Indian cricket history boasts legendary figures such as Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli who have been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award. However, former Indian wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer has been waiting for his official Padma Shri recognition for 53 years. Named for the national honor back in 1973, the 88-year-old veteran revealed that he never received any official communication from the Government of India regarding the award. Seeking resolution after more than five decades, Engineer recently reached out to former BCCI Secretary and current ICC Chairman Jay Shah, who has pledged to assist him in securing the long-pending honor.
Learning of the Award While Playing in England
Recalling the events of 1973, Farokh Engineer shared that he was playing cricket in England when the Padma Shri recipients were announced. It was Indian team manager Hemu Adhikari who first informed him about the honor after reading the news in local newspapers. Engineer immediately mentioned to Adhikari that he had not received any formal documentation or direct notification from government authorities. Adhikari assured him that an official letter would follow in due course. However, despite the announcement making headlines at the time, no official letter or confirmation ever arrived, leaving the recognition uncollected over the subsequent decades.
Decades of Silence and Administrative Hurdles
In the early 1970s, newspapers were virtually the sole medium for obtaining public information, making direct follow-ups with government departments difficult. Unsure of which authority or ministry to approach, Engineer refrained from writing letters and simply waited for an official call or correspondence from the government. As years passed, the matter remained unresolved. Prior to his passing, former Union Minister and BCCI Vice President Arun Jaitley was also approached by Engineer regarding the pending award, though the administrative bottleneck persisted.
Reaching Out to Jay Shah After Five Decades
With more than 50 years having elapsed since the original announcement, Engineer decided to make another effort to claim the recognition. He formally wrote to Jay Shah, detailing his situation and the long period of inaction. Shah assured the veteran cricketer of his full support in taking up the matter. Engineer emphasized that after waiting for over half a century, he felt it was necessary to make a final effort to receive the recognition that was conferred upon him decades ago.
