A Corner of a Foreign Field - Review

Does history lure writers to romance it or are the archaeologists and subsequent chroniclers of times buried under indifference and progress quintessentially romantic?The question even more pertinent if the subject of the historian/writer's affection is sport,one of the most vital human functions over which we have not resorted to "large scale" killing of our fellow men.Ramachandra Guha's quite possibly seminal work "A Corner of a Foreign Field" for most of its length and breadth makes either answer to the above question delectably acceptable.

In times when leisure and attention span are a luxuries that can rarely be simultaneously afforded, the Indian cricket afficionado ( a species that will never become extinct,its sanctuary is everyday life) does not pause and look at his ancestors and their gods.A chance glance and a possible reading of the blurb of Guha's book , would most definetely stimulate the taste buds to relish and the mind to chew upon the history of this national passion.

Guha establishes strongly by researching,analysing and devoting enough pages to the birth, infancy and adoloscence of Indian cricket, the complex dynamics between cricket's initial development and administration in India, and caste and religion, that are unknown to the modern cricket lover.The extensive research of the writer which is clearly evident, enables the reader to draw conclusions from not only the former's own views but also from numerous excerpts from the views of cricket lovers and writers of what now seems an ancient age which he paints in sepia tones.Another fine achievement is the parallel topical overview of the freedom movement which serves as an ideal background on the large canvas.

Most of his observations are astute and plausible,but at times the romantic in him takes over and in the process the odd innocuous coincidence is cheekily lofted into the whirlpool of caste ,religion,nationalism,self-determination and cricket.The only drawback would be the length of the time frame he has chosen to deal with, which is a tad too long.The result of which is the the rapidly decreasing richness and illuminating quality in the content towards the last quarter of the book and a waning interest in events which have been editorial fodder in the not so recent past.

The book is a must read for anybody even remotely intersted in the origins of cricket in our country but what Guha must be thanked most for is bringing to light the trials and tribulations of the unsung heroes of Indian cricket, The Baloos,who now thanks to the author will be deservingly known if not celebrated cricketers among more cricket lovers in India.