Read the amusing story of Gary Sobers at India’s National Defence Academy in 1958, when the legendary cricketer became “Cadet Sobers Singh, Sir!” Cmde Amarjit Singh Toor, Veteran
In the late fifties, I was a cadet at the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla. During my time there, the academy played host to many VIPs. The distinguished list included Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Premier Zhou-en-lai of China, Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma, and, not forgetting, our then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
One visit that left a lasting impression on me was that of the West Indies cricket team in the winter of 1958.
The Windies came to Khadakvasla to play the opening match of their tour of India against the Combined Services team. One of my fellow course mates, Cadet Sen Gupta, opened the innings and made the NDA proud by scoring a century, despite facing the fury of Wesley Hall and Roy Gilchrist, who were among the fastest bowlers in the world at the time, as well as the guile of the wily Gary Sobers. Sen Gupta was immediately selected for the Indian Test team on the strength of this performance.
The Windies were accommodated in the cadets’ quarters, with two players assigned to each squadron. Gary Sobers and the late Collie Smith, whose promising career was abruptly cut short by a fatal car accident in England, were assigned to my squadron. Gary and Collie would sit with the cadets in the ante room, entertaining us with Calypso and Caribbean jokes. We also picked up the latest dance steps from them.
One evening, both teams were invited by the Commandant for a get-together. I was among the senior cadets who were also asked to attend. As I was getting ready, Gary walked into my cabin and saw me trying to tie my turban. He was fascinated by the way I made equal folds on either side to give the turban a symmetrical shape.
Incidentally, mine was a ‘Demo’ turban, which the other Sikh cadets of the squadron had to emulate during the periodic turban parades or else. Gary suddenly piped up, saying, “I also want to wear a turban for the party tonight.”
He coaxed me into tying my spare uniform turban, complete with the NDA badge, on his head. He was delighted with the result.
While the Commandant, General Habibullah, was busy talking to some of the guests, Gary walked in with determined steps, pushed the gathering aside, clicked his heels smartly, and introduced himself to the General loudly with the words, “Cadet Sober Singh, Sir!”
The General was suddenly taken aback at the cadet’s abrupt and unexpected behaviour and must have thought to himself that he was facing a ‘Cadet Hot-So-Sober Singh’. However, before he could open his mouth to express his displeasure, Gary quickly took off his turban, revealing his characteristic hair, and said respectfully and politely, “Good Evening, General”, to the accompaniment of uncontrollable laughter and merriment all around the gathering.
I shall always cherish the photographs taken that evening with the celebrity Garfield Sobers, whose name is now, very deservedly, prefixed by the title “Sir!”
