The Mind Creative DEC 2013
I was once asked politely to leave the Bombay University library
because I was reading the PG Wodehouse novel Carry on Jeeves,
and laughing (guffawing is a better word) so loudly and
uncontrollably that other students could not concentrate on their
studies.
I owe my interest in writing to Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
(pronounced Woodhouse), the legendary British humorist and the
creator of Jeeves, Bertie Wooster, Lord Emsworth, his pig Empress
of Blandings, aunts Agatha and Dahlia, uncle Fred, Ukridge,
Psmith, Bingo Little, Gussie Fink-Nottle and dog Mixer among
many other lovably comic and clumsy characters.
When I read Right ho, Jeeves as a
teenager I instantly became a PGW fan
and still remain one. The first article I
ever wrote was on PG Wodehouse, in
the St Xavier’s college magazine in
1957.
At first I unashamedly tried to copy his
style and failed dismally. Soon I realised
that PGW is inimitable and I had to
develop my own style. However, inspired
by PGW, I have always tried to infuse
humour in my cricket books Out for a
Duck and Cricket Quirky Cricket as also
in my articles (Column 8 in the Sydney
Morning Herald and Silly Points in Inside
Cricket).
Wodehouse also wrote novels on golf and on cricket. In fact the
name of super valet (butler, gentleman’s gentleman) Jeeves
was taken from a Warwickshire cricketer Percy Jeeves (18881916) who was killed in World War I.
I could not hold back my admiration for my hero and inspiration
and in 1959 wrote a fan letter to him, least expecting a reply.
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