Azhar, give me back my 10 bucks!

Srikanth Koka

For years, I have never tired of telling this story about Azharuddin, to all who would listen. I was proud of this, but not any more.

Azhar was seven years senior to me in school (All Saints' High School) in Hyderabad. He was my brother's batch-mate. I think the year was 1984, when Azhar made his debut for India.

Azhar and Ravi Shastri were batting and both were in their nineties. We had finished school for the day and were going back home, when on the way to the bus stop, we passed a TV shop and realised what the score was.

As we were from the same school as Azhar, the owner of the TV shop allowed only our school students to get in and watch the match. Around 3:30 pm, Azhar got his century and the whole crowd went crazy.

Our school had already produced Abid Ali and later Arshad Ayub (Venkatpathy Raju was in our school for a year). One of my friends, Thomas Abraham, wanted to stay longer for Ravi Shastri to finish his century. But better sense prevailed, as only after another 40 minutes did Shastri reach his century and by that time I had reached home.

Then Azhar scored two more centuries in the next two Tests, and our school was celebrating his success. One could see posters of Azhar all over the school. The school administration also supported the students in this activity. In one of the PTA meetings, each of the students were asked to donate Rs 10/- in order to make up a purse to gift to Azhar.

My father did donate the 10 bucks. As did most of the students in school. The school also contributed some money to round off the figure to Rs.10,000.

One day, after the series against England, Azhar came to our school accompanied by his father. He wore blue jeans and a white, red and blue checked shirt that was popular in those days. He looked very simple and humble. He could not even address his former schoolmates properly.

He took only Rs 5,000, and returned the rest, asking the school authorities to use that money to help improve sports facilities in the school. We were all very very impressed with his humility and his kind gesture in returning half the money. That day, he won hundreds of fans.

And now? I can't believe that he took money to throw matches, in the process betraying my trust, and to top it off, even played the cheap communal card.

Azhar, please give me back my ten bucks, with 16 years worth of interest.

Mail Srikant Koka