ manage ‘padma’ awards for themselves, in that dungeon how did he survive and thrive still amazes me. He saw dreadful issues day in, day out throughout his playing career. But the rishi in him was far, far beyond such mundane matters.

As you are all aware, D Litt is an honorary degree given to people who leave a distinct mark in the service of society. The highly deserving man was offered one. But the modest man thought otherwise. Dravid politely declined to accept the honorary appellation.

A genuine gentleman to the core, he revealed glorious courage to refuse an honorary doctorate. In a country where so-called celebrities bend backwards to plead influential circles for official designations, political appointments, national awards and ‘unearned’ academic doctorates, Dravid’s attitude is truly exceptional. No award, no prize could rattle him. Fame and fortune he relinquished in his relaxed manner.

To refuse to accept such inducements places him at par with the greatest of rishis who have left their spiritual mark on this great land of ours. The sage in him never ran after power, fame or fortune. He remained the selfless soul right on the peak of the Himalayas.

***

An incident I must reveal to reveal the man all the more. At Mysore city, Karnataka were hosting Punjab to a Ranji Trophy tie. Manish Pandey, a young talented batter, was playing an excellent innings and remained unbeaten on 80 at the end of the penultimate day, with his team needing around 50 plus to win the tie. While they were doing their cooling-down drills, as match referee I called Pandey and asked him the reason for wearing light grey coloured shoes while batting. Skipper Rahul was more embarrassed than the culprit, Pandey. Rahul, however, asked me if it was possible to allow him to continue with those shoes as he had no other pair.

I told Dravid that if he felt it was perfect, I would allow Pandey to continue with those shoes. Rahul replied, “No, no I do not think these shoes are ok. He should be wearing white shoes. Will you please accept if he puts white plaster on the shoes while batting?” I understood the problem, “Fair enough, skip. Out of sheer respect for you, I will allow it.”

Next day Pandey got his hundred and Karnataka won the match. After the conclusion, skipper Rahul came to the referee’s room and thanked me, “You have opened my eyes. I found most of my lads do not possess proper white cricket shoes. I assure you from next match Karnataka players will wear absolutely proper white shoes.” I was stunned to say the least. Here was a captain who had the courtesy to acknowledge even a minor problem and willing to admit it in public. How many captains would have the courage to uphold the traditional values of cricket in this manner?

***

Another incident revealed another dimension of his persona. At Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals was involved in an IPL match with Delhi Daredevils in 2012. As match referee, I walked in for the toss. The commentator at the toss was Sanjay Manjrekar. He asked me, “Sir, I just want to get the pronunciation of your name correctly. Is it MUKHERJI?” He proceeded to repeat my surname so that he got the pronunciation right.

Instantly Dravid, the RR skipper, smiled, “No, his real name is not MUKHERJI. It is MUKHOPADHYAY. ” I was taken aback for a moment, then replied, “Rahul is absolutely right. Since I am in tie and jacket I call myself Mukherji. In dhoti-kurta, I call myself Mukhopadhyay.” With a smile, Rahul wagged his finger at Sanjay with the ‘I told you so’ look.

The man is really amazing. How did he come to know that the Mukherjis are actually Mukhopadhyays. For a man from Karnataka to know the origin of Bengali surnames is quite astounding. His awareness of the world around goes far beyond the comprehension of most sportsmen. Bright, erudite and articulate, the man is actually one in a million. Far, far ahead of the media-created characters around him during his on-field days.

***

Rahul Dravid is a man of gratitude. He is known to have told the world time and again that Keki Tarapore was his coach, even though he has come under the guidance of far more famous cricket personalities. I asked Shahvir Tarapore, the international umpire and Keki Tarapore’s son, about Dravid’s relationship with his father.

Shahvir said, “My father was his coach at school. Rahul never let anybody forget that. He kept in constant touch with dad even when he was busy with his very tight international schedule. Dad used to feel a little embarrassed when Rahul often praised him publicly. But Rahul always maintained that the early coaches were the real coaches for they help to lay the foundation. To have a proper structure, you need a solid foundation.”

