Dr.A.W.Howard and Leo Pinto walked in different path, while seeking to bring glory to India. Those two veterans are in a strange but sweet juncture. At 95 incidentally, both are agile, abreast of what’s happening in the sports world and also full of zest for life. This writer had an opportunity to meet both of them in a span of a week, and those were not only wonderful nice interactions but also proved to be one of satisfying moments.
Dr.Howard, a United States citizen, founder chief of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur Coaching Scheme, which in the later days laid foundation for the coming up of National Institute of Sports in Patiala, flew in from California and visited all the places in India he was associated with when he lived in India for about forty years. From Delhi, Chennai, Goa, Patiala to Chandigarh, the grand old man of Indian athletics made recce of modern India. “Villages remain the same, but the cities have changed a lot, especially the transport system” was what he had opined about India which he visited after a lull of about 30 years.
Leo Pinto, 1948 London Olympics gold medalist is our home grown hero. He lives with in Bandra, Mumbai. “I had a wonderful life as a player, and a sports administrator with Tata Sports Club. No regrets in life” said Pinto who was actually born in South Africa before his parents shifted to Goa, their native domicile.
What strikes with either Pinto or Howard is their warmth, passion for their chosen field, and a contended life, devotion to God.
A reply Dr.Howard gave when I asked have we ever regretted coming to India, otherwise he could have trained some of the legends in the States, prove his steadfast belief in life. “I take all the decisions of my life after a prayer. Once that is done, there is no question of looking back and regret”. Dr.Howard came to India in the late 40s when his father-in-law, a Methodist missionary, invited him to fill up a principal’s post in a Lucknow College. “I came here for three years, but somehow stayed on for four decades”. My only regret is I had no training in Indian culture or languages. Otherwise it’s all good time spent”.
“Am really happy, even today people remember me. Whether it is Madras, where I lived in Saidapet while setting up Doctoral programme for PHD in the Madras University, or Patiala, people did not forget me”, said the fragile frame even as he was glancing through a Delhi newspaper which carried his image with one of his wards, Milkha Singh.
Leo Pinto, a singer, composer, preacher leads a quite life as expected, but goes through various newspaper to keep himself updated on current affairs. ‘I want to see Indian hockey team winning many tournaments” he longs during the conversation. One only hopes another Bandra boy, present chief coach Joaquim Carvalo, hears and means what for this veteran longs for.
Photo Captions:
1. Dr.Howard going thro’ anewspaper that carried an article about him and his trainee Milkha Singh.
2. Leo Pinto showing his 1948 London Olympic gold medal at his home in Mumbai, India.
3. Dr.Howard is reading the book ‘Great Indian Olympians’ co-authored by Gulu Ezekiel and K. Arumugam
4. 1947 Indian team during the East Africa tour. Leo Pinto is in the middle row.