Question

Why Palwankar Baloo was never considered for the captaincy post of Indian Team?

A) He was very short.
B) He was physically weak.
C) He was not interested in captaincy.
D) He was a dalit.

Answer 1

Hint:
Palwankar Baloo was a great cricketer (left-arm orthodox spin bowler) and was also a politician. He was born on 19 March 1876, Dharwad, Bombay Presidency, British India and died on 4 July 1955 (aged 79), Bombay, Bombay State, India. He was in the team Hindus, from 1905–1921.


Complete step by step solution:
Palwankar Baloo was born in Chambhar caste. He was a dalit. Initially he worked as a groundsman maintaining the pitch in Pune and later at the British Poona Gymkhana. Under J. G Grieg's influence he learned and began to play for the Pune Hindu club.

Baloo moved to Bombay in 1896, and got selected into Parmanandas Jivandas Hindu Gymkhana. He worked in the Bombay Berar and Central Indian Railways. In 1906 and 1907, Baloo played for the Hindu side. He played terrific against the Europeans of the Bombay Gymkhana, in which the Hindus defeated the Europeans by 109 runs and 238 runs respectively. Baloo had an outstanding performance in the 1911 tour to England. Baloo faced much discrimination throughout his career in cricket because of his caste. There were many campaigns during 1910 to 1920 to make Baloo captain, but all the efforts were in vain.

Baloo is considered to be one of the greatest cricketers in Indian cricket history but still he was never given the responsibilty of captaincy due to his caste, (dalit).

After cricket career Baloo turned into a politician. He lived well into Independence and passed away in July 1955 in Bombay.


Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Note:
 Baloo joined Congress in 1937 and contested the Bombay Legislative Assembly elections against Dr.B.R. Ambedkar, but lost. His death funeral took place at the Santa Cruz crematorium. It was attended by all representatives of the depressed classes in Parliament and Provincial Assembly.