The tale of Palwankar Baloo begins in 1875. Born in Dharwad, Baloo's family soon migrated to Poona, chasing the promise of survival as his father took a modest job. Baloo belonged to the untouchable ‘Chamar’ caste. Cricket came as a fleeting encounter rather than a pathbreaking opportunity.
Humble Beginnings
Young Baloo began by sweeping and rolling the pitch at a Parsi club for a measly Rs 3 per month. He then took a job in the Poona Club where his earnings increased to a humble Rupees 4, as he meticulously tended to the cricket pitch, erected the nets and selflessly bowled to the club’s privileged cricketers.
It was here that fate conspired to change his destiny. Captain Barton, a legendary slow left-arm spinner, spotted Baloo's raw potential and took him under his wing. Under Barton’s stern guidance, Baloo bowled relentlessly to the club’s members, building his strength, refining his craft and clinging to the only dream that sparkled in the shadows of poverty.
A left-arm spinner emerges
Poona Club’s captain, J.G. Grieg, famously called Jungly, recognized Baloo’s burgeoning talent. He summoned Baloo to the nets, an hour before dawn, challenging him for a reward of 8 annas each time Baloo could dismiss him. These early mornings of toil and hope shaped Baloo into a force of nature.
Before he knew it, the news of Baloo’s abilities reached the native clubs and cricketers. A local Hindu club who was looking to challenge the European team in Poona wanted his services. But they were caught in a dilemma due to his caste and social status. In a rare act of fairness, Jungly's public praise tipped the balance and the Hindu club summoned Baloo to battle alongside them.
His bowling helped Hindus defeat the Europeans. Baloo's bowling prowess was such that even English batters feared him. In a match in Satara, they had prepared the wicket to nullify his spin effect. But Baloo’s resolve only blazed brighter.
He took 7 wickets helping his team snatch victory. His triumph echoed so profoundly that he was paraded in glory, high upon an elephant. When he returned to Poona, he was felicitated by Mahadev Govind Ranade and was lauded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak at a public event.
Yet, beyond the boundary, the cruel realities of his birth never ceased to haunt him. While his teammates sipped tea in glazed porcelain cups, Baloo stood outside the pavilion, drinking from a humble clay matka.
Meals were eaten in isolation, on separate plates and tables; even the simple act of washing his face was a humiliation, as he depended on an ‘untouchable’ servant in the farthest corner of the field.
Palwankar Baloo derives his name from his village Palwan in Goa. Seeking respite and opportunity, he journeyed next to Bombay. The devastating plague in Poona and the allure of bigger cricketing stages led him there. He was recruited by the famous Parmanandas Jivandas Hindu Gymkhana. Once deemed untouchable, Baloo had turned the tide through his exploits as a slow left-arm spinner. M.E. Pavri, a pioneer of Parsi cricket and Baloo's opponent, praised him as one the best native bowlers and the “Wilfred Rhodes of India”.
Even royalty vied for his services. In one such royal face-off, the Maharaja of Natore asked Baloo to spearhead his side against the Maharaja of Jodhpur’s team - featuring the great Ranji himself. Baloo triumphed, dismissing Ranji for merely 20 runs. Their rivalry would be rekindled in later matches, where Baloo’s guile prevailed time and again.
The First All-India Tour of 1911
The pinnacle came in 1911, when Baloo was chosen for the all-India team’s England tour. The team played a total of 14 matches out of which they won 2, lost 10 and drew 2. Baloo amassed 114 wickets on the tour. Not only that, he picked up 5 wickets for 7 runs against Oxford, 4 wickets for 96 against the MCC and 8 wickets for 103 runs against Cambridge. What makes this performance even more remarkable is the fact that he was suffering from swelling on his shoulder during the tour and yet he managed to stamp his authority in alien conditions.
Needless to say, Baloo was the sole shining light on that tour. Baloo’s brilliance won international acclaim. English critic E.H.D. Sewell praised Baloo and said that his performance was exceptional and he would be the “first choice of any county team”.
Baloo was facilitated at an event where the welcome address was delivered by none other than B.R. Ambedkar. In 16 matches that Baloo played across the Bombay Quadrangular, Triangular and Presidency matches, he took 109 wickets, while also scoring 410 runs.
On July 4, 1955, Palwankar Baloo breathed his last, leaving behind more than statistics - a legacy of defiance, dignity, and hope. In a time when cricket was being played on communal lines, Baloo broke social barriers and gave Indian cricket an identity to be proud of.
And so, I close this story with the immortal words of A.F.S. Talyarkhan:
"It is our national misfortune that the young of today know nothing about the men who made Indian cricket much of what it is. Cricket will miss Baloo, but always remember him."
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