“Do the things you want to do and can do. Push the boundaries. Take every opportunity life gives you, no matter how unclear the end of the road might be.”
Chrissie Wellington once said, “Some sessions are stars, and some sessions are stones, but in the end, they are all rocks, and we build upon them.” Well, one thing which everyone should keep in mind is that every professional we come across is an individual in his/herself and that a trainer/mentor should never burden the budding talent with his/her thought process.
An effective way of helping a professional grow across diverse diligences is by gaining an insight into the individuals they are and deducing a systematic plan applicable to the individual self. TSC’s Ravi Mandapaka caught up with Anindya Dutta, a banker turned sports journalist.
Anindya Dutta
Anindya Dutta writes for FirstPost, The Cricketer Magazine, The Roar, ESPN Cricinfo, Cricket Country, The Sportstar, Pragativadi, and CricketSoccer. He is also the author of six very well-researched books. A Gentleman’s Game dominated Amazon Cricket Bestseller lists across India, the US, UK, Europe, and Australia. His second book Spell-binding Spells was the first book ever written on single bowling spells across formats. In his most recent book, Advantage India: The Story of Indian Tennis.
Anindya talks about forgotten-but-legendary-characters in Indian Tennis like S M Jacob, Ramanathan Krishnan, Ghaus Mohammed, Sumanth Misra, etc. For this, he researched the 200-year archives of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and various newspapers from Great Britain. In addition to the above, Anindya also authored the award-winning Wizards: The Story of Indian Spin Bowling. We are The Invincibles: The Incredible Story of Bradman’s 1948 team and The Greatest Year: The 1971 Tours of West Indies and England.
Ravi: Firstly, thank you for giving your valuable time to The Sports Column. Let us begin by telling us about your background and what brought you into Sports Writing. Who are your role models?
Anindya: I had an unusual childhood, going to eight schools across the length and breadth of India, accompanying my father wherever his job took him. It taught me adaptability to new conditions. My years at Presidency College in Calcutta and then the United States shaped me as an independent thinker. I then went on to have a long banking career around the world. And then, one fateful day, I wrote a sports history piece on the Australian website The Roar. It got a lot of love, I wrote more, and the rest has been a lovely journey. In terms of sports writing, I enjoy the work of many of the masters – Neville Cardus, John Arlott, Jack Fingleton, David Frith, and the like.
Ravi: Do you think a formal journalism degree is necessary to succeed in the field of sports writing, particularly if an individual has the potential to cut himself/herself above the rest?
Anindya: I think there is a crucial difference between sports journalists and sportswriters. Good journalists are identifiable not by their degrees but by their quality of reporting, by ‘journaling’ events as they happen, in an unbiased, captivating manner. Sadly, the organization’s bias they work for or fear of reprisals from criticism of the institutions that run the sport often cloud the quality of work of many in the profession. Those who rise above that, regardless of their degrees or lack thereof, are actual journalists. Good sportswriters tell stories that may have happened recently or in the distant past, but with context, without bias, and without fear of any offense they might cause by telling the truth.
Ravi: What are some common myths about contemporary sports writing you wish to bust? How have the technological advancements in the internet affected your profession?
Anindya: There is nothing that has intrinsically changed about sports writing over the years. Styles have evolved, the way content is delivered and consumed may have become, but sports writing is about telling stories at its core—nothing more, nothing less. Anyone who argues otherwise does not understand the genre.
Ravi: To our US and European origin audiences, how do you introduce your book, Spell-binding Spells? How do you wish this, my favorite book, to be remembered on and as?
Anindya: I appreciate the kind words. Spell-binding Spells was my first full-length book. It was not only completely original in content and approach but was a bold experiment in writing style at the same time. No one had researched or written about the best Single Spells in the history of cricket. It was a unique look at something complicated to achieve in cricket and was a real test of my research skills. Much of the work was done by extracting and interpreting scorecards from over a hundred years ago where no match reports exist. I also experimented with style by writing the whole book in present continuous tense, effectively replicating the experience of watching each of these spells live on television for a younger readership. I am happy cricket lovers truly appreciated it and the positive reviews and the fact it became my first bestseller encouraged me to continue the journey.
Ravi: For a generation who grew up on the palate of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, how important do you think is it necessary to delve into a historical and nostalgic past in Advantage India? How much time did it take to complete this book?
Anindya Dutta
Anindya: I think Advantage India goes beyond just loving Tennis. The history of tennis in India had never been seriously attempted. I am happy Westland Publications entrusted me with researching and penning the story of the sport. What I found has been simply astounding and very rewarding.
The story of tennis in India goes much beyond the sport and touches the culture and history of the nation itself over the last 130-years or so. India’s greatest tennis players have publicly expressed their appreciation for my efforts in bringing them the history of their sport which they were unaware of. That, for me, has the greatest joy of this journey. A doyen of Indian sports journalism, R. Mohan calling it “the breeziest history written of any sport,” warmed the cockles of my heart, for it shows that my intention of telling the stories rather than merely writing the history of the sport, has been a successful one. It took me about eighteen months to finish the book and involved a few thousand hours of research.
Ravi: A dignified majority, unfortunately in India, take pride in boasting and overrating our cricketers. What motivated you to work on tennis?
Anindya: I have never been one to take the conventional path in life, work, or writing. I write because I love to tell stories and love history. The fact that tennis did not have a chronicler thus far was, for me, a challenge. The fact that Advantage India has earned so much love and appreciation is proof that one needs to believe in oneself, trust one’s instincts, and follow the untreated path.
Ravi: What does a typical writing week look like? How do you change up your routine, and where do you inspiration from?
Anindya: I write at least a few lines every day. Even if I am not working on a commissioned project, I have loads of new ideas and book projects in mind, and many of them are semi-finished or just started. I also write columns on topics I am passionate about or simply stories I believe have not been told. Inspiration can come from anywhere – books, articles, documentaries, social media, or just watching sport.
Ravi: Do you participate in any other sport, recreation, or fitness activities? If yes, can you talk through them?
Anindya: Yes, I play tennis a few times a week, swim a couple of times, and go for walks often.
Ravi: Among all the books you have authored, which is the closest to your heart, and why?
Anindya: My books are like children, and as a parent, I am not biased. If I am not happy with a book, it does not go to the publication stage. I have a couple that I still need to work on, so they have not seen the light of day yet.
From a research standpoint, Advantage India was the most challenging, and hence the most satisfying.
Wizards: The Story of Indian Spin Bowling was from the heart as I was a spinner, and these are the heroes I grew up watching. Meeting them, talking to them, and now being in touch with them regularly, having built great relationships, has been one of the joys of my life.
Ravi: What is your philosophy in life, and where do you see yourself in the years up ahead?
Anindya: I believe that to the extent possible, do the things you want to do and can do. Push the boundaries. Take every opportunity life gives you, no matter how unclear the end of the road might be. See as many places as you can. Read as much as you can. Experience what you can. Live in the moment, not the past, and not the future.
Ravi: Lastly, what message would you give to the younger generation about ethics and character?
Anindya: Ethics and integrity are everything. Dishonesty and deceit have no place in my life, and I throw anyone who displays those characteristics out of my life. My advice to the youth is that you must live with yourself in the end, so if you do something wrong for short-term gains, be sure that it will come back to haunt you. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if that is the YOU who you would trust or want to have in your life. If you don’t, then it’s the wrong decision you are about to take.
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Check out Anindya’s blog, The Cricket Writer.
