Siraj Atari

The romance between the man and beast was revived once again in 1975. Siraj Atari, a multi-faceted personality, has been a part of Hyderabad polo ever since its revival in 1975.

The, man who has chased the willow ball for more than a quarter century, appears quite enthusiastic about the prospect of the game here though he has his own reservations about the style of functioning of people who are in charge of promoting the sport in Hyderabad .

In an exclusive discussion with www.khojhyderabad.com, the veteran polo player, who once used to model for prominent brands like Charms cigarettes, VIP luggage and Old Spice, talks about Hyderabad polo with passion typical to those who love and live for the game they play.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q How did you get drawn to polo?

A. Well I have been riding since I was five years of age. Our neighbour, a top rank police official, had two horses of his own. He in a way initiated me into the game. Later, when I studied in the Hyderabad Public school, riding was a part of the curriculum itself. In Nizam college also I was the riding captain. And when the game was revived in 1975, I readily took to it.

Q. In what way is polo a seasonal game?

A. Polo is basically played during the period from June to March. Summer is the off-season for polo.
However, Hyderabad season starts in August. After the Hyderabad sesaon, the season starts in Delhi and Jaipur. As a matter of fact, Hyderabad is a very good centre for low goalers tournaments (for the beginners).

Q. What about Calcutta, it was supposedly a leading centre for the game since the British days?

A. Well, the game is gasping for breath there.Incidentally, they had a very poor season last year.

Q. Where does Hyderabad stand in terms of talent?

A. In terms of talent, it is far behind both Delhi and Jaipur. But it has its strong points as well. It has a long history of polo. There is a good riding club here. That apart, the support of army is also there.
But somebody has to put his foot down to promote the game. But the riding club which is the official body and affiliated to the Indian Polo Association (IPA) is plagued by internal differences and petty politics.

Q. Who are the Hyderabadi polo players you grew up admiring?

A. Yes there were quite a many Hydearbadi polo players whom I really admire. Former players like Sham Miraza Baig and Brigadier Towfeeq Ali have given an identity to Hyderabad polo.

Q. What is your opinion about the current breed of players in Hyderabad polo?

A. Two youngsters Samsheer Ali and Basheer Ali, who are brothers, are definitely way ahead of the others. Their father, who is real polo aficionado, has brought them up to play polo. But unfortunately, Hyderabad people have seen very little of them as they mostly play at Delhi and Jaipur where the real big-time happens. Samsheer has already represented India. That apart, some other prospects are there. My own son Saif played in the Delhi season this time. He also had a short stint in England. The other city guys who are quite promising are Yousuf, Salim and Ashwaq.

Q. What are the changes that have taken place in the recent years?

A. Nowadays, polo has become a different ball game altogether. Big corporate money has entered into the game. The game also enjoys corporate patronage as many leading business groups have their own polo team. Secondly, a lot of civilians have become a part of the game. Earlier, polo used to be the sole preserve of the army and royalty. Another encouraging factor is that a lot of youngsters nowadays are playing the game. It certainly augurs well for the game.

Q. What exactly is the difference between polo and horse racing?

A. They are polar opposites. In racing, the most important thing for the rider is balance. In polo, the players use all their muscles while chasing the ball. It is a dangerous game and can cause grievous injuries. You are mounting a horse which sometimes gallops at 70 km per hour. But all said and done, in polo, 75 per cent is the horse whereas the player is only 25 per cent. The fitness of the horse is very important in polo.

Q. What is the status of polo abroad?

A. I have watched a lot of polo in England at the famous Cowdary park. Things are completely different in England. Huge crowds come to watch polo there. In France also there is a lot of craze for the game. France has a lot of polo grounds. Interestingly, I had the opportunity to have a look at world's best polo players at Florence in Italy. In the year 1990, polo was revived in Florence. To mark the occasion almost all top players from polo playing nations had congregated there. In fact, the Florence polo ground
is quite picturesque.

Q. What kind of governmental patronage polo receives in Hyderabad?

A. There is absolutely no help from any quarter. I used to struggle to arrange sponsorships to organise tournaments in Hyderabad. But the army helps us in many ways. Actually the Bison Grounds in Secunderabad belongs to the army. But we are hoping for patronage. Moreover, Hyderabad has a history of polo. The CM talks about golf courses and cricket. He has to show some interest for polo as well.

Q. Now what are the real attributes of a good polo player?

A. Speed, intelligence, anticipation and of course the right impulses because you can't wait and expect things to happen on a polo ground. You have to take impulsive decisions notwithstanding they pay off or not.

Rudy Mohan.