He was a cricketing sage far ahead of his times

Death has been very unkind to Indian cricket of late, indeed cruel. One after another, some fine cricketers and great human beings have b...

Death has been very unkind to Indian cricket of late, indeed cruel. One after another, some fine cricketers and great human beings have been consumed by the omnipresent and omnipotent phenomenon of death. Ghulam Ahmed, ML Jaisimha and now AG Ram Singh — all from the South — have left Indian cricket a lot poorer.

I suppose that is the path we all have to take — over the bridge of sighs and eternity. “I have often thought upon death, and I find it the least of all evils.” I wonder if Francis Bacon, the great English philosopher, had the present Indian scenario of helplessness and utter restlessness in mind.Not that the rest of the world is actually a paradise. But we Indians seem to suffer a lot more. And especially at the demise of a near and or dear one, the loss is considered irreparable. Often the tendency is to ignore the cycle of human existence. However, it is not my intention to dwell on the philosophy or glory of death.

I am personally at a loss for words at AG Ram Singh’s return to theultimate pavilion. I knew he was getting on and also ailing. Still, adding “late” to the grand old man of Tamil Nadu cricket is very disturbing. I was informed of the sad news by a close friend of his Jaganathan. Later, I talked to Satwender and Milkha as they were preparing to take the “old man” for his last journey. Yes, “old man” is how Milkha used to describe his father, the fittest person in the family.

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I had lunch with Satwender and his family (inclusive of the remarkable parents) last summer. The “old man” was still looking after his small business near Chepauk. I simply marvelled at the “old man’s” tenacity. Having sired a cricketing family to match the Amarnaths, humility remained AG Ram Singh’s greatest asset. Till today, if I associate cricket with gentlemen (although modern fraternity scorns the metaphor), it is mainly because of my good fortune to have come in contact with him in my early days.It was my second Test at Madras against Gary Sobers’ West Indians in January 1967 when Ifirst witnessed the magic of the left-hander. I think the “old man” must have observed that a youth from Punjab was a bit lost in the glamour world of Test cricket. He had seen me bowl in the first innings and was visibly keen to tell me I can do better. First, a warm hug boosted my confidence. And then pure words of wisdom. “Put some more hip into your follow through. Everything else is fine. Bowl a lot in nets,” he told me. And then he asked who my coach was in Amritsar ? I said,“Gyan Parkash.” AG Ram Singh was ecstatic. “You are in very safe hands. We were together during Rajkumari Amrit Kaur scheme of coaching and our guide was Prince Duleep Singji,” he said with joyous pride. Hailing from Amritsar helped me to come closer to the “old man”.

I once asked Kirpal Singh, my selection panel colleague: “What does AG stand for?” Palli replied: “Amritsar Guru Gobind Singh.” No wonder I thought the “old man” considers me part of his clan.

Both Palli and Milkha were seniors but Satwender was mycontemporary. The love and warmth I have derived from the distinguished AG family in Madras is unmatched.

Having moved from Punjab to the south was akin to crossing the Rubicon. The genial Sikh family adjusted remarkably fast. AG Ram Singh’s cricket ability of outstanding class was acknowledged straightway by MJ Gopalan, his first Ranji captain. Quite astonishing that Madras beat Mysore in a day with the left-handed Sardar scalping 11 wickets. Tiger Pataudi tried to finish off a Delhi-Jammu and Kashmir match in a day, but failed by two balls.

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They say AG Ram Singh was born at the wrong time with his contemporary, the late Vinoo Mankad, in great form. Some argue the Sikh was too mild and that he never complained or asserted himself when it was required. For someone who was not considered for the 1946 England tour on the grounds of heart problem, AG Ram Singh did well to be alive till the eve of the new millennium.

Considering not much first class cricket was played in thirties and forties, his all-roundprowess would do any modern cricketer proud. Always keen to share his knowledge, AG Ram Singh was a peer among coaches.

Knowledge without integrity is wickedness. Knowledge with integrity is pure wisdom. As his name would suggest, AG Ram Singh, was a cricketing sage far ahead of his times. May his soul rest in peace.