By Lakshit Singhal
Bishan Singh Bedi is a dynamic personality. His performances on the field and actions off the field have earned him a distinct identity among his contemporaries. Chronicling him is not an easy task but this is where The Sardar of Spin stands out. It is an eclectic collection of essays by former cricketers, authors, sports writers and journalists that unearth various dimensions of Bedi’s life and give us an insight into the cricketer’s eventful journey.
The book is divided across 34 chapters and holds the distinction of bringing together a diverse and experienced set of writers. From Mike Brearley to Michael Holding, the former cricketers reflect upon their experiences with Bedi. Every chapter is filled with fascinating anecdotes about the man who is a stalwart in his own right. His bowling action, famously regarded as poetry in motion, gets due prominence in not one but many chapters. Reading these will make you appreciate the art of spin bowling even more.
For Bedi, the game came before everything else. He would not sit on the fence and accept anything that would tarnish its image. The heart of Sardar of Spin lies in Bedi’s relationship with cricket. “To Bishan Singh Bedi, cricket was more than a game, it was a way of life, a platform where you let the world know what you stood for”, writes Saad Bin Jung, in one of the chapters. I am not sure if it was a conscious effort on the part of contributing authors. But the unconventionality is the strong point of the book and adds to the reading delight.
Bishan Bedi is an enigma for the current generation. The book offers a peek into the situations Bedi faced and the choices he made in his 13-year-long career. Be it his protest against the West Indies' tactics of intimidating short-pitched bowling at the body of the Indian batters or the fight against the board for better pay and facilities for the players. He never hesitated in speaking his mind, even if it put him in trouble. “Bishan Paaji empowered us, gave us hope that we could take on the system”, remarks Mohinder Amarnath.
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Bishan Paaji, as he is affectionately known, lives and breathes cricket. He would study the batter all-round and make notes of his bowling. He wouldn't hesitate in appreciating a good shot, even if it came off his own bowling. “For him, art was universal. It was a measure of both his magnanimity and confidence”, says his companion of the famous spin quartet, B.S. Chandrashekhar. His passion for the game is infectious which is reflected beautifully through the book.
Final Thoughts
Not all essays captivate you equally and sometimes the information gets repetitive. It is difficult for me to pick my favorite essay as every chapter contains some unique anecdotes. But if I have to pick, the essays by Rajdeep Sardesai and Venkat Sundaram stand out for me. These essays reveal many facets of Bedi's life which come as a revelation. Particularly, his pioneering efforts to uplift the status of Delhi and North Zone cricket merit a read.
To conclude, the book is an insightful read. It gets repetitive at times and lacks coherence and flow which might be distracting for some readers. But it succeeds in its mission of celebrating the life and art of Bishan Bedi.
You can buy the book here.
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