It's in the blood!

Sports. The genes play an important role in one's talents and gifts, besides the social environment. From the testimonials from schools/colleges that my great grandfather had preserved (they were needed at the time of joining for a job) since the 1890s, I understand that he too was a talented sportsman. His account books show him having bought tennis shoes and re-gutting tennis raquets. One particular testimonial from a college mentions that he was an ardent cricketer.

That "sporting gene" perhaps, why perhaps, surely, was handed down to my grandfather ~~ pictured here~~. He was so proud to say that he had won "seventy cups". The left picture is probably of the late 20s and the other one is about a decade later. He was born in 1896. His favourite sport included Tennis (most of the trophies pictured there are from that sport), Hockey, Golf, Cricket, Billiards, Athletics and Bridge. He was a renown advocate (attorney, as you call), renown more for his tact and honesty -one of the few who commanded respect in that profession! The medals that you can see are so beautifully engraved with the name of the winner, the event and the venue. It also has a good feel in the hand. Made of excellent 'german silver'. Some of the workmanship of the trophies are absolute beauties! I preserve them the way he did. I know what the feel of winning is all about. It's in my blood. Not only that, many of his wonderful traits. I'm not boasting, but I'm talking about the effect of genes and the environment he had created in the family. He was 80 when he died and standing straight, straight (and tall too) in all senses. Cricket is my favourite passion as many of you here know. And people know me as a cricketer and a sportsman. If it was not for the 'blood' I'd probably not have been what I'm today!

Wow, that's a lotta silver! Amazing and a very interesting genetic history, Dinu!

He must have been a great man to do all that. I know he would have been proud of you for your many achievements. Jo

I had to go off without properly 'completing' that story. My father was in his younger days very good at football. His classmate (living a couple of blocks away) who is now 82 remembers him for that. But for his poor eyesight from a young age, he would have been something else. He was also good at Billiards and Table Tennis, not to speak of Bridge. My father used to show his slightly bent nose and was fond of telling its story. It seems he was hit by the football twice. Once from the right that turned his nose to the left and it was like that for some years and again a ball from the right pushed it back towards the centre, but that slight tilt remained! He died when I was 23.

Yes, RR, my g-father was really great in every sense. He died 28 years ago at 80 but even today, people fondly remember him and his discipline. He used to tell (also my father), that it is easy to earn money but it is difficult to earn people! How true it is! It takes a lot to do that, isn't it?

What a heritage you have, and you are right, I have also noticed that certain things like sports talent follows family lines. Musical talent is another thing that often follows family lines, and also acidemic things like having an easy grasp of things like mathmatics or science. Your grandfather was a very handsome man and I can see a picture of health even at the age where his hair was gray. The respect he earned professionally is another great heritage for your family. The saying about earning people is very true and very important.

Music dwelled in our house to some extent, but it never got its due from us! My aunt who lived with us was very adept at the Veena (the Indian string instrument - what melody it is!) and sue used to teach students at home. She tried to coax us but we were negligent.

My g-father had premature gray hair. He was a picture of health, no doubt about that. The present generation must know how important it is to have a disciplined life which is the essence of good health. There was a rhythm in his life. He got up early, had timely food, (quality food) used to walk a lot, (no 'junk food' was available in those days!!) had a clean mind, was a good reader, knowledgeable, not overweight, stood straight, went to bed early, was good at his profession, used to relax when it required. Many of these have been implanted in me, having seen it myself and being old enough to understand their value, I now how important those things were (and are).

It is said that most of our problems of today are resultants of "HURRY, WORRY AND CURRY". A few decades ago, there was no need for hurry, there were few worries, and nearly no curries. So, health was the result and was almost ubiquitous. Doctors had fewer patients those days. There was no rush. Rarely people fell sick. There was clean air too!