Happy Birthday Kirmani Sir

Syed Mujtaba Hussein Kirmani, India’s legendary wicket keeper and cricketer celebrates his 68^th birthday today. Kirmani Sir, as I call him lovingly became a household name after India won the 1983 world cup. His exploits behind the wickets, the stunning blinders that he his gloves never missed, the breath-taking stumpings that he executed with equal aplomb had been known even before India’s historic win. But the world cup victory changed it all. Padma Shree, Arjuna award Winner, best Wicket Keeper in the world winner, recipient of BCCI’s Lifetime achievement Award, the list of recognition that he has received is quite long and an exhausting one. And as much each of these awards have recognised his achievements and feats, these awards have become richer by bestowing themselves on a person who comes across as a man filled with humility and grace, despite the halo that goes with his name.

My first meeting with him was this year, 34 years after he and his team members conquered the ‘Lords’, thanks to his nephew Kumail, my one time student and now a very successful entrepreneur. I was a mere nine year old boy when Indians conquered the world at Lords. 

Meeting such a legend can be a bit unnerving. We were waiting for him in his living room. It took less than two minutes of wait before Kirmani Sir came to greet us. I was dumbstruck for some time. It was as if one of those posters that used to adorn my walls during my childhood days had come alive. My ears were ringing with words of the radio commentators – ‘And Kirmani pulls off a stunner… another wicket for India…’Those days we did not have television at home and radio commentary was the only way to keep in touch with what our team was doing away on foreign soil. 

Most people remember Kapil Dev our captain or Mohinder Amarnath who was the man of the match in both semi-final and finals for their role in helping India win the world cup. Undoubtedly contributions of Kapil and Amaranth are superlative but there is small but very important part of history that was not recorded on camera and as the saying goes, out of sight is also out of mind. It was one of the league matches of India against Zimbabwe, unimportant for many, but very significant for India, as that loss would have eliminated our team from the tournament itself, forget about even contending for the title. Indian team was tottering at 17 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Indian loss seemed imminent. But what Zimbabweans and the world little knew that two men – Kapil and Kirmani will change not only the course of that match from their onwards but pretty much of the whole tournament. Kirmani joined Kapil at this juncture and while everyone has made an effort to remember the 175 run knock of Kapil in this match, almost everyone has sadly forgotten that Kirmani stood rock solid at the other end for a record 126 ninth wicket partnership. Although Kirmani scored 24 runs in this partnership, had he not planted himself at the other end, Kapil’s feat and India’s comeback win would never have been possible. This match unfortunately was not recorded on camera (in those days only important matches would be recorded and broadcasted by television companies). Alas! A video of this match would have been such a wonderful testimony to the grit and determination of Syed Kirmani. He played the role of sheet anchor and while Kapil took away the applause, Kirmani was content with having done his bit for his nation. Everyone remembers Neil Armstrong as the first person on moon. Few remember that Mike Collins and Buzz Aldrin also accompanied him in this successful landmark mission. Kirmani’s contributions were pivotal in India winning the world title, something that changed the perception of the world towards our nation and made the world sit back and take note of this merging global power. A measure of his contributions can be gauged from the fact that it took a good 27 years for India to repeat its feat and win the championship again.

It took a while for the feeling to sink in me that I was indeed sitting next to one of my childhood idols and a legend. However Kirmani Sir has an uncanny way of making you feel comfortable and at ease immediately. His humility and straightforwardness is extremely appealing. A few minutes with him and you will feel that you have known him for years. I have met him two times after that and every time he has left me awestruck by his magnetic simplicity and aura.

I consider myself fortunate that he wrote an endorsement for my book ‘The Life of Y – Engaging Millennials as employees and Consumers’ and even agreed to release my book. His words and presence made my journey as an author so very complete and worthy. The feeling is incomparable and it will remain etched as some memorable moments of my life.

As this legend celebrate his birthday today, we wish that almighty blesses him with long life, good health and lots of happiness.

Happy Birthday Kirmani Sir. Many, many happy returns of the day.

You were, You are and You will remain the true ‘Lord of the Lords’.