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Passions Never Die

Mr.Raghuraman was browsing the internet to watch the WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP online where our Viswanathan Anand was in the brink of capturing the title for the second time. One of his grandsons by name PRAVEEN was slamming back the door shouting THATHA (grand pa); I have been selected for All India Table-tennis championship for CBSE schools to be held at MUMBAI. That teen aged boy was well aware that his grand pa should be the happiest as he himself was a T.T player of repute in his own days. Most of the cups are still adorning his show case though it was high time to throw them off as not only they had lost most of the shine, but the tarnished look gave only aversion instead of his past glory. All these years his game has taken lot of changes in technique and also in scoring system. In spite of the fast pace and aggressive approach adopted, that game of ‘PING PONG’ is more of mental strength, consistency and psychology of the opponent in which Mr.Raghuraman excelled in his own days. Even in his 70s he is capable of giving a few lessons in the art of taking points at crucial stages of the game. He was always present during most of the matches when PRAVEEN was involved and many a time changed the course of the match by giving him valuable tips and saved him from losing. He pleaded his inability to accompany him this time due to preoccupation with a family marriage.

His thought went back to nearly 55 years back when T.T was his main interest with most of his time was consumed in practicing this game in some club or other. As a village boy of hardly 9 years old RAGHU was fond of hitting mangoes from the tree more for the thrill of his accurate marksman ship than for enjoying the mangoes. One day he had the chance to witness the game of Ball Badminton played between two youngsters. That was the first ball and bat game of any nature that he had ever seen in his life in that period of pre-independence days. From that day his hand was all the time itching to hit a ball with some instrument. He procured a wooden card board and himself throwing a small stone and trying to hit it with force. Some of his friends of similar nature joined him and they could play with a small piece of stone hitting at each other like Badminton. Unfortunately there was no facility for him to give ventilation to his urge to play any type of this sort of ball and bat game as he was living in a remote village.

He finished his career with a degree and the preoccupation with the studies never gave him any chance to develop his budding talent. At last Mr.Raghu was appointed as upper division clerk in the Accountant General’s Office at BANGALORE when he was still below 19 years of age. The very first task after his joining was to visit the Recreation Club after the office hours. He was spellbound to witness a shiny green table over which a white ball (now yellow) was hit furiously to and fro by two youngsters on either side. To get proper illumination 3 powerful bulbs were fixed above the TABLE and inside a cone like shade. Some times one was hitting with blinding force when the opponent was retrieving all of them with patience and accuracy until the hitter is either tired or doing mistakes and losing his patience there by the defensive player was getting the points in the hard way. He was watching the technique of top spin, back spin, blocking, and half volley game, counter hitting, chopping, and chopping the chop and so on. He was also watching and admiring the variations in serving the ball causing confusion to the opponents. Mr.Raghu was a shrewd observer and captured the knack of handling the ball with wrist work and also swings of the shoulders. He was also keenly noticing the foot work of the players operating like a dancer to meet the ball at the proper length, angle and precision. One thing he was convinced about this game was the high demand of skill, and quick reflexes with eagle like eyes. Some how he felt that this game which could be played indoors in all weather conditions and time is ideal and most suited to his hunger for challenge. But the problem was he was a beginner and whenever he rushed to snatch a racket for play there won’t be an opponent coming forth as on the very first time they had found out he was absolutely raw and no enjoyment is possible in his company. He used to wait for a few minutes and depart pathetically when another pair of veterans used to pounce for the table.

Some of them were even suggesting him to try other games like caroms, cards, chess etc. Raghu’s determination to play this game was so strong that he could easily digest all such insults and humiliations and wait for his day. Eventually that day came in the form of one by name KARPAGARAJ who understood the depth of his desire. Mr. RAJ was about 40 year old working as a care taker of the club with class-4 status. Some how he felt that this youngster was having the potential that could be groomed. He called him privately and advised him to come on SUNDAY secretly in the morning hours and volunteered to be his training partner. No doubt Mr.Raghu was thrilled beyond words and impatient to wait for that SUNDAY as 2 more days were left. Mr. Raj was surprised to see Raghu already waiting on that Sunday and more surprised that he had already spent one hour. All the time that youngster was dreaming of hitting the ball left and right when the spectators were wildly cheering him! Mr.Raj asked him to sit and started teaching theoretical aspects, scoring systems etc for which he had no patience. Having seen the game played by experts all these days he was confident about his approach which was also correct to some extent. The ball was tossed by him for serve which he couldn’t connect at all. He was so much disappointed that the game looked so simple when others are on play has become tricky when he tried. Raj was patient enough for nearly 3 hours to teach him the technique of serving and receiving and at that time when he reluctantly left got some confidence in continuing. Raghu was thoroughly drenched with sweat that he looked as if he had drenched in rain. Raj advised him to take immediate bath in the office itself. Both were too hungry and the time was also odd that meals section had closed in all hotels. While Raj left for his house to take food Raghu was forced to quench his hunger with a biscuit and few bananas. Sundays and holidays where hardly sufficient to practice and improve this demanding game. To manage the time they had to come at least 2 hours early to the office facing lot of hardships in availing proper food, dressing, taking bath etc. Being a poor man Raj was compensated for his labor with free food, tips etc. It is not that Mr. Raj was a great coach to teach the finer aspects of the game though he was an average player. But some body has to continuously feed with ball to the learner to hit and improve and the same was done quiet efficiently by Mr.Raj. At last the ever adamant and persistent Raghu improved so fast in only 3 months and waited for that day when normal players are not shirking to play him. Mr. Karpagaraj himself played with him on that fateful day even when the veterans were watching. They were taken aback by the youngster’s hitting power and consistency and vied with each other to practice with Raghu. Now when every body was willing to play with him he had the experience of varieties of players to play with and needless to say that he could develop his game in all departments. He was so strong mentally and game wise that on one day he made all the players to agree to the system of WINNER TO STICK. It amounts to telling that the winner will continue to stay playing when the opponent was changing. In this manner Mr.Raghu was playing continuously for even 2 to 3 hours beating almost all of them.

There were a few murmurs on this system as they have to wait for lengthy time before getting their chance again. But majority of them were prepared to this ‘winner to stick’ as every body wanted to play with Raghu only. However there were 2 veterans who were unbeatable by Mr.Raghu as they were state champions and veterans of many battles. At last the team for inter accountant general offices championship representing all the states in India was to be selected and Mr. Raghu was in the team as a 3rd member in only 6 months of his exposition to T.T.

Though the team lost to the better team at the quarter final stage at BOMBAY Mr.Raghu had come a long way and that was only a beginning to win more laurels for him and his office. All these thoughts aroused Mr.RAGHURAMAN’S passion for TABLE TENNIS once again and made him grab the phone and inform his worthy grand son PRAVEEN that he was also accompanying him to MUMBAI for the INTER SCHOOL CBSE CHAMPIONSHIP FORT.T.-reflecting his own heroic deeds at that city when it was BOMBAY.

BY J.PANCHAPAGESAN FLAT-11,130 GILL NAGAR EXTN STREET CHOOLAIMEDU CHENNAI PH-044 23744963 EMAIL id- jpanchapagesan@yahoo.co.in