No airs about him

I met A. G. Kripal Singh, the Madras State and Test cricketer, when he was with E.I.D. Parry’s, Ranipet unit, during the period 1964-1966. As convener, I invited him, B.R. Mohan Rai, former State cricketer, and M.R. Mehra Director of E.I.D. Parry, to participate in the meeting organised to form the North Arcot District Cricket Association on July 1, 1964. As founder-Honorary Secretary, I invited Kripal to attend the nets we had at the George Union playgrounds (now the Nethaji Sports Stadium).

Both Kripal and Mohan Rai represented the Parry & Company in the Inter-club Cricket Tournament conducted annually by the Association. We requested him to lead the 1964 N.A. District team in the Inter-district Cricket Tournament conducted annually by TNCA in the year. He agreed to do so and both Kripal Singh and Mohan Rai played for the team in the match at the Vaniambadi Islamiah College grounds. Chengalpattu District won the match by a slender margin. Kripal bowled very well to take four wickets. Unfortunately, when he had scored 15 runs he was declared out on a dubious LBW decision. Playing for the Club team the jovial Kripal had none of the airs of the former Test cricketer!

P.S. Subrahmanian

2 A, Nalanda Apt

2,5th Street

Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Chennai 600 004

Recharging tanks

With reference to the article about ‘Temple Tanks’ (MM, August 16th), the Rotary Club of Madras launched “Project Thanneer (Water Project): (2000-02)”. The project recharged the fresh water aquifer in nine temple tanks by cleaning the surrounding areas, providing collection pits around them to guide rainwater and thereby raising the groundwater level. The project was financed by Rotary Club of Madras, Rotary Club of Whitby, Canada, Matching Grant and CRCID to the time of $60,000.

Of 36 tanks in Madras, these nine tanks were renovated under this scheme.

S.L. Chitale

chitalearchitects@gmail.com