DTS Prasad was what most kids dreamed of when we were in school - Head Boy of HPS, Ramanthapur, Captain of the cricket team, academic topper (I think) and surely some other achievements that I am not fully aware of. But this much I am sure - he was fully leadership material in the way he handled things head on with a smile, with clarity, compassion and action, a voice and a presence that commanded respect instantly.
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| Me and DTS |
I had heard of him when I first saw a picture of the Under 15 state team from Hyderabad that won the U15 state championship in Madras. Those days we would hear of some cricketing stalwarts from HPS, Ramanthapur - DTS, Subba Rao, Damodar, Nalini Mohan and so on. Though we (All Saints High School) played against HPS Ramanthapur and lost both games in 1982. I did not know DTS then.
Two years later I was selected for the Hyderabad U22 team while in my Intermediate and DTS was on the team too. Led by Hari Prasad from HPS, Begumpet it had Vivek Jaisimha as the vice captain. We went to Trichur, beat Andhra and then lost to Tamil Nadu in the finals. Tamil Nadu had WV Raman, L Sivaramakrishnan (who had already played fro India by then), B Arun. Akbar Ebrahim and co and it was good enough that we played against such a team. It was on that tour that I got to know DTS who assumed the older brother role and took me under his wing. DTS was already studying in the Osmania University College of Engineering pursuing his Electronics Engineering degree - he was one year senior to me.
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| Hyderabad U 22 Team 1983-84 Khaja, Vasanth, Vivek Jaisimha, Kaleem (coach), Dayanand (Manager), Hari Prasad (Captain), Ehtesham, DTS Prasad, Rajesh Yadav, me, Asif Kneeling - Hafiz, Chetan, Ramana, Zakir, D Suresh, Anwar |
Next year I joined the Osmania Engineering College and we picked up from where we had left off. It was always a warm, affectionate, frank and open relationship with him and I always got the feeling that he really cared for me and my well being. We went on University tours to Vizag, Calicut and Bangalore (where he led). In my third year when I was dropped from the Ranji squad DTS was the University captain and he always encouraged me to make a comeback. He really believed that I had it in me to make the highest grade. Under his captaincy I remember bowling 38 overs in a day against Ensconce which had Arshad Ayub and Saad Bin Jung and Raman Murthy. but mostly I remember scoring a 158 against VST which we won.
That 158 became a significant part of my life as I analysed it later. A little detail here - we were playing a 2-day, 90 over a side match against VST. We bowled first and conceded 350 runs (two hundreds to Fareed and Adil Karamat). I was livid since I got only 2 wickets for 128 runs which to me as a first class discard was not good enough. I went into the dressing room and told DTS (the captain and opener) that if he let me open that inning, I would get 128 runs back. He let me - and next day I scored 158 runs and we won that high scoring game! That day it was a nice high and I did not think much about it but later when I thought about it I realised it was an important story that could shape my life - that we could, with proper use of limited resources, achieve 10x, game changing results. And I am deeply grateful to DTS for believing in me and letting me open that day.
I use that story in every lecture, workshop of mine. In my book '50 Not Out' it shows up on page 122 with DTS's name in it under Self Belief.
DTS was an aggressive, attacking batman - with a high backlift he would produce booming straight and cover drives, cut and pull fiercely. As a keeper he had a safe pair of hands. One innings that DTS played against SBI at Osmania was breathtaking - he scored 158 in double quick time driving, cutting, pulling the seasoned SBI bowlers to all parts of the ground. SBI had a star player that match in Azharuddin and we could only clap as DTS unleashed an array of strokes. Its forever etched in my mind.
Come to think of it - DTS was the captain when I scored a 166 in a first round Inter Collegiate match against VV College - I remember him being upset that I did not go for my 200 because there were many overs to spare. But the pads straps cut deep into my ankles and the skin had grazed off and I could not handle that pain and got out.
Enough to say that DTS (or DT as we call him), really believed in me, in my cricket, and in all things good in me. He knew and remembered details of my father's death, was very empathetic about it. He took me to some tournaments - one in Sanathnagar and one in Kurnool. He would always catch up with me in the college canteen with a warm hello.
When Choudary contested for General Secretary DTS took it upon himself to campaign for him, making introductory speeches every single time. Choudary won with a massive margin. Those days DTS would live in a farm with his Dad and Mom - someplace far in Moinabad. I remember there being dacoity those days in their farm.
As with all engineers, DTS applied and got admission in a college in the US. I remember going to see him off at the Begumpet airport and he walked off as casually as if he was going to Kazipet - an air bag slung over his shoulder and a small wave and a smile. No tears, hugs, sentiments. Just another day.
And then, he disappeared. I heard once in a while from Subbu about his whereabouts. Once he came to India and invited me to his wedding if I remember right. Another time he came home when I was not home and left without leaving a number!
So it was fun to chat with him after almost three decades when he called a month ago telling me he was visiting. He had got my number from Chandu (and gave me his number as well). We fixed up to meet. I met him briefly on Dasara day where he fed me a lot of festive stuff and I gave him two tickets for a T20 match between India and Bangladesh. I met him again today because he was leaving tonight and wanted to give chocolates to Anjali. Our big plan of meeting for dinner or he visiting me at home did not materialise though he lives 2 kms away from home.
We met for a coffee at a Udipi type place at Balkampet. I gave him '50 Not Out' and told him to look himself up on page 122. I was super thrilled when he said he remembered that VST match and even more importantly told me that I had told him I would get 128 runs if he let me open the innings. It was so good to hear that he remembered something that happened in 1987 - 37 years ago - so well. We spoke about my selection job, about his family and mine, work and stuff.
There was not too much time left to chat but we did the best we could. He promised to meet up when he came next and I am sure we will. Thanks DT, for believing in me, then and, now. We all need someone to believe in us and DT was one of those few for me.
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