|
Shri
DUSHYANTRAI DALSUKHRAI MEHTA, popularly
known as D. D. MEHTA, was born at Petlad, a
medium-sized town in Kheda District,
Gujarat, India in a middle class family on
25th May, 1911. The youngest among 6
children, he lost his father at a very early
age and it was his mother who brought him up
almost single-handed. Growing-up in such a
tough environment notwithstanding, right
from his childhood, he showed immense
interest in Sports & in his early days,
actively played a wide variety of the then
popular Indian sports like “HU TU TU”, “KABADDI”,
'KHO KHO', 'LANGADI', 'AATA PATA', 'MALKHAMBHA',
& other 'ATHLETICS', and excelled in them by
winning many prizes, cups & shields.
Possessing a very good physique, thanks to
being an excellent swimmer sports was
clearly a big and all-time passion for him.
He brought his good physique to his
advantage in several sports.
Given
some financial pressures, an 18-year old D.D.
Mehta was forced to drop out of college &
start earning. He joined
Bank of
Baroda and was soon given the massive
responsibility of being the custodian of the
Safe Deposit Vault at the bank’s head office
in Baroda. He lent a huge dignity &
credibility to this task & served the Bank
for nearly forty years sincerely and
honestly, so much so, that the Bank awarded
seven special increments for his meritorious
service and for developing the business of
the Bank. This, in those early days of
business in India, was a significant
achievement. Clearly, he was bringing-in his
trade-mark focus & concentration into this
endeavour with great passion.
But then,
once a sportsman, always a sportsman. Amidst
all the reality of life, he still managed to
keep alive his passion for sport. During his
teens, he had developed a keen interest in
other sports like Cricket & Carrom. He was
an excellent left arm spinner and used to
play with the likes of Late Shri Vijay
Hazare, Shri D K Gaekwad and other such
national-level cricketers of yester years.
One particular incident stands out. During
one net practice session, just before India
was to tour England, he was bowling to the
then India’s best batsman, Vijay Hazare. DD
Mehta clean bowled Hazare off the 1st
ball with an armer. Hazare asked him to bowl
the armer again – got him middle-stump
again. Hazare was puzzled & wondered how he
bowled the delivery & asked him to bowl a
few more. DD Mehta got Hazare’s middle-stump
5 times in that 6-ball over. Hazare was
simply stunned. The year was 1952 & DD Mehta
a ‘young’ 40 at the time. DD Mehta’s playing
days were long over, but, during that
English tour, whenever Hazare was out to an
armer, he would remember DD Mehta. Hazare,
of course, went on to become one of the most
prolific & respected Indian batsmen in
history, but, DD Mehta will be remembered
among the very few who were present then, as
the man who clean bowled the great Hazare 5
times out of 6, albeit, in a net session.
Even after
his playing days were over, DD Mehta
continued his association with sport, as the
Managing Committee Member of Baroda Cricket
Association , Vice President of Bank of
Baroda Sports Club as well as serving many
other sports organizations, clubs and
associations for many years, all in an
honorary capacity for the promotion and
development of sport in Baroda.
Above all,
what marked DD Mehta out most was his
sportsmanlike spirit in real life as well.
Always up-right, yet extremely fair &
generous in his dealings, he was really
loved by everyone he came in touch with. DD,
as he was often lovingly referred to by his
contemporaries, had a huge circle of friends
from different walks of life, with many of
them belonging to totally different
professions than his. In spite of being a
no-nonsense man, he was still deeply adored
by everyone for his simple, straightforward
& ever helpful nature. Not given to
emotional demonstration, yet deeply
affectionate towards his family & close
friends & an extremely caring human in
spirit towards everyone he felt needed
help.
In loving
memory & honour of late Shri D D MEHTA, his
two sons, Shri Snehal D Mehta and Dr. Nilesh
D Mehta have donated running trophies for
carrom in U S A and cricket in Baroda,
India.
The inaugural
carrom trophy rolled out in 2001 which was
held in Chicago and the winner was Ram Gopal
from Michigan. Subsequently, Ram Gopal went
on to achieve a hat trick, a feat that will
be tough to surpass for the subsequent
winners Somasekhar Challa and Sanjay Murthy.
The Mehta family would like to extend
congratulations to all these fine carrom
players and wonderful human beings. Our
families would also like to thank the United
States Carrom Association for allowing us to
cherish and share our father’s memories.
Mrs. Chhaya R. Desai ( daughter ) and Mr
Rajul N. Desai ( son in law )
Mrs. Kalpana J. Desai ( daughter ) and Mr.
Jayant L. Desai ( son in law )
Mr. Snehal D. Mehta ( son ) and Mrs.
Yamini S. Mehta ( daughter in law )
Dr. Nilesh D Mehta ( son ) and Mrs. Smita
N. Mehta ( daughter in law )
|
|
 |
