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It is 26 years since my friend Bapoo Burjorji Mama (BBM) (pictured) passed away. I still remember him every day, often many times a day. Mama and Anandji Dossa were my gurus who gave me my passion for cricket statistics. Alas, both are no more but their achievements are still treasured by devotees of the game.
When searching for some correspondence in my drawer I came across a pile of letters written by my close friend Mama in his neat handwriting.
As he lived in Panchgani and I in Bombay, and later (since 1970) in Sydney, we corresponded with each via letters. That was before the e-mail age! We shared our successes; getting articles published in leading newspapers [The Times of India (TOI)] and magazines (Wisden Cricket Almanack, UK) or disappointment at receiving rejections or editorial silence.
He wrote regularly for Sportsweek, The Sportstar, Kaiser-e-Hind, TOI, Pakistan Cricket International, Australian Cricket and the reputed Wisden Cricket Monthly (UK) among other publications. He served as official cricket statistician on the national television channel Doordarshan from 1973 to 1988 covering Test matches and One-Day Internationals.
Born on April 8, 1924 in Bombay, for health reasons Mama settled in Panchgani from 1948 onwards. I enjoyed his column titled "Figures are Fun, follow them with BBM” in Sportsweek. So I obtained his address from the editor and wrote a letter of appreciation.
Within a few days I received Mama’s reply dated November 19, 1968. I still have the 53-year-old postcard with me, in excellent condition. It read: "I was indeed very glad to hear from you. I truly believe in the camaraderie of cricket. I feel happy that I have made a new friend and trust you will count me henceforth as one of your friends…”
I also enjoyed his other columns, "Down Memory Lane” and "Factfile.” We continued writing to each other, sharing our highs and lows till he passed away in 1995 aged 70.
Apart from cricket history and statistics we shared other interests. When my sons Jehangir and Zubin were born, we received letters of congratulations from Mama and his wife Mani. Not to forget his hearty congratulations whenever my cricket books were published. He seemed as excited as I was.
When I air-mailed him the article published in World of Cricket he wrote back, "You have bucked me up no end. I feel as a drooping flower does when it gets its first splash of water after weeks of drought!”
David Lord, the famous Australian cricket writer and editor, asked me to write for his new magazine World of Cricket in 1973. I profiled Bishan Bedi, the famous turbaned Indian spinner, and soon became the magazine’s cricket correspondent from India although I resided in Sydney.
It was not easy, as there was no internet, websites or e-mails available to me then and the Press and television coverage of India in Australia was pathetic. Mama came to my rescue, faxing me clippings of matches played in India and sending me material by express post. I must have done a competent job because an Australian friend was surprised to see me in Sydney and enquired when I had returned from India. He could not believe that I was writing my in-depth columns on Indian cricket for World of Cricket while based in Sydney! Thus, to a large extent, I owe my cricket writing success in Australia to my dear friend Bapoo.
Those who say that statisticians have no sense of humor should see some of the New Year, Navroz and Easter cards he mailed me. One of them shows a mischievous Easter bunny displaying facts and figures; the figures of bikini-clad models!
Then there was a New Year card from him wishing me one year of happiness, 12 months of fun, 52 weeks of gladness, 365 days of success, 8,760 hours of good health, 525,600 minutes of good luck and 31,536,000 seconds of statistical fun!
Penning his obituary, Indian Cricket, 1996 wrote, "He was devoted fully to cricket and made friendship with all the statisticians in the world… He served on the statistical committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India for many years.” The achievements of this modest Parsi were praised by internationally renowned cricket writers and statisticians.
I was devastated to learn that after a short illness with intestinal and lung complications my dear friend had passed away in a nursing home in Bombay on March 18, 1995. I think of him every day because for both of us cricket was, and still is, fun.