|
| Biography
|
||||
 | ||||
|
JIMMY - THE LIVING LEGEND (1955-1987)
T. DEVAPRASAD, DEEPIKA It is 11 years, the great Jimmy George has become immortal. These 11 years have proved that Jimmy was not only the hero of his time, but also of the ages to come. Jimmy still remains as an evergreen memory in the minds of all who knew him, nay who loves his game. Even today, he remains the role model of an ideal Volleyball player.
Smashed to death in Italy on November 30th, 1987 at the age of 33, Jimmy remains an aching memory to all who are dear to him. This group includes all who happened to meet him either inside or outside the ground. Whoever had come into his friendship once, always remembered him close to their hearts. They include from the poor village rustic of Kerala to high dignitaries of International fame. He is the first Indian Volleyball player to play club Volleyball in Italy. He has played against the top volleyball players of the world while engaged with Italian professional volleyball clubs and was graded as one of the best ten attackers of the world. Born in a remote and obscure village of North Kerala, Peravoor, on 8th March 1955, Jimmy always kept up the innocence of a village boy throughout his life. His father, advocate George Joseph and mother Mary of Kudukkachira family, imparted him such a training that whoever met him once would never forget him.
The volleyball player in Jimmy was groomed at his country court at Peravoor. His father George Joseph was a volleyball player too. Kudukkachira family has produced a galaxy of volleyball players of whom Jimmy stands high above all. His brothers Jose George, Sebastian George and Francis Byju are known Volleyball players. Jimmy's youngest brother Robert Bobby George was the National Triple Jump champion in 1996-97. Jimmy had great regard for Kalavoor Gopinath as a coach. Jimmy's maternal uncle Prof. M.T.Emmanuel had also been a source of perennial strength to him. The meteoric rise of this volleyball wizard started in 1970 when he became the member of the Calicut University team. In 1973, he joined St.Thomas College, Pala and became the captain of the Kerala University team. He represented Calicut University thrice and Kerala University four times. The Kerala University won the All India Inter-University Championship in all these four years. He secured a berth in the Kerala State Team at the age of 16, in 1971, and thereafter he has represented the State nine times. He represented the Country in Tehran (1974) Bangkok (1978) and Seoul (1986) Asian Games. He was not in the Indian team for the 82 Delhi Asiad as he was away abroad. He has played for India in the test matches against the Japanese Team when they visited in 1985. He was the Captain of the Indian team that played at Saudi Arabia in 1985. He led the Indian team to victory in India Gold Cup International Volleyball Tournament at Hyderabad in 1986.  Jimmy was in a sense wedded to volleyball. That was why he quit the Medical College in 1976 to join Kerala Police and remained a member of the police team till death.Jimmy had great dream about the future of Indian Volleyball. He had an ambitious project for catching our budding talents and training them. An Asian medal was another one of his dreams. This was materialised in 1986. Shri. Achutha Kurup, the Indian Coach, later wrote that it was mainly because of Jimmy that India won the bronze medal at Seoul. He also had a dream for winning the All India Police Championship for Kerala. This he achieved in 1985. He also dreamt of winning the National title for Kerala though it remained unfulfilled during his life time. However, in 1997, our boys materialised it. Jimmy got married in 1985 and has a son, Joseph George, born two months after his death.
Jimmy received all major awards any Indian sportsman could dream of. The most important of it is the great Arjuna Award. Jimmy is the youngest volleyball player to win Arjuna Award at the age of 21. He was given G.V.Raja Award in 1975 and won Manorama Award for the best Sportsman of Kerala in 1976. He was adjudged the best player in the Gulf Region while engaged with Abudhabi Sports Club from 1979-82. He was engaged with professional clubs in Italy from 1982 to 84 and 85 to 87 and was considered as one of the best attackers of the world. Besides being a professional volleyball player, Jimmy's interest varied from chess to swimming. He had a good collection of stamps and coins. He listened to music and was interested in para-psychology. He had a very studious mind till the end. He used to carry books and periodicals with him. Upon his untimely and sad demise in 1987, Jimmy's dear ones have established a trust known as 'Jimmy George Foundation' to carry on his dreams. The Foundation has instituted an award for the best sports person of Kerala. The award is highly respected among the sports enthusiasts of Kerala. The Foundation has also instituted cash awards at St. Joseph's High School, Peravoor and at Devagiri College. The Government of Kerala has dedicated its Indoor Stadium at Trivandrum to the memory of Jimmy George. At St.Thomas College, Pala, a volleyball stadium has been built after his name. A stadium and a road at Peravoor have been named after Jimmy.
The American Malayalees have been conducting Jimmy George Super Trophy Volleyball every year since 1989. A junior tournament is being organised in Italy every year in memory of Jimmy. The Jimmy George Club of Peravoor is also organising tournaments and coaching camps. The Italians who have seen top class volleyball players honoured Jimmy by dedicating a new Indoor Stadium to his memory. These monuments are nothing compared to the love and admiration the followers of the game have for Jimmy. I would like to quote the concluding passages from the farewell message read out at the requiem held in the Parish Church of Carpendeolo in Italy on the 4th of December 1987. Quote. "Therefore, dearest Jimmy, as we say goodbye to you torn by grief, but serene in our spirit for not disappointing you, we assure you that may all those who have known you just a little and loved you will follow you, while in the sky a plane will carry your mortal remains towards your land and spouse, but you with the richness of your humanity, and with your total example of life, will stay with us for ever as a precious gift to cherish, as an example to follow, as reason for hope and certainty". "This was a man' who had hitched his self not to any single star, but sought to lose it and find it glorified in the maker of them all. Those of us who have marched with him shoulder to aching shoulder through the arches of the years will remember this superstar glowing ever more luminous in the realm beyond the stars "unquote".
| ||||
