Burjorji Commissariat had his own cricket team and mentored
many young Indians in Mombasa
Kersi Rustomji
The first Indian to be elected honorary member of the Mombasa Sports Club (MSC), then the bastion of the European community, was my grandfather Burjorji Commissariat. It was only during interclub matches that non-Europeans went there. But Burjorji had made a name for himself in the world of sports having earned the epithet, "The doyen of cricket in Kenya.”
Grandfather was the first Indian to win the Coast Open Tennis Championship at MSC. Cricket, however, was his greatest passion and he devoted himself to promoting the game especially among the Indian community and the country for the next 25 years before his retirement in 1937 when he was conferred the membership honor by MSC.
Born in India, within five years of reaching Mombasa at the age of 22 he had formed his own team, Burjorji XI in 1912. It was through his team that he trained and guided young Indians in their cricket careers. He was known for his discipline as well as his sportsmanship. He would not tolerate anyone who played cross bat (horizontal swing of the bat that is considered risky and prone to mistakes); they were sent off to practice the correct stance and only then return to join his contingent.
With the growth of various clubs, inter club trophy matches were played with the greatest of enthusiasm and were very serious affairs. Cricket season became one of the major sporting events in Mombasa.
Later there was also an annual match at MSC between Europeans and Indians, named European-Asian Test. In the early days, Burjorji XI represented the Asian side. The European 11 was drawn mostly from the MSC. In subsequent years, the players for the Asian team were selected from various Indian clubs in Mombasa, according to their performance during the season. The best players from this event were then selected for the annual all Kenya European vs Asians Test, played in Nairobi. Barring the years of World War II, these Test matches continued until Kenya became independent.
Like all Parsis, grandfather too was somewhat of an Anglophile and had been brought up with strict Victorian and British values. His surname, Commissariat, was one of the anglicised occupational names that Parsis adopted. It means an officer in charge of a department of an army that provides daily food and supplies for soldiers. It was his great-grandfather who had worked for the British army in India.
Above, from l: Burjorji XI, with Burjorji (center row, 4th from l);
skipper of visiting Indian XI Mustaq Ali (center) with M. Khataw (l) and Burjorji
The locals in Mombasa though mainly addressed grandfather as "Burjorji.” During the 30 years he worked as a cashier for the National Bank, he was known to be a stern taskmaster. Anyone approaching him at the Bank had to be certain that every transaction was correctly entered in all the documents and bank books, otherwise they incurred his wrath. Burjorji did not suffer fools and bawled at any customer who erred.
It was said that once when a British bank manager entered grandfather’s unattended cashier’s cubicle with the day’s cash in it, he roared at the manager to get out and never to enter it without his permission. The locals who were quick to give nicknames, called him "Bwana Kali (Mr Wrath).” He and grandmother Mithibai, having lived in Mombasa for a very long time, were among the many well-known older residents of the city.
Failing eyesight compelled Burjorji to take a backseat in cricket at the age of 52. The East African Standard of July 26, 1937 stated, "When he first came to Mombasa, cricket was at a low ebb. Under his helpful interest the game soon took firm root, and much of its progress today, not only at the coast but in Kenya and East Africa generally, has been due to his efforts.”
When an Indian XI from Sunder Cricket Club visited Mombasa for a day match, captain Mustaq Ali was specially introduced to Burjorji and M. Khataw, the only other Indian life-member of MSC. Recalling the events of the day, The Mombasa Times referred to the crowds screaming their approval as E. Vohra shattered the stumps of Ali. Unable to see the action, Burjorji asked the occupant of the next seat "What happened?” When he was told that Ali was clean bowled, he exclaimed, "My God!”
His demise on March 13, 1967 at the age of 82 earned a mention in the East African Standard as also The Advertiser. He was survived by his widow, three sons and two daughters.
The author is the only other person in East Africa to have his own cricket XI.