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SUNIL KUMAR MITRA (1920-2000)
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[Here is a memoir from a born Mohun Bagani for his grand father.Saurav Mitra writes about his grand father Sunil Kumar Mitra (Rantu), the Son of Salil Kumar Mitra (Matal Babu)]
Sunil Kumar was born in 1920 to Salil Kumar (Matal Babu) and Pushpa Mitra in 1920. He was raised with great affection and care. Growing up in a house full of Mariners like Sir Bhupendra Nath Mitra, Jatindra Nath Mitra, Dr. Ganendra Nath Mitra, Probhash Kumar Mitra and above all his father Matal Babu, he was influenced by the culture of sports from a very young age. He also came into regular contact with stalwarts like Goshto Pal, Umapati Kumar, Shute Banerjee and their compatriots due to the fact that the Mariners office was at that time located in his residence.
He completed his education and passed out from the Presidency College, Calcutta, he represented the University of Calcutta in cricket.
His playing career for the Mariners started in 1940. He chose cricket as his primary career but also represented the club in hockey and football. He represented the IFA numerous times till he had a nasty injury on field where his teeth were gnashed. His football career came to an abrupt end in 1944. However he continued to play cricket and hockey.
His hockey career started in the Aryan Club, but he was forced to shift to the Green and Maroon colours. This happened because Matal Babu disapproved of him playing for other clubs. He was curtly told to stick to the Mariners in whatever sport he played at the club level, if he merits selection, otherwise he could play it at home. In those times, each sport was given a specific time of the year e.g. football in the summer and cricket and hockey in the winter. For this reason most of the players of one sport played the other during their off season just keep themselves in shape.
As an example of the level of commitment, he once took a pair of rubber sole tennis shoes that were being issued to all players of the club. On getting home, he was confronted by his father who ordered him to return the boots to the club and get a repceipt made out for the same. This was because in those days, players were mostly amateurs and accepting anything from the club would tantamount to their losing that status in the club.
The cricket career spanned a generation from 1940 to 1964. He was one of the hardest hitters of the cricket ball and used a very heavy bat. But he believed in scoring fast and being a very impatient man never hung around. He was more of a "pinch hitter" in today's parlance, although he never approved of the term. Being tall and lanky he was also extremely fit and agile and a very good fieldsman. He always stressed on a sportsman being a good runner.
In an administrative capacity, he served the Mariners in various sub - committees, but being a reclusive person, he never let out his virtues to anyone. As a matter of fact, stories of most of his deeds could only be had from his friends. For example, he has the dubious distinction of the only person in the history of the CAB to have been adjudged "Paichari" out. This happened against Rajasthan, when he was out tapping the pitch after the ball was dead and the keeper ran him out. The scorer asked the umpire what he should write, and was told that it was "Paichari" out.
He was a compatriot of Dhiren Dey, Siddhartha Shankar Ray, Chuni Goswami and other stalwarts. He passed away quietly on the morning of January 9th 2000, leaving behind a legacy that is rich but hardly known outside a very small group comprising his friends and family.
Composed by Saurav Mitra - Jan 2005
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