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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.

Hunger Games

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

As the Maharashtra Assembly election looms large, Manoj Jarange-Patil, the face of the Maratha quota movement, has once again thrust himself into the political spotlight. His indefinite hunger strikes have become a recurring motif in Maharashtra’s political theatre, each one apparently resonating with the aspirations and frustrations of the Maratha community.

The Maratha quota conundrum is compelling the Eknath Shinde-led government to scramble for solutions in a bid balance the need to appease the Maratha community with the technical challenges of implementing a constitutionally sound quota.

Since August last year, Jarange-Patil has taken on the mantle in an almost messianic style of aggressively seeking reservations in education and government jobs for the Maratha community, which constitutes a significant portion of the state’s populace. His hunger strikes have kept the issue alive in the public eye, whilst increasing the discomfiture of the ruling Mahayuti.

Emboldened with each hunger strike and the Mahayuti’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha election, Jarange-Patil has signalled his intention to influence candidate selection across all segments. His promise to prop up candidates in all 288 Assembly segments has meant a shift from grassroots activism to overt political involvement. But as he sits on the fence between the fields of advocacy and electoral strategy, the pressing question remains which political camp does he ultimately align with - the ruling Mahayuti alliance or the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA)?

This raises the larger question of whether Jarange-Patil is a genuine advocate for the Maratha cause, or merely a pawn in a larger political chess match?

Jarange-Patil’s detractors have long alleged his ‘ties’ to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, the architect of the MVA. Critics of the activist have accused the activist of playing a dual game, using his protests as a platform for personal ambition while aligning himself with established political players, casting doubt on the sincerity of his advocacy.

Despite the release of a film detailing his exploits and seemingly selfless devotion to the Maratha quota, many former allies within the reservation agitation movement have lambasted Jarange-Patil for exploiting the emotions of his followers and the Maratha community for personal gain.

Moreover, Jarange-Patil’s aggressive rhetoric, which initially went unchallenged, has increasingly been met with counterprotests from the OBC community, a significant vote bank for the ruling BJP in Maharashtra. Feeling threatened by Maratha demands, OBC leaders have organized their own demonstrations, arguing that Jarange-Patil’s push for OBC status undermines their hard-won rights. As for Jarange-Patil, while he has made himself relevant with his latest hunger strike, he needs to emerge from the shadows and declare which side he is on. Aligning with the MVA may offer short-term gains, but it could dilute his narrative as a champion of Maratha rights, potentially framing him as a pawn in a broader political struggle.

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