Cricket’s Flip Side

And yet life goes on for Maheswar Shaw. The head groundsman of the Eden Gardens who has fashioned many an Indian victory by preparing wickets to the home team’s advantage, laments over the fact that they don’t get their dues. At the same time, he refuses to quit for sheer love of the game.

Sourav Ganguly respects him. And Mohammad Azharuddin had a soft corner for him. Cricket administrators, cutting across club colours, depend on him. But life doesn’t improve for Maheswar. A monthly wage of Rs 1,500 is all he gets from the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for putting the wickets and grounds in shape day in and day out.

“I have never complained…. And will never complain. I work because I love this game, I love to do this job. It’s for them (the CAB administrators) to decide if it is sufficient or not,” he says.

It has been a 46-year-old association. It all started at Kalighat club in 1962 when his maternal uncle Madan Shaw brought him from Kendrapara, Orissa. To an 18-year-old, who aspires to be a groundstaff, Kolkata Maidan is the be-all and end-all of all things that matter. Maheswar grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Soon he caught the attention of the then Kalighat club supremo, NC Koley. It was the turning point in his life.

“I haven’t seen a better administrator than him. He knew the grounds and pitches like the back of his hand. He gave me the assurance that was needed,” Maheswar recounts.

From Kalighat to Rajasthan and then to the Eden. “It was in 1985-86. There was a controversy regarding the wicket after a CAB first division league match. Chandi Ganguly was the CAB joint secretary then. He and (Jagmohan) Dalmiya told me to take charge. I relaid the wicket and it played well. Thus started my association with this hallowed turf. I wish it continues till I die.”

But how on earth can one survive on a measly Rs 1,500 per month?

“I have a big family back home… three sons and three daughters. The daughters are married. Yes, money, or rather the lack of it, is a problem. But there’s no point whining when I cannot change the situation. After every international match, we get a tip from Indian captains. Sourav and Azhar were very generous at that. I save them for my family. In any case, you have to live within your means,” says the 63-year-old.

This man has had offers from different state associations. The Andhra Pradesh Cricket Association left no stone unturned to have him on board. He was invited by the Bangladesh Cricket Board before the 1999 Mini World Cup to prepare grounds and pitches. Groundstaff like Sarath Shaw, Daya and Mahesh, who learnt the job under his tutelage, are doing fine in different states. Maheswar doesn’t want to leave.

“Kolkata has become my home. I cannot even imagine leaving this place,” says Maheswar. Maybe, the administrators know this weakness and are not ashamed to exploit it. Else, why it is stuck at Rs 1,500 per month when the state body earns its profits in crores.

Sadly, this is the flip side of India’s no. 1 sport. There is darkness even at the break of noon. It sometimes shadows the silver spoon.