For Kittane Srinivas Iyengar, it was a ‘century with a difference’! Well, this former president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (1971-74) celebrated his 100th birthday amidst family members and some officials of the HCA here on Sunday.
And, when this indefatigable Kittane Srinivas, known for his impeccable credentials as an administrator of HCA, as former HCA secretary P.R. Man Singh stressed repeatedly, walked into the Secunderabad Club Hall to acknowledge the greetings of his well-wishers, the respect he commanded was too discernible to be ignored.
N. Ganesan, former joint secretary of HCA and a journalist of repute of yesteryears, was there to greet the ‘centurion’.
“We are all proud of Sri Iyengar and he was a kind of role model administrator for all of us in those days. A gentleman who followed the rule book without any compromises and he clearly belonged to an era where morals and values took precedence over everything else,” insisted Man Singh as he presented a specially prepared birthday cake, courtesy former Andhra Ranji player Prasanna Kumar, to the former HCA chief.
“I am honoured and privileged to get this warmth and love from you all,” was the reaction of Iyengar even as former HCA secretary D.S. Chalapathi, incumbent HCA joint-secretary Seshadri Venkateshwaran and Jayanthi Jaisimha conveyed their greetings to him. For the record, Iyengar was also an excellent opening batsman having played for Sultan Bazar CC and later for Grasshoppers, Deccan Blues. Later, he turned administrator being the joint secretary of HCA (1952-55) and then Secretary (1955-56). It was during his tenure that Hyderabad hosted the first ever Test match against New Zealand.
