MB#40: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙄𝙋 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙘𝙚 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙨.
- www.suryanarayana.com
- Nov 19
- 3 min read
[MemoirBlogthon #40] I spent three uninteresting days at a high-profile tennis tournament with my father. I was only interested in the VIP ice cream. Decades later, a forgotten testimonial revealed the true depth of his connection to sports—a passionate legacy that continues today with my football-playing grandson.
Sporting Spectacle: Attending a Match Together.
The question of whether my father, Sri Susarla Subrahmanya Sastry, was a sports player or simply a sports lover often lingered in my mind.
His evening routine certainly suggested the former. Straight from the office at 6 PM, he would head to the local Officers Club. He kept his racket and playing dress there, dedicating an hour to tennis before enjoying indoor sports like bridge with fellow members. Yet, this routine felt like a disciplined extension of his professional life rather than a fierce, unbridled passion.
His mind changed when he asked me to accompany him to a large-scale tennis tournament in Guntur, a neighboring city of Vijayawada. He was determined to witness his favorite tennis players, Ramanathan Krishnan and the rising star Vijay Amritraj, compete. Being a high-ranking government official, he secured special entry passes for the VIP gallery, and I reluctantly joined him.
I must confess: I knew nothing of the game beyond holding the racket. I didn't find watching professional tennis for hours enjoyable. For three days, I made the most of the situation as he became engrossed in every elegant serve and volley. The true spectacle for me was the special access to ice cream, cool drinks, and snacks—refreshments I enjoyed thoroughly, making the long hours of watching otherwise uninteresting matches tolerable. After the tournament, my father got to meet and congratulate the champions—a moment of quiet pride for him, undocumented by the spectator-forbidden photography.
The Enduring Love and the Unexpected Revelation
My father’s love for sports never faded, even in retirement. In our gated community, he would watch the children playing tennis in his wheelchair, often pushed by his medical assistant, and he would distribute chocolates to appreciate their talent. Cricket was another passion; he would watch international matches on TV and listen to the radio commentary with rapt attention. I often heard him discuss his favorite Indian cricketer, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, an influence so strong that I later included a write-up about Pataudi in my 2019 book, Self-Motivated World Champions.
But the ultimate answer to my question arrived only today, decades after that Guntur tournament.
I asked my grandson, an avid football player, to read an old testimonial about my father. The document was written by the Physical Education Regional Inspector in September 1951:
"I know Sri Subrahmanya Sastri, B.E., who was a student of the Engineering College, Kakinada... He is an active and enthusiastic young man who took a keen interest in the sporting activities of the college. He was a member of the college FOOTBALL and hockey team for over three years..."The revelation was stunning. My father wasn't just a casual tennis player or a passionate admirer of Pataudi; he was an athlete who had played competitive football and hockey throughout his college years!
The discovery was instantaneous and impactful. My grandson's eyes lit up, and he proudly declared, "I am a proud successor of the football legacy of my great-grandfather!" With that happy, affirming note, he went off for his regular football coaching class.
I now have the final answer. My father was not just a sports lover who endured my ice cream addiction at tennis tournaments; he was a former athlete, a dedicated player who turned into a passionate admirer—a legacy of sporting spirit that has now found its rightful successor.
MB#40: Quiz
MB40: Question: Which sport is the author's grandson currently carrying on the great-grandfather's sports legacy in?
A. Cricket.
B. Basketball.
C. Football.
D. Tennis.
MB#40: Quote
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