The wonder woman at Tamil Union
Cricket has always been dubbed as the gentleman’s game. But it’s increasingly becoming a gender-neutral game with terms treating both genders, now in usage. The sport is also seeing more and more women participation at the once-male-dominated game.
Locally and globally, there have been only a few and rare women handling the affairs of ground work. In that exclusive club, is one medium-height lady, humbly yet handsomely occupying the club. However, the threat is, she is down to one of the last few to have made her gender proud in the male-dominated job.
When the Sunday Times visited the Tamil Union on Thursday (06), it was business as usual for her and the ground staff team giving the finishing touch-ups and preparing the pitch for an intra-squad game for the women’s national team ahead of their Commonwealth Games. Albeit, she was aware the uniqueness of her job had attracted the press to feature her, she in that workaholic mode and in the middle of the pitch with a broomstick and was working in full swing.
Breaking the trend of only men having manned the job is – Saroja Vellayan – effortlessly bragging three decades of diligence and devotedness in her duty.
“Earlier, a decade-and-a-half ago, there were around five women,” she said of the history.
Gradually the numbers had dropped and now it’s only her representing the ladies. But there is no stopping and only intends to continue in this craft of cricket.
From her grandfather, from whom the baton began and now lying in the safe hands of Saroja, all were closely-associated with the job.
“My parents were all born-and-bred in this profession. This has fed and kept our fires burning,” said Saroja, the last serving member of three generations having performed this job, and continuing the family tradition.
A line of generation consisting of her – grandfather, parents, sister and now her – have all been contributors to this craft. The most senior hand of the current lot, easily for many moons, has worked happily and wholeheartedly and has enjoyed a problem-free stay. She has learnt the job from her parents to her predecessors.
Though others made it only a sojourn stay, she has, however, made an exception. For the long-standing staff she has been for the club, she has been richly and rightly rewarded in meeting and interacting with star-studded cricketers. Thus, being that lucky lady than the commoners and the cricket-mad themselves, in having seen stalwarts namely – Murali, Mahela and Sangakkara – in close proximity. She also claims she has even interacted with the latter, Murali, including Tamil-speaking Indian cricketers whenever they came down. But the best and biggest was the all-time great of the game – Sir Donald Bradman.
Saroja has been grooming the P. Sara Oval for over three decades now - Pix by Akila Jayawardana
Saroja, turning exactly 70 mid of this year, is the only woman of the eight-member strong team tasked for the job, currently. Though there were enough predecessors and even ladies who followed, the lasses having joined during her stay were only a temporary stay, she divulged, unbothered by the mid-day sun beating down.
“My role and responsibility are planting various types of cricket-special grass, watering, preparing for a game and completing and cleaning once the game is over and laying the clay. Laying the clay is done whenever a patch surfaces in the wicket. It even extends to handling the big, bulky covers”.
“There are various types of pitch-special grass utilised for the preparation of the wicket, including running and buffalo grasses and a variety of other grasses. All those have to be planted in a minute and meticulous manner,” she explained of the modus-operandi of the behind-the-curtains.
“At the conclusion of a game, we sweep, remove off the dust-and-dirt. Before the start, it takes three-hours to prepare the wicket for the matches starting at the standard time of 10,” said the weather-beaten wonder woman, handling the bat-and-ball game.
“This club and craft has been my world; so I’ve been very fond and affectionate towards this club. They also have taken good care of me. Hence, making me loyal due to labour of love”.
She has also been a “leave me alone”
type, always on the ball and avoiding and averting problems.
A mother-of-two, for a son and a daughter, and living with the former and his kids, admitted with an innocent smile that her salary does not suffice.
Enquired on how the standard of the senior hand in Saroja, one male colleague rated her as tickety-boo and he spoke well about the experiences she carries.
“Full of experience. Does not need much guidance and direction. Knows her job,” he said. Adding that ever since he joined, for seven months now, she has been the only lady.
Today, Saroja is neither exactly nor entirely aware of the significance and uniqueness she has added to the women’s race in a male-dominated field. Adding to that is the weight she has given as a wonder woman.