Mumbai's Podar college turns 75: Famous alumni reminisce about good old days

It was in August 1940 when Pune's Shikshan Prasarak Mandali made an application to the Bombay University for permission to start a commerce college in the city. The organisation already ran Ramnarain Ruia College in Matunga. Industrialist and philanthropist Seth Ramdeoji Anandilal Podar, who wished to build an institution in memory of his brother Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar, who had died at a young age, constructed a building at a cost of Rs 1.5 lakh and gifted it to the Mandali on February 7, 1941. The university granted permission to start the college, and thus began Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics.

The college, which is the alma mater of various stalwarts, such as Justice R C Lahoti, table tennis player Kamlesh Mehta, actor Sunny Deol, and cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar, Ravi Shastri and Dilip Vengsarkar, will host its platinum jubilee celebrations today, which will also be attended by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, at Sion's Shanmukhananda hall.

Dilip Vengsarkar, cricketer
'I joined Podar in 1972. That was the first year we won the intercollegiate championship in the history of the college. Siddharth College had a very strong team then, and we won by six runs. And under my captaincy, we won twice again. I was a captain of the Indian Universities and we played a match against the touring Marylebone Cricket Club team too.

Podar college won the intercollegiate championship for the first time in 1972, the year Dilip Vengsarkar joined the college

I played for Bombay and India while still in college - I went on tour to New Zealand (my Test debut), West Indies and Australia, with the Indian team. We were heroes in the college, and I had a fantastic time. I graduated in 1978; I was touring Pakistan at that time and could not play a few matches as I had to appear for my exams. I had already missed my exams earlier while touring, and could not miss them again. I appeared in October and got through.

I got a lot of help from my professors; they gave me extra tuitions. I would specially like to name Professor M V Chandgadkar who used to look after sports and teach English in commercial correspondence in the college. He was also the BCCI secretary. Back then, there was no money in the game, so it was important to complete our B.Com and get a job. It was very tough to study in between Test matches, and I was helped immensely by professors. I am indebted to them.'

Mahalakshmi Iyer, singer
'I had scored around 74 per cent, and to get into Podar you needed 76. It was because of my singing that I got through; every winning certificate I had was given value to make up for the marks. Once in college, I took part in various competitions. In junior college, I fought to participate in Malhar (at St Xavier's) as our college was only sending seniors.

Having fallen short on the percentage required, Mahalakshmi Iyer got admission because of her winning certificates in singing competitions

But after the professors intervened, I was allowed to go and I won! I was told by my professors to pursue singing as a profession, but I never took it seriously. However, winning this, and other contests, kind of sowed the seed. I immediately went to show the certificate to professor Kumud Mishra, who had granted me admission, to tell her she had picked the right candidate. Within a month of finishing college I started doing jingles.'

Clayton Murzello, sports editor
'When asked about his first coaches (B D Desai and Vithal Patil) from school and college in an interview with mid-day on the occasion of his 50th birthday, cricket legend Ravi Shastri said, "The main thing, which came from these men, was discipline and emphasis on the fact that there is no short cut to success, and only tons of hard work can get you there. I am doing commentary today, and I must thank Don Bosco school and Podar college for giving me the right kind of qualities to have that longevity".

Ravi Shastri with professor M V Chandgadkar and principal Phutne

Shastri's parents, though encouraging, had their share of fears on their son making it in the big leagues, which were put to rest when coach Patil from Podar told them, "He is Test match potential. Don't come in his way". In March 1980, Ravi represented Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy.

His mother Lakshmi ensured that her son also completed his education. She said, "Ravi was in New Zealand (1981), and it was time to fill the forms for his final-year exams. I remember filling them on his behalf and saying to him over the phone 'you are going to get this degree'. And he passed."

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