Editing A Writing Machine
Outlook|April 09, 2018

The academic can complicate what seems simple even while simplifying the seemingly complex —that’s what made Ram Guha a pioneer of sorts as a writer of history.

Rukun Advani
Editing A Writing Machine

IT may be best for me not to begin my recollections of Ramachandra Guha along the standard template that recommends the phrase “The first time I met...” The reason is that our first meeting was inconsequential. Apparently we met on a college badminton court 44 years ago, around July 1974. Since Ram didn’t go on from this badminton court to become Deepika Padukone’s father, this first encounter’s location, at least, was not an augury of the direction of Ram’s future fame.

I have no idea what Ram was doing near a badminton court in the mid-1970s because his interests lay in a corner of a different field, the cricket pitch. His agenda even then was anti-Hindutva, though it took a peculiar shape as it had got mixed up with his interest in cricket. His aim in those days was to disprove the Hindu idea of reincarnation by circumventing his own afterlife through becoming either Bishen Singh Bedi or Erapalli Prasanna in this life. Failing either of those two options, he seemed to have resig ned him self to a third, which was to become Gundappa Vishwanath.

Since I was not passionate about cricket, for the remainder of our college years Ram and I lived proximate lives without ever coming close. I knew roughly who he was, and I also knew precisely what ‘type’ he was—he was what was called in those days a ‘sports type’. This knowledge was a subconscious certainty somewhere inside me that if there was a fellow in our college who was never going to amount to anything intellectually, his name was Ram Guha. He would develop his muscles, grow into a hunk, even perhaps wear a turban, and the climax of his aspiration would be to draw Viv Richards out of the crease and bowl him round his legs. In short, to my mind Ram Guha was someone who could be safely written offand forgotten about.

This story is from the April 09, 2018 edition of Outlook.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 09, 2018 edition of Outlook.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM OUTLOOKView All
The Man Who Shot Deewaar
Outlook

The Man Who Shot Deewaar

Most of Yash Chopra's iconic films, including Deewaar, Kabhi Kabhie and Silsila were shot by the prolific Kay Gee

time-read
5 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Acting Away Oppression
Outlook

Acting Away Oppression

Virendra Ganvir uses theatre as a medium to confront the societal inequalities associated with manual scavenging

time-read
5 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Bonding with the Bonds
Outlook

Bonding with the Bonds

The revelation of donor-recipient connections in electoral bonds may cause discomfort to the BJP-the biggest beneficiary. But many others are looking for cover, too

time-read
6 mins  |
April 01, 2024
"We need ideas, patience, and hope"
Outlook

"We need ideas, patience, and hope"

Over the last few years, several human rights organisations have been demanding the release of former Delhi University professor Gokarakonda Naga (G N) Saibaba. On March 5, 2024, the Bombay High Court acquitted Saibaba along with Hem Mishra, Mahesh Tirki, Vijay Tirki, Prashant Rahi, and Pandu Narote.

time-read
5 mins  |
April 01, 2024
The Iron Harvest
Outlook

The Iron Harvest

The farming community has always been given great significance when it comes to poll promises and manifestoes. But many of their issues have never been resolved

time-read
5 mins  |
April 01, 2024
The Young and the Restless
Outlook

The Young and the Restless

Nearly two crore young voters will cast ballots for their next government this year. One of their major issues - unemployment

time-read
5 mins  |
April 01, 2024
The Female Factor
Outlook

The Female Factor

Female voters are set to outnumber male voters by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections in India. Yet, the number of women in the political domain remains woefully low

time-read
6 mins  |
April 01, 2024
The Politics of New Castes
Outlook

The Politics of New Castes

With the Prime Minister announcing the poor, women, farmers, and the youths as new caste categories, it would be interesting to see its impact on the upcoming General Elections

time-read
9 mins  |
April 01, 2024
The Runaway Groom
Outlook

The Runaway Groom

Tribal communities in the country have had interesting and unique wedding customs, but most have gone extinct with time

time-read
4 mins  |
April 01, 2024
Truly Traditional
Outlook

Truly Traditional

As the trend of lavish five-day weddings becomes the norm, many are going back to the roots to revive lapsed traditions

time-read
6 mins  |
April 01, 2024