Palwankar Vithal

Palwankar Vithal (1884 or 1886 – November 26 1971) was an Indian cricketer, credited with being the first Dalit (lower caste) captain of the Hindus cricket team in the Bombay Quadrangular cricket competition. He was the younger brother of the Indian spin bowler and Dalit social reformer Palwankar Baloo; his other brothers Palwankar Shivram and Palwankar Ganpat were also cricketers.

Early years

The Palwankar family belong to the Chamar caste, which suffered from the stigma of "untouchability" and caste discrimination. (See Dilip K. Menon, "Cultural History of Modern India", Chapter 1 : Ramachandra Guha "The Heroic Struggles of the Palwankar Brothers". pgs 1-32. 2007, Bergahn Books, "A Corner Of A Foreign Field", Ramachandra Guha, Picador India, 2002 and his autobiography, "Majhe Crida Jeevan".). Born in 1886, Vithal was introduced to cricket by his elder brother Palwankar Baloo, who later sent him to attend the Elphinstone College High School in Mumbai (then Bombay), where he began playing cricket seriously.

Prominence as a cricketer

In the following years, Vithal rose in the ranks of Indian cricketers as a stylish and skilled batsman, even as his elder brother Baloo enjoyed legendary status as a successful spin bowler. Despite the controversy over Baloo being passed over for the captaincy of the Hindu team, which was attributed by many to politics and caste discrimination, Vithal's career continued to progress. With his elder brothers ageing and approaching retirement, Vithal emerged as the future of the Palwankar family in cricket as well as one of the best talent in Indian cricket. [Dilip K. Menon, "Cultural History of Modern India", chapter 1 Ramachandra Guha: "The Heroic Struggles of the Palwankar Brothers". pgs 1-32. 2007, Bergahn Books.] In 1920, he and several other players protested the appointment of a Brahmin, D. B. Deodhar, as captain following the illness of the incumbent, M. D. Pai; with Baloo being dropped, most considered Shivram and Vithal to be the most senior players and leading candidates for the job. Critics attributed Deodhar's appointment to caste discrimination, and both Palwankar brothers, along with other rank-and-file cricketers withdrew from the team after publishing a letter making their protest public and criticising the selection committee for the "unsportsmanlike" decision. [Dilip K. Menon, "Cultural History of Modern India", chapter 1 Ramachandra Guha: "The Heroic Struggles of the Palwankar Brothers". pgs 1-32. 2007, Bergahn Books.] Supporters, rallied by the on-going campaign against untouchability led by Mahatma Gandhi and other political leaders, raised money for the Palwankar brothers and petitioned for their inclusion in the team. When the recovered Pai returned to captaincy, both brothers were reinstated and Baloo selected to join the team as well. The brothers protested again when they were by-passed for the captaincy for the 1922 competition that was held in Pune. [Dilip K. Menon, "Cultural History of Modern India", chapter 1 Ramachandra Guha: "The Heroic Struggles of the Palwankar Brothers". pgs 1-32. 2007, Bergahn Books.]

Captaincy

With the campaign against caste discrimination gaining nationwide support, the selection committee for the 1923 Quadrangular made history by appointed Vithal as the captain of the Hindus team, making him the first lower-caste Hindu to lead the team. [Dilip K. Menon, "Cultural History of Modern India", Chapter 1, Ramachandra Guha: "Cricket and Caste: The Heroic Struggles of the Palwankar Brothers". pgs 1-32. 2007, Bergahn Books.] Vithal led the team to thrilling victories over the Mohammedan and European teams, where his captaincy and personal performance were praised. His four-year tenure (1923 to 1926) as captain was filled with similar successes and culminated with the Hindus winning the Quadrangular trophy. [>Dilip K. Menon, "Cultural History of Modern India", Chapter 1, Ramachandra Guha: "Cricket and Caste: The Heroic Struggles of the Palwankar Brothers". pgs 1-32. 2007, Bergahn Books.]

Being dropped in favour of younger players in 1929, [Dilip K. Menon, "Cultural History of Modern India", Chapter 1, Ramachandra Guha: "Cricket and Caste: The Heroic Struggles of the Palwankar Brothers". pgs 1-32. 2007, Bergahn Books.] Vithal continued playing for clubs before retiring from first-class cricket in 1932; his nephew Y. B. Palwankar also played first-class cricket. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/41/41336/41336.html Cricket Archive] ] He left the Hindus two years before the formation of the first Indian national cricket team. After his retirement he continued with his job at the Greater Indian Peninsular Railway, which he had joined after leaving school, while his eldest brother, Palwankar Baloo rose in Indian politics. Vithal died in Mumbai on November 26 1971.

tatistics

*First-Class Career Batting and Fielding (1910/11-1931/32) [ [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/41/41336/41336.html Cricket Archive] ] - Matches: 44- Innings: 76 - Not Out: 8- Runs: 2404- Highest Score: 149- Batting Average: 35:35- 100s: 5- 50s: 11- Catches: 16

*First-Class Career Bowling (1913/14-1926/27) [ [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/41/41336/41336.html Cricket Archive] ] - Balls: 12- Maiden overs: 0- Runs: 14- Wickets: 0- Best Bowling Figures: 0-7- Bowling Average: 0- Economy rate: 7.00

References