Baloo Palwankar popularly known as P Baloo.

Baloo Palwankar  popularly known as P Baloo. 

While reading the historical book on cricket “a Corner of the foreign Field“ written by an eminent historian Ramchandra Guha, I came across the contribution of four brothers towards the Indian Cricket. They are Vithal Palwankar, Shivram Palwankar, Ganpat Palwankar and above all Baloo Palwankar. None of the writers on cricket has mentioned about these cricket personalities before Ramchandra Guha. Thanks to Mr. Guha for providing such great information through this book. According to Ram Guha, Baloo Palwankar was an extraordinary cricketer, who battled incredible discrimination and an exceptional left-arm spinner whose figures were both remarkable and heroic, in fighting against prejudice that modern cricketers cannot dream of. This is absolutely true. A talented bowler who broke cast taboos  and played 33 first class matches from 1905 to 1921 and took 179 wickets at an average of 15.21. 

From Yogesh Gogwekar

Baloo was eldest of four brothers born on 19^th March 1876 in Dharwad into a family of leather workers. His father was in British Indian Army as a Sepoy in the 112 infantry Regiment who was stationed in Pune.  At the age of seventeen, Baloo was taking care of the cricket pitch by rolling and sweeping the pitch for Parsis in Pune, later on, he started working at a monthly salary of Rs.4.00 in British Poona Club for same duties and used bowled occasionally to the British members of the Poona Club in Net Practice. For this, he had been paid an extra amount of Rs.3.00 per month. One of the English Players, Mr. Tross asked Baloo to bowl to him in nets and encouraged other British members of the club to bat against him. Thus, hundreds of hours bowling practice made Baloo a most talented bowler and helped him to become a greatest cricketer.

When Baloo started showing his talent in bowling, Indian cricket was organized on cast and religion basis. Three days Cricket matches were played between Hindus (Only upper cast), Parsis, British and Muslims. Baloo Palwankar was first Dalit Cricketer and his bowling prowess forced the members of upper cast members of Deccan Gymkhana and later on Bombay Hindu Gymkhana to include him in the team. In the first match, Baloo started showing his talent by destroying British batting line up and lead Indians to first famous victory and has been selected for English tour in 1911. In England, Indians have enjoyed his fantastic bowling against university and county matched.

After England tour, Baloo has become first Dalit icon. He was praised by the Dr Ambedkar in his speeches and also admired Baloo as a great cricketer. Even though, Baloo was treated equally on the field, he was segregated from upper caste Hindus during the lunch and tea breaks. His teammates used to dine inside the pavilion whereas Baloo was left outside the pavilion to eat and drink out of disposable crockery and even to wash his hand and face; he used to call his Dalit attendant to bring the water from a corner. Despite this treatment, he bowled well and took wickets. Even after widespread of his talent, he had not been considered for captaincy in 1913 due to his Dalit icon. Mr. M D Pai , the Captain of Bombay Hindu Gymkhana , left the field for some period for allowing Baloo to do the captaincy in his absence. Thus, Baloo broke the Caste barriers against the member of his caste.

After completing his cricket career in 1932, Baloo started involving in politics and became a great supporter of Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom Struggle. He along with M C Rajah brought negotiation between Dr . Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi to sign the historical Poona Pact allowing Dalits more reserved seats and save the life of Mahatma Gandhi who had undergone the fast until the death in the protest of separate Electoral Constituency for depressed class of India. In October 1933 , he contested election for Mumbai municipality on ticket of Hindu Mahasabha but lost the seat. In 1937, he contested the election for Bombay Legislative Assembly against the Dr . Ambedkar and lost with closed margin of 13,245 votes to 11,225. According the Bombay Chronicle Newspaper , Baloo was not ready to contest the election of 1937 but agreed to contest on the request of Saradar Patel without knowing which seat he would be contested.

Such a talented cricketer died on 4^th July 1955. He will be remembered not only for his great talent on the cricket field but also for his contribution for removing untouchability. No doubt, he deserved to be remembered.

Date :20.07.2019

Mumbai.