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‘Hurdles' no obstacle for this young old man

Photo: S.James

DILIGENT P.V.Parthasarathy, an accomplished veteran athlete

P.V.Parthasarathy is an active Freemason.

Is a Charter Member of Rotary Club (Madurai-West) with 100 per cent attendance for past 30 years. Was elected District (3000) Governor in 1987-88. At present, he is the Chairman of Rotary District Polio Plus Committee.

Is the past Chairman of YMCA.

Is the President of Madurai District Veteran Athletic Association, Madurai District Yogasana Association and Tamil Nadu Yogasana Association, Vaigai Athletic Club.

Is the Vice president of Madurai District Athletic Association, Tamil Nadu Amateur Athletic Association, Tamil Nadu Veteran Athletic Association and Yoga Federation of India.

Is the past president of Madurai Productivity Council, Engineers Association, Madurai,

Is past vice president of Master Athletic Federation of India, All India Veterans Athletic Association, Madurai District Swimming Association, Weightlifting and Body Building Association, Madurai.

For the past two decades, he has been the Correspondent of various schools and colleges of PKN group of academic institutions.

Was adjudged the Best NCC Under Officer when he was an Engineering student at Guindy

A fter talking to him for two hours, I am clear about one thing. That I will not write about his job. Neither will I discuss in detail all the charity work he does. This copy will be dedicated solely to his “passion”-- athletics.

P.V.Parthasarathy – affectionately known as “Partha” – is an athlete, a tremendous competitor and a winner. At 74, he is a sure inspiration to all and a role model to every youngster.

A familiar face on tracks since 1956 as a student of Madras Christian College, one has to see Partha's expansive collection of medals, trophies, cups and rolling shields. A reluctant revealer, even as he opens an antique cupboard stacked with his prizes, he shares: “More than double of what you see here, I have given away to schools and colleges.”

Undoubtedly, the count exceeds a few hundreds and Partha utters softly: “Participating in sports is not about winning medals. It's about keeping your chin up, remaining fit, getting out there to compete. The real beauty of a game is to show how to ‘be all that you can be.”

Daring

Indeed. For a man, who suffered a heart attack eight years ago, and was down with the much-hated chikungunya barely two months ago and still has mild joint pains, he was daring enough to participate in the National Athletic Meet for Veterans in Chennai just this 4 {+t} {+h} of February. His double gold medal winning performance -- in 300m hurdles and 80m hurdles where he equalled his own record of clocking 15.6 seconds – has earned him a place in the forthcoming Asian meet in Kuala Lumpur later this year.

“It was a treat to see him sail and skim through the air in such style that in a matter of few seconds he was over the finishing line,” grins his wife Mutharasi, who has accompanied him on every district, State, national and international tournament since 1982.

Since his school days, Partha has been on a whirligig of track-and-field competitions including 100, 200 and 400m sprint, 110m hurdles, high jump, football, cricket, hockey, basketball and boxing. Winning intra-and inter-school and college championships and creating records was his order of the times in the 50s and 60s.

So after graduating from MCC, why did he even bother himself with Mechanical Engineering Degree from College of Engineering, Guindy, and a Diploma in Industrial Engineering Production, Planning and Control from NITIE, Bombay and again West Germany?

“My grandfather was a timber merchant in Tirunelveli and my father ran a grocery business in Thirumangalam. In 1926, my family switched to automobile dealership in Ford, Morris Morgan and later Ambassadors. Business had to be the ultimate choice.”

But it was Partha's teacher Rev.Brother Zephrin at the Mont Fort School, Yercaud, who was instrumental in literally putting him “on the track”. As the young student distinguished himself extraordinarily, his teacher was compelled to bestow this compliment: “The old gold, was he a deer, a rabbit or kangaroo? Hurdles, a mere threshold for him raced not, but reached for laurels.”

Reticent

This was not shared by the reticent Partha, but his companion of nearly five decades. In fact, it was on the insistence of his wife only that we changed the venue of the interview from his office to residence. “He will never tell you about his achievements,” was her simple pointer!

For the past 54 years, Partha has been driven by his record-breaking performances and high level of self-motivation. His unyielding involvement with the games induces positivity in life and eggs him on to say ‘yes' to every challenge.

He admits that a disciplined life has taken years off his body and snugly fits into his 1983 official blazer for the World Veteran Athletic Meet in Puerto Rico for the photo shoot! Straight like a rod and wrapped in a lean frame, Partha, not only belies his age but even refuses to hang up his spikes despite doctor's advice against competing. In the veteran athlete's circuit for almost three decades now, Partha has missed very few Asian and World Veteran Athletic Meets and even on rarer occasions returned without a medal.

He fondly talks about his best buddy on the track, a Japanese veteran whom he befriended 27 years ago in Puerto Rico. “Even now, he introduces me to other athletes as ‘my enemy'. When I tell him I am not his enemy but a competitor, in typical Japanese style, he bows and says, ‘I apology, I apology”!

Partha during his career has collected enough encomiums, honours, advises, tips, gifts from well meaning coaches and players from across the globe. “I am a self-trained man with no coach or guide. At international meets, many are surprised to see me practicing in the rain or my inadequate spikes. Despite small or big handicaps, when I perform well, people volunteer help or guidance,” he says, adding that he is humbled over by many such gestures.

Enthusiastic

In many meets, his records remain unsurpassed even today. “Sitting idle is not my cup of tea,” he shoots off at the mention of his schedule. He is either at the Police Ground or the Race Course daily at 5.30 a.m. for an hour. An iconoclast of sorts who started learning and practicing yoga a few years ago, he does stretching, breathing, running and toning-up exercises to keep fit.

This grandfather of four is an astounding bundle of energy and an amazing mix of unbound enthusiasm and unwavering determination. A workaholic, who puts in minimum 14 hours daily in multiple activities, he even holds a pilot's licence and is also a qualified open sight rifle shooter.

How enthusiastically does he run his business, I ask a wee bit hesitantly. With no qualms, he says his three sons are running the show while he overall supervises. But for him, the big business is what his heart tells him to do.

No wonder then, that he motivated bureaucrats and got Madurai its Race Course Stadium with a synthetic track. As past Secretary, he got land for the Madurai Rifle Club, constructed the range and equipped the club with weapons, ammunition and finance. From 1962, Partha has been responsibly conducting Open Athletic Meet in the city for promoting athletics and athletes in the Southern region.

“Last month I had another birthday, they keep coming faster as you get older,” he smiles. Yet veteran athletes have an advantage as they are never past their date as long as they are fit. A male veteran starts in the 40-44 age group and the sun never sets on them if they maintain the fragile balance between pushing the limits of their abilities and the limits of what their bodies can handle.

“Participating in these events has taught me to overcome limitations. Competing promotes exercise, freedom, self-esteem and a 'can do' attitude,” he asserts.

And yes, for the record, P.V.Parthasarathy is a senior partner of ARASPVPV automobiles and equipment group of company dealing with Tata and Fiat cars, Sama Deutz-Fahr tractors, Carrier air conditioners and VST power tillers. And he loves to call himself a “Sunday Farmer” as he grows coconut, bananas and rice in his farm in Melakkal near Madurai. To know the social work Partha amazingly finds time for, see box.

Life for veterans perhaps begins only at 60. And like wine, they get better with age and are possessed by an unbeaten will. So true of Madurai's Partha too. His is a true all-rounder's thumping success story.

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