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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Cricket’s Quiet Crusader

Former kca Selection Chief who helped nurture a generation of women cricketers when the sport struggled for recognition Niketha Ramankutty A prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, Niketha Ramankutty — former Chairperson of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) Women’s Selection Committee and Manager of the Kerala State women’s teams — has long championed the game, especially when women’s cricket had little platform in her home state. Her dedication helped nurture girls taking to cricket...

Cricket’s Quiet Crusader

Former kca Selection Chief who helped nurture a generation of women cricketers when the sport struggled for recognition Niketha Ramankutty A prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, Niketha Ramankutty — former Chairperson of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) Women’s Selection Committee and Manager of the Kerala State women’s teams — has long championed the game, especially when women’s cricket had little platform in her home state. Her dedication helped nurture girls taking to cricket in Kerala. During her tenure, which ended recently, five players from the state went on to represent India, while three now feature in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Niketha’s journey began in 1995 on modest grounds and rough pitches in the blazing sun of her native Thrissur. At the time, girls aspiring to play cricket often drew curious stares or disapproving glances. This was despite Kerala producing some of India’s finest female athletes, including P.T. Usha, Shiny Wilson, Anju Bobby George, K.M. Beenamol and Tintu Luka. “Those were the days when women’s cricket did not attract packed stadiums, prime-time television coverage, lucrative contracts or celebrity status. Thankfully, the BCCI has taken progressive steps, including equal pay for the senior women’s team and launching the WPL. These have brought greater visibility, professional avenues and financial security for women cricketers,” Niketha said during a chat with  The Perfect Voice  in Pune. With better infrastructure, stronger domestic competitions and greater junior-level exposure, she believes the future of women’s cricket in India is bright and encourages more girls to pursue the sport seriously. Humble Beginnings Niketha began playing informal matches in neighbourhood kalisthalams (playgrounds) and school competitions before realising cricket was her true calling. Coaches who noticed her composure encouraged her to pursue the game seriously. More than flamboyance, she brought reliability and quiet determination to the turf — qualities every captain values when a match hangs in the balance. These traits helped her rise through the ranks and become a key figure in Kerala’s women’s cricket structure. “She was like a gentle messiah for the players. During demanding moments, they could rely on her – whether to stabilise an innings or lift team spirit,” recalled a former colleague. Guiding Youngsters Her involvement came when women’s cricket in many states struggled even for basic facilities. Matches were rarely covered by the media, and limited travel or training arrangements often tested players’ patience. “As a mother of two daughters—Namradha, 18, and Nivedya, 14—I could understand the emotions of the young girls in the teams. Guiding players through difficult phases and helping them overcome failures gave me the greatest satisfaction,” she said. Niketha — an English Literature graduate with a master’s in Tourism Management — believes success in sport demands not only skill but also sacrifice. Strong parental support and encouragement from her husband, Vinoth Kumar, an engineer, helped her overcome many challenges. Never one to seek the spotlight, she let her performances speak for themselves, earning respect on the national circuit. Quiet Legacy Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. Young girls are more ambitious, parents more supportive, and cricket is seen as a viable career with opportunities in coaching, umpiring, team management, sports analysis and allied fields. Players like Niketha have quietly strengthened the sport. Their journeys show that some victories are not won under stadium floodlights, but by determined women who simply refused to stop playing.

Godavari Parulekar’s bust unveiled in Palghar college

Mumbai: Symbolising a moment of pride, a bust of the firebrand crusader and writer, Godavari Shamrao Gokhale-Parulekar was unveiled at a college named after her in Talasari town of Palghar, to mark her 118th birth anniversary celebrations, officials said.


The sculpture was inaugurated by L. B. Dhangar, 97-year-old Communist Party of India (M) and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) veteran and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and AIKS President Dr. Ashok Dhawale, before a huge gathering of students and activists cheering at the ‘Comrade Godavari Shamrao Parulekar College’ in Talasari.


Born on Aug. 14, 1907 and educated in Pune, Parulekar shattered many barriers when the country reeled under British Rule, and remained a respected figure till her demise in Oct. 1996).


Godavari became the first woman law graduate of Maharashtra, was the first female member of Servants of India Society founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, took part in and was jailed several times during the Freedom Movement, and years later became the first and only lady President of the powerful AIKS (in 1986).


Comrade Godavari’s bust was not just a tribute to a towering personality of the Independence struggle and farmers’ movement, but also a reaffirmation of the values that she lived and fought for, remarked the AIKS President on the occasion.


“The college is run by Adivasi Pragati Mandal (APM) since 1994 and proved a boon to educate thousands of Tribal youth from the most underprivileged strata, through its schools, hostels and colleges in both Talasari and Dahanu, with a combined pupil strength of over 8000 now,” Dhawale told ‘The Perfect Voice’.


A permanent exhibition showcasing the cultural and artistic objects created by the Adivasis – was also thrown open as a symbolic continuation of Parulekar’s beliefs in preserving and empowering local traditions.


Dr. Dhawale recalled that the proposal for the bust was mooted by the APM’s founding President the late Lahanu Kom, a former MP and veteran CPI (M) leader, who dedicated his life to the cause of tribal welfare.


Recounting Parulekar’s contributions, Dr. Dhawale said that rather than choose a conventional career, she jumped into the Independence Movement and then shifted to the cause of oppressed peasants and tribals.


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