How very true. But how many famous players (Sachin Tendulkar, always excepted) would acknowledge the fact that they should be indebted to their early coaches? Only a brave man of rare character would have the broad-mindedness to accept the truth. With mere wealth one cannot buy ‘class’. This hypocrisy of forgetting the early coaches is apparent in every bio-pic that we get to see of Indian international cricketers.

***

Captains are selected by selectors. Leaders are followed by men. Rahul was a leader, whether captain or not. As a leader of men he proved himself time and again for India, even after retiring from the game. As a captain, he won Test series in West Indies and in England. Also a Test on Pakistan soil as deputy captain. No Indian captain has achieved this rare feat, media people please note.

 Initially with Karnataka and later with Rajasthan Royals, captain Dravid kept his profile low but was highly proactive. He was their captain, their mentor, their coach. Their leader in every sense. He accepted every role with grace and graciousness. Players within his orbit progressed not only as cricketers but also as human beings. All those who have played under him whether for Karnataka or Rajasthan Royals have no qualms in acknowledging that they literally worship him.

Rahul Dravid remains the modest self that he has always been. Never a word out of place. Never an act to raise any eyebrow. Never cared for publicity. Never flirted with any controversy. Never tried to draw any attention to himself. Always remained the selfless, low-profile, intelligent and articulate gentleman.

Rahul Dravid belongs to the Age of Renaissance. He does not believe in the violent radicalism of change, but in the matured reasoning of fusion. His approach is the approach of an intelligent, enquiring mind. A mind that observes, listens, studies, absorbs and applies. A mind that is willing to probe and to question and to discuss. A mind that acknowledges the contribution of the past; a mind that seeks the path of future progress.

As a pragmatic individual, like the heroes of the Renaissance, his whole cricket is based on the fundamental values and classical ideas of the game. He bats with the full face of the bat to the ball because that was the original idea of the game. It has not changed because the width of the bat remains the same. He does not believe in snicking a ball and claiming to have guided the ball on purpose. I have seen him lower his head in disappointment and in anguish when an edged, unintended shot fetched him some runs.

When he goes forward to play, he really goes to embrace the ball close to his body. Knees and waist sufficiently bent, not in supplication but with all due concentration for the job. Like the classical exponents he wants his mind and his eyes to monitor the movement of his body to the ball. This is concentration and commitment of the highest order.

The champion cricketer belonged to the old school. Impeccable technique, both in defence and in offence. A man who carried the national flag on his shoulders. An Indian national of pride and self-respect. 

Dravid has been a marvellous ambassador for India. Erudite, articulate and sensitive, he has approached his job of playing for India from various angles. Primarily, as a cricketer and later as a coach. But, no less important, as a national representative. Whether meeting young fans or heads-of-state he has kept his perspectives clear.

 On the field, his great quality was consistency. Right from his school days his was a name that kept cropping up whenever Karnataka played. Consistency was, and still is, his forte. Consistency and commitment that come from values. Values which imbibe technique, temperament, attitude, conduct. Under every count he would get very high honours marks.

The man’s selfless service to Indian cricket would be remembered by those who have seen him. For future generations his contribution would be enshrined in diamond and platinum. Rahul Dravid’s serious mien is reflected in the frown that he wears. It is not the frown of a disturbed man, but the frown of a man of commitment. A soul, who is willing to make personal sacrifices for the national cause. What a refreshing change from those petty men who create hassles even about batting orders and bowling spells.

When he came into Test cricket in England in 1996 he looked the part from Day1. Runs came in profusion, not through non-conventional strokes but by means of accepted modes and conservative ideology. He approached cricket with intelligence as he approaches everything else in life. His has been an approach that lends credence to conventional and orthodox patterns. An approach that reassures the older generation to keep faith in the younger set.

In a cricket world that lost its innocence, Dravid’s presence was the only consolation. He upheld the spirit of cricket and its traditional values on and off the field. He was probably the last of a rare breed. A great cricketer; a greater human being.