The chief guest on the opening day: the Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan along with Mr. R. Natarajan and Prof. P. C. Varghese, watching an event in progress, 1964

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Sports , Sports Facilities , Student Activities

This was the first time that the Inter-IIT Sports Meet was held at IIT Madras. The chief guest Mansoor Ali Khan also inaugurated the stadium at the start of the meet.

In the Seventh Annual Number of IIT Madras (1965-1966), R. Natarajan wrote an article titled ‘The Royal Tiger from Pataudi’, in which he praises Mansoor Ali Khan’s captaincy, “There is something that has always stood out about Pataudi. As captain, he brought a fresh and uninhibited approach to the game and took the slightest gamble, if only to infuse some spirit and the dash of a derring-do to the languishing game of today.” Regarding Mansoor’s fielding, Natarajan described it thus; “With the silken sinuousness of a tiger, he used to pounce on every ball with precision.” Natarajan lauded Mansoor’s batting, which to the former, was his strength. Calling him a “Colossus”, he describes Mansoor’s batting, “His strokes are propelled as if from a high powered rocket; the noise is thunderous and one gets the impression that the Son of Jupiter is on the field.” Mr. R. Natarajan, in his interview with Prof. Ajit Kolar, recalls how Mansoor Ali Khan was a “good friend” of Natarajan. He had invited Mansoor to the meet as the chief guest. Natarajan states that Mansoor had requested that they watch a Hollywood film during his visit to IIT Madras, and they did just that.

From the left, Mr. R. Natarajan (Registrar), Prof. P. C. Varghese (Gymkhana President) and Mr. Mansoor Ali Khan (chief guest).
An identical photograph can be found in the Gourishankar Collection in Album 0317 under the ID: 001/0317/IMG_0554

Album 0001

Collection:

Central Photographic Section Collection

Album Name:

Third Inter IIT Sports Meet

Photograph ID:

001/0001/IMG_0082_1

Album ID:

0001

Date:

28-31 December 1964

Event:

Third Inter IIT Sports Meet

Photographer:

C. Gourishankar (1936-2002). A geologist by qualification, Gourishankar started his career as a photographer after working for many years with the Geological Survey of India. In everything that he did, Gourishankar strove to achieve flawlessness and impeccable quality. Thus his photography too was characterised by this drive for perfection. Every photograph that Gourishankar took was meticulously planned and shot and printed with diligence and patience. Gourishankar carried out most of the official photography at IIT Madras in the 1960s.

Place:

Stadium