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Treasure trove: Chandra Nayudu has preserved some of her father's memorabilia. DH photos/ Sidney Kiran
The ongoing Test series between India and New Zealand is a ‘history-making’ one. The first Test at Kanpur was the country's 500th Test while the second one at Kolkata was the 250th game played on home soil. Come Saturday, Indore will make history as it stages its first ever Test match.
Among the many people excited is octogenarian Chandra Nayudu, the daughter of Col CK Nayudu — India’s first ever Test captain. Living alone in an apartment around three kilometres away from the Holkar Stadium — where her father first flourished — Chandra offers a quaint smile when asked for her thoughts. “It’s time Indore hosted a Test match right,” she questions. I thought I may not witness such a moment.”
Chandra though regrets not having seen her famous father play. “That is my biggest regret till the day and sadly I've been living with it for decades. I've met so many famous personalities in my life and the very first thing they ask me is about my dad’s batting. It’s hard for me to say that I’ve never seen him bat. But it was very difficult back then. My memory is fading.”
Spinster Chandra, however, remembers important things that she penned down in a book “CK Nayudu, A Daughter Remembers” that was published first in 1995. A retired professor of Government Girls College here and one of the very first women commentators, Chandra opened up about her dad who played in seven Test matches and 207 first-class games.
“Dad was a very strict person. We used to be terrified of him. He was a total disciplinarian. He never liked things a little out of place. It’s not only us, even the State team was scared of him. The players were scared of taking breaks. People in the house, neighbourhood etc, all of them were a bit scared of him. At home he never liked us sleeping in the day. He felt only sick people slept during daytime.
“But, I saw the gentle side of him with his grandchildren. He loved playing with them all the time. He was so chilled out with them. I sometimes wondered why he wasn’t like that with us. Having said that, he was extremely religious and very good at heart. He never meant to hurt anyone and came up the ranks through sheer hard work and discipline. Imagine becoming India’s first Test captain when the game was meant largely for maharajas and princes. He was a born leader.”
Chandra, who has two maids to look after her day-to-day needs, cherishes the time whenever cricketers visit her to pay respect to her father. “Ravi Shastri has visited my place. I’m not sure of the year but the entire Indian team visited my house. It was a pleasure to host them. It shows the impact my dad has made on the game and their careers.
“Not just Shastri but many big names of Indian cricket have visited me. Visiting Ranji teams also come to meet me. They want to have a look at my dad's bat and cricketing gear. But sadly many of them have been stolen or lost over time. I should have taken better care I suppose.”
Calling her family as the Cricket XI — Nayudu and his wife had nine children (seven daughters and two sons) — Chandra in is touch with the modern happenings of the game too. “I don’t think people nowadays have the time to watch cricket spanning five days. I think it’s good T20 has come. It has changed cricket completely. Test cricket has a challenge in its hands.”
Chandra offers her thought on current sensation Virat Kohli. “I think Kapil Dev was India's best captain. Sourav Ganguly was good. But I see a lot of potential in Virat Kohli. He looks like a natural leader and will make a big impression. He’s the next big thing.”
Among the many people excited is octogenarian Chandra Nayudu, the daughter of Col CK Nayudu — India’s first ever Test captain. Living alone in an apartment around three kilometres away from the Holkar Stadium — where her father first flourished — Chandra offers a quaint smile when asked for her thoughts. “It’s time Indore hosted a Test match right,” she questions. I thought I may not witness such a moment.”
Chandra though regrets not having seen her famous father play. “That is my biggest regret till the day and sadly I've been living with it for decades. I've met so many famous personalities in my life and the very first thing they ask me is about my dad’s batting. It’s hard for me to say that I’ve never seen him bat. But it was very difficult back then. My memory is fading.”
Spinster Chandra, however, remembers important things that she penned down in a book “CK Nayudu, A Daughter Remembers” that was published first in 1995. A retired professor of Government Girls College here and one of the very first women commentators, Chandra opened up about her dad who played in seven Test matches and 207 first-class games.
“Dad was a very strict person. We used to be terrified of him. He was a total disciplinarian. He never liked things a little out of place. It’s not only us, even the State team was scared of him. The players were scared of taking breaks. People in the house, neighbourhood etc, all of them were a bit scared of him. At home he never liked us sleeping in the day. He felt only sick people slept during daytime.
“But, I saw the gentle side of him with his grandchildren. He loved playing with them all the time. He was so chilled out with them. I sometimes wondered why he wasn’t like that with us. Having said that, he was extremely religious and very good at heart. He never meant to hurt anyone and came up the ranks through sheer hard work and discipline. Imagine becoming India’s first Test captain when the game was meant largely for maharajas and princes. He was a born leader.”
Chandra, who has two maids to look after her day-to-day needs, cherishes the time whenever cricketers visit her to pay respect to her father. “Ravi Shastri has visited my place. I’m not sure of the year but the entire Indian team visited my house. It was a pleasure to host them. It shows the impact my dad has made on the game and their careers.
“Not just Shastri but many big names of Indian cricket have visited me. Visiting Ranji teams also come to meet me. They want to have a look at my dad's bat and cricketing gear. But sadly many of them have been stolen or lost over time. I should have taken better care I suppose.”
Calling her family as the Cricket XI — Nayudu and his wife had nine children (seven daughters and two sons) — Chandra in is touch with the modern happenings of the game too. “I don’t think people nowadays have the time to watch cricket spanning five days. I think it’s good T20 has come. It has changed cricket completely. Test cricket has a challenge in its hands.”
Chandra offers her thought on current sensation Virat Kohli. “I think Kapil Dev was India's best captain. Sourav Ganguly was good. But I see a lot of potential in Virat Kohli. He looks like a natural leader and will make a big impression. He’s the next big thing.”
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