SEVENTY-plus years ago, when motor-sport was just a sort of illusion in India, Mr. Indu Chandhok sensed its potential -- magnetised as he was by the sheer thrill of competitive motoring. He created in popular mind a desire for motor-sport, organised events, founded organisations to run the activity -- and in the process gave India an exciting, thrilling, adventurous sport. India may not have really risen to the top layers of the international motor-sport pyramid, all right. But that does not diminish the importance of the visionary contribution Mr. Indu Chandhok made. Time it is now to recall what Mr. Chandhok did for motor-sport in India as he has passed behind the curtain of time -- though, of course, death would not be able to take away the wonderful work he did all his life as a promoter of motor-sport in the country. He was 93 when Mr. Chandhok breathed his last.

 

Yet, to those who understood the importance of motor-sport as an eternal calling for enthusiasts, he will live on -- in their memory and in their cars made for competitive motor-sport. Of course, it sounds so easy today to talk about competitive motor-sport. But, back then in 1953 when Mr. Indu Chandhok started taking part in motor-sport in the erstwhile Madras (now Chennai) where he founded the Madras Motor-Sport Club, people just could not believe that the activity could ever make any sense in the country. Thanks to the obstinate belief in his own fancy for competitive motoring, Mr. Chandhok was able to win over quite a few friends whom he made to think similarly as he did. Later in 1971, Mr. Chandhok founded Federation of Motor-Sport Clubs in India and also helped create the Madras International Circuit near Sriperembudur, thus gifting the country a motor-sport hub in later years.

 

The details of the exciting life of Mr. Indu Chandhok are in public domain, and so need not be repeated here. But what makes special sense is a recall of how he saw what others could not -- the potential and future of motor-sport in India. It was not without reason that he came to be known as ‘Godfather of Motor-Sport in India’. He deserved that role and played it to the hilt all his life, his quiet exterior rather concealing the fire he had right till the end. What needs a special mention is that in the process of pursuing and promoting motor-sport in India,. Mr. Indu Chandhok became a living legend, a one-man institution, and an eternal inspiration to everybody and anybody who ever thought of competitive motoring. Now that he is no more, Indian motor-sport will have to look for other legends to guide it to greater stature in future. It is an expensive sport all right, but Mr. Chandhok made great possibilities emerge on the Indian horizon. A similar impetus will be the continued need of India in the times to come.