Farokh Engineer hopes to end 53-year wait for Padma Shri

The Government of India bestowed the honour on the dashing cricketer in 1973, but the medal and citation never reached him

MUMBAI: Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer’s trophy cabinet has a glittering collection of medals and trophies, including the prestigious Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2024.

File image of former India cricketer Farokh Engineer during the BCCI Annual Awards, in Hyderabad in 2024. (PTI)

But there’s still one more deserving medal and certificate the 88-year-old wants for his Manchester home – the Padma Shri award.

Fifty-three years have passed since the Government of India bestowed the honour on the dashing cricketer, but the medal and citation never reached him.

“I got messages of congratulations from friends and colleagues in India that the Government of India has named me for the Padma Shri award, during President VV Giri’s time, but I have never received anything in writing from the GoI, or an invitation to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive the honours. I am sure my medal and certificate will be there. I will proudly display it in my house,” said Engineer.

In a distinguished career, the keeper-batter represented India from 1961 to 1975 in 46 Tests, scoring 2611 runs at an average of 31.08, while expertly keeping wickets to the skilful spin quartet of Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and S Venkataraghavan.

He played as an opener for most of his career, scoring both his hundreds at the top of the order, with a highest score of 121. His finest innings was the hundred against West Indies at Madras in 1966-67 when he plundered 94 before lunch on the first day against an attack led by Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith, Garry Sobers and Lance Gibbs. Among his 16 fifties were many valuable knocks in tough overseas conditions.

For a long time, Engineer has been pursuing the matter, seeking help from the cricket authorities. Now he has discussed it with the Mumbai Cricket Association’s senior office bearers, who are trying to help him.

MCA treasurer Armaan Malik said: “During our MCA President’s XI men’s team tour to the United Kingdom in June-July, featuring a developmental squad, we felicitated Engineer sir where he requested me to help out with claiming the Padma Shri medal. “He told me, ‘when VV Giri was the President of India, my name was in the list for Padma Shri, but I didn’t get the invitation and missed on getting the certificate and medal. It will be there for sure and if MCA can take the initiative and help me get it’.

“I informed the MCA President Ajinkya Naik, who has asked Sir to write an official mail to help MCA pursue it through the right procedure.”

Malik has been in regular touch with Engineer. “Sir had gone for the India Women’s Test match at Lord’s and there he apprised former BCCI secretary (current ICC chairman) Jay Shah about the same matter who has also assured to help.”

A senior government official told HT that the Ministry of Home Affairs will have to make a decision on this matter.

Engineer said he had earlier requested the late Arun Jaitley, when he was a Union Minister, to help out.

The flamboyant cricketer was chosen for the Award after his fine performances in the historic 1971 Test series win in England.

“The renaissance of Indian cricket started in 1971, when India beat West Indies in the West Indies and England in England,” said Engineer who made a valuable contribution to India’s series clinching win over England in the third Test in 1971 at Kennington Oval, London.

During India’s first innings of the third Test, Engineer was the highest scorer with 59 in a total of 284. He helped India recover from 125/5 by forging a partnership with Eknath Solkar before being the seventh out at 230. In the second innings, he helped clinch the chase of a target of 174 with a 28 not out, at No. 7, along with Gundappa Viswanath, from 134/5.

The keeper-batter had chipped in with useful runs in every innings of the series: 28 and 35 in the two innings of the first Test, and 22 in the only innings of the second Test.

“I am the only person along with Clive Lloyd who have stands named at the iconic Old Trafford cricket ground, Manchester, but getting a medal at the Rashtrapati Bhawan would top all that. It would put the icing on the cake.

“It will mean so much to me to be invited by our government and receive it from our President. I will like to proudly have it in my Trophy cabinet,” said Engineer.

“Although I live in England, I am absolutely desi at heart. I am hugely proud of being an Indian, always have been and always will be.”