LIFE IN RAPP – WE WON CHESS TOURNAMENT

There used to be an inter unit sports and games tournament, among units of the Department of Atomic Energy. I think none from RAPP participated for the chess event. Always,  BARC, Bombay won the shield.

 At my suggestion, we decided to make an attempt to challenge the supremacy of the H.Q. From our experience, my residence in Phase 2 being practically a chess club, we knew the ratings of our players; Parashar, a short man who sang Hindi film songs and was a chess maniac, who bought Modern Chess Openings, a thick volume, something of a Bible for all chess players and would practice the game at home, being our champion, followed by De Silva, a Scientific Offficer, a fellow who had won gold medal in college, being the second, followed by Sony and Kaushik. They wanted me to be the nonplaying captain. I agreed reluctantly, being loth to leave my family for about ten days or so; at the same time, eager to travel to our Heavy Water Project in Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh, a Naxal infested area even then, some twenty years ago. We were entitled for travelling allowance and free food and accommodation. Parasher’s son, a young boy of ten years or so came with us, if I rememer correctly.

 All the way in the train, they went on practicing, the boy and myself enjoying th sights on the way, mostly through the forest area. We reached at night and stayed in a type 2 quarter.

 The next day the games would start. As manager, I could see the games. All of our men were doing well. The boy was watching TV in the adjoining hall. When I went there, it was a blue film. I had instant erection and hastily withdrew, allowing the boy to enjoy, perhaps his first experience. I was told that such things were common in our colony.

 There were two sessions, one in the mornig and a rapid chess in the after noon. I enjoyed the stay, the good food and company, almost forgetting home.

 In those days I used to write letters regularly to a limited number of people, mostly our relatives. When Soya’s letter came, my colleages were surprised. She wrote that she looked forward to my visit to Hubli, where she was working in the Railway Divisional Office; the idea being abandoned, following subsequent developments in our tournament.

 On the last day, when we won the shield, they wanted to ” CELEBRATE ” and I agreed. After two or three pegs, Parashar started weeping. I was upset. He had won the first position. He was not liked by people, including my wife, whose complaint was that he woud never leave, once our games started at home. Self pity, that such a good player was not respected by colleagues, may be the psychological factor.

 I wanted to see Godavary river. Some one told us it was just walkable diastance. Sony, Kaushik and myself began walking, never coming closer to the river. It was getting dark and we had to return disappointed. Luckily we got a tractor trailer, carrying sand from the river. We all climbed up and sat over the sand. Sony remembered his experience: have you ever travelled on the back of a camel?

 We all shook our head in the negative.

 He continued: Once I had to attend a marriage. Camel was the only conveyance to reach that remote locality in Rajasthan. When I reached, after three hours of back breaking journey, my legs became paralysed and refused to bcome straight.You should have seen me walking towards the crowd of people asembled there. They are habituated to travel by camel and could not believe my story that camel ride was the cause of my dicomfiture!

 Bringing the shield was a problem. I had thought that the games manager would do every thing. Sony knew the stores people there and collected the packing materials. I was always worried that the shield may be damaged accidently.

At last when we came back, it was kept in my section in Accounts office for public display. The same day I went and saw our Head, M.R.Sreenivasan, a lover of sports and very near to our quarter in the Township. He was very much pleased and congratulated me and the team.

 From my office, the shield was carried by De Silva and myself to the office of the Head.I had told Nair, our Project photographer, and he took several pictures and gave copies to me.

With my shifting to township, the chess club ceases to exist.