Our Faculty, A National Hero!

Our faculty-colleague, Mr. C.R.Ramesh Babu (IDBI MSB)  is a Table Tennis national hero who has represented India and won many laurels for our Country and himself. Being his colleague I had the opportunity to explore his illustrious career.

His early days: Ramesh was born on 10th Feb 1958 at Ooty, Tamilnadu.  His father Late C.N.Ramachandran (pic. below) was an officer

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in Imperial Bank (erstwhile SBI) who was an all-rounder sportsman.  He was an accomplished player in Tennis, Table Tennis, Snooker, Billiards, Badminton and Cricket during his time.  He was a coach in these sports for many British officers of that period. Ramesh has inherited sports genes from his talented father. Ramachandran shifted his family to Bengaluru when Ramesh was a child of just 3 months.

Ramachandran who had keen eyes for spotting and nurturing talent was quick in identifying Ramesh for Table Tennis.  Under his tutelage Ramesh grew very fast as a TT star.  His father, besides coaching him, used to take him to witness top level TT tournaments.  Ramesh says he has learnt more by observing top players. Within six months of early training, young Ramesh, 

 just 11 years old, caught the attention of the entire State when he won the 'State Level TT non-medalists Singles championship'.  Very soon he was ranked among top 5 State Juniors! There was no turning back further. He went on to win the State level junior championship during 1972 and 73, and was 'ranked 1' among juniors till 1974. He caught the national attention when he won the State seniors championship during 1974, while still being a junior. He dominated State senior championship by consecutively winning the trophy for next six years and remained 'State number 1' for 8 years.

At the national level:
1) Ranked No.1 among juniors during 1973 and '74

2) Won the National team title for Karnataka

3) Won the doubles title with B.K.Arun kumar

4) Won all the 5 zonal junior championships 

5) Ranked No. 4 among seniors during 1981

6) Ranked within No. 8 among seniors for 5 years

7) Won the Inter Institution title for Indian Airlines for 3 years

At the international level:

1) Represented India in Asian championship held at Yokohama, Japan during 1973 and reached quarterfinals.

2) Represented India in Mohammed Shah Reza Pallavi tourney in Teheran, Iran (1977) and helped India to finish 3rd, wherein China also participated!

3) Represented India in a TEST series against Trinidad & Tobago (WI) in 1979. He was responsible for India winning the series and was aptly declared best male player of the series.

4) Represented India in Asian championship held in Kolkatta (1981)

His strengths:
During his peak days, Ramesh was recognized as player with the most stylish action.  He wan an offensive player and was considered the 'dead-end' for most defensive players of the country. He had a very effective top-spin and a very deceptive service.

Recognition & Honours: Although very talented and a long time achiever, not many awards have come his way excepting the State award during 1975 and the Dasara award during 1992.  In this cricket-mad country, who cares for players from other sports? Remember he was ranked number 4 among seniors of our country and was a very aggressive player. 

Comparing him to cricket heroes, Ramesh should have earned name, fame and money like K. Sreekanth/Ravi Shastri of 1980s or Rahane/Rohit Sharma of today! Also the fact that TT is a highly competitive game played in over 200 countries makes his achievement much more valuable.

His best performances:
Recalling his peak playing days, Ramesh says that the best match he ever played was a win against B. Saikumar (a national champion) at Mysuru during 1985.  Saikumar was a defensive player and Ramesh had to smash 15 times on an average to earn a point! This was a marathon match which took more than 90 minutes involving 5 games.  All those 5 games were decided on 'extended points'.

As a junior during 1973, Ramesh won against Mir Khasim Ali (3 times national champion) at Chennai.  Impressed by the 

flamboyance of Ramesh, one of the organizers carried him on his shoulders all over the stadium.  That organizer was blessed with a baby-boy on the same day who was named after 'Ramesh'.  Ramesh fondly recalls even that boy grew to become a state level player and now owns a team which plays in 'Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT)', the IPL version of TT, started during 2017.

Tough lessons:
Ramesh also had some tough experiences.  He recalls a tough opponent from China, Xiang Ho against whom he could not even collect 3 points.  He was also deeply impressed by Hasegawa 

of Japan (pic above) who was a very aggressive player.  No wonder Ramesh tried to copy his style and action.

On modern TT:
Ramesh, an old-timer rues about the decline of the rally game.  Like in T20 cricket, TT too has moved towards high speed and power display. Now each game is played for just 11 points compared to 21 points of Ramesh's days.  Changes like plastic balls and the use of anti-spin rubber for the bat has curbed rallies, which has taken away the old beauty of the game, laments Ramesh.

Message to youngsters:
Ramesh advises young players to concentrate on foot-work and develop the match temperament.  Ability to handle pressure and win holds the key.

Professional career:
Recognizing his TT achievement, Union Bank of India offered him an Officer post during 1981 under sports quota.  World Badminton champion Mr. Prakash padukone who was already an officer in that bank was instrumental in recognizing Ramesh for this honour. After his playing days, Ramesh has concentrated to distinguish himself as a serious banker and rose upto Chief Manager on his own.

Hobbies and Interests:
Ramesh likes to sing.  He passionately loves old Hindi and Kannada film songs.  He also loves Carnatic classical music.  He has read a good number of Kannada and English novels too.  He is an ardent believer and practitioner of  'madhwa philosophy'.

A widely traveled man Ramesh also loves to cook!  Cricket, Shuttle Badminton, Tennis and Football are his other favorite games. His 

friend and colleague Prakash Padukone and Roger Federer are his favorite sportsmen.

His family:
Ramesh is proud of his father and brothers.  His eldest brother C.R.Nagendra is an international TT umpire.  His elder brother 

C.R.Jayasimha (back row L-R 3rd in Pic) is a State Table Tennis Coach. His younger brother C.R.Anand (front row L-R 1st in Pic) is also an international TT player.

Ramesh is married to Ms.Vedavathi and has got a son 'Prapujya', who is a sound engineer and a guitar player.

Ramesh, the gentleman:
Ramesh, gentleman to the core is a good teacher and coach too.  He keeps low-profile and never boasts about himself. A tinge of innocence in him makes him most adorable.

Let's wish Mr. Ramesh and his family a very long life, health, happiness and prosperity.
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Those who want to wish Mr. Ramesh babu on this occasion may send their message to his mobile/whatsapp number 89512 68716

(Thanks to Mr.Ramesh Babu C.R. and other sources for providing me the pictures used here).