THE TRUE CHAMPS












Thanks to Srinivas Gowda, now millions in India and abroad know what a ‘Kambala’ is!


And, if you still do not know what it is, Kambala is the famous buffalo race of my village (Though Mangalore – now Mangaluru – is no more a village!)… As Kadri, the place where this race has been held for long decades, is now lies in the heart of Mangaluru city. The acres and acres of land, which was once used as paddy (rice) fields, is now transformed into a hot real-estate to raise sprawling apartments and villas. But, the two-tracked Kambala racing field - still exists… and, the sporting spectacle, over the years, has only become bigger, grander and even richer!


And, yes, thanks to Srinivas Gowda, it has now become world famous, too!


Who is Srinivas Gowda and what is his feat?


In the latest Kambala event, this 28-year-old construction worker won Gold by setting a new record – 142.5 metres in just 13.62 seconds… They say, he has broken the 100-metre world record (in 9.58 seconds) set by Usain Bolt by running Kambala’s 100-metres in just 9.55 seconds!    


Whether that claim is authentic, and whether that comparison is fair, I do not wish to comment on. To me, Srinivas is a hero – and he has earned his place in the spotlight by sheer fire in his belly… by his sweat and tears!


The rest is irrelevant to me… And remember: Kambala is a month-long sporting event. And, each participant has to run 142.5-metre race a mind-numbing 35 times!


To comprehend what a Kambala race is like, one has to be there at the Kambala site… It is a race in the muddy waters, almost knee-deep… the jockey has to control the racing buffaloes with rope in one hand and a stick in another… He has to run bare-foot and bare-body… splashing spectacular waves of water while racing through the slushy fields… The sight takes one’s breath away… It is really fast and furious… spectacular!


I remember, as a school boy, going there to witness this event… The memories came alive, thanks this champ!


What I admire even more is this: Despite all the glory, Srinivas has his two feet firmly planted on his humble land… He politely explains: “Kambala is different from track event… I won’t be able to run on track and track athletes won’t be able to run in these slushy waters… I am happy and proud of my achievements (He has won more than a dozen trophies since he started racing since the age of15).


And, when all and sundry compare him to the fastest man on earth – Usain Bolt – Srinivas puts it in his humblest, and most sincere, words: “The credit goes to the two buffaloes… Had they not run that fast, I would not have achieved what I have…”







To me, Srinivas Gowda is a hero for this reason… Not because he has supposedly broken Usain Bolt’s record… but, because, he has broken the ‘lie’, that Kambala is a human race…


Srinivas reminds us, that those poor buffaloes, who can’t speak for themselves, had to endure far many heartburns – and body-burns – than a human had to… Yes, he only had to run with or behind them… But, certainly not ahead of them!


Therefore, to me and Srinivas Gowda, the two buffaloes are the true champs!


GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: newsmeter.in

Video: NDTV


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