The Asian Age

Growing the fruits of her labour

Purnima Rau talks about her two big passions — farming and cricket — and how the former helps the latter by taking her mind off the sport

- SASHIDHAR ADIVI

Mango groves, ridgegourd plantation­s and a wide range of vegetable crops welcome you en route former Indian women’s cricket captain and coach Purnima Rau’s home at Mulugu, located 40 km from Hyderabad.

A couple of years ago, Purnima had decided to settle down in her two-acre farmhouse that’s tucked away from the city’s traffic snarls and pollution. Once there, she took up organic farming for the love of it.

“I am back to the pavilion,” she starts off, laughing. “I grew up catching butterflie­s in my garden during my childhood. My grandfathe­r was the former director of Public Gardens in Hyderabad, so I was always surrounded by informatio­n about plants. And I spent 90 per cent of the time in farming.”

A NATURAL TRANSFORMA­TION

For someone who’s been playing, practising, coaching and mentoring players, Purnima states that living close to the nature has transforme­d her completely. “I was a very aggressive player and a coach, but farming has made me appreciati­ve of several things in life, which are with me now. It has healed a lot of wounds and has made me feel contended with what I have, and developed a sense of gratitude. My old friends who meet me now say they see a new me,” says Purnima.

Then offering us cups of lemongrass green tea, she walks us through her twoacre farm, pointing out the kind of vegetables and fruits that grow there. “I may not be competing fiercely out there, but I experience the same emotional gratificat­ion I had while playing for the country,” says Purnima, adding that life at Mulugu is as good as playing for Team India.

THAT SANTA CLAUS FEELING

The farm uses cattle manure and cow dung in the compost as natural fertiliser which ensures that nothing goes waste and everything in the farm is recycled. The excess of harvest from her farm, Purnima distribute­s to her friends, neighbours, cricket players, relatives and farmers.

“I feel like Santa Claus 365 days,” she chuckles, adding, “But honestly, the unconditio­nal love I’ve found in my cows here, the harmonious environmen­t and the feeling of staying close to Mother Nature…all of it add to the joy of giving I experience.”

NURTURING MORE

But it’s not just a farm that flourishes under her watch. Post her stint as the Team India coach, Purnima also mentored women cricket teams for Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Baroda, Hyderabad and Sikkim. “I am glad that several cricketers under my mentorship have made it to Team India. It’s a nice feeling to be grooming and helping state cricket associatio­n in finding talent,” expresses Purnima, who is now set to work with the Arunachal Pradesh team.

In cricket, what excites the 50-year-old is the mix of physiologi­cal and psychologi­cal aspects of the game. “There are several fascinatin­g aspects of the game like being on the ground, sweating out with the players, understand­ing them, players’ technique, psychology, etc. All of those appeal to me,” she says as she signs off.

The vegetables you can find in the farm include turmeric, neem, raw banana, lady's finger, drumstick, ginger, cluster beans, carrot, tomato, paddy, lemon, chilli, brinjal, dragoon fruit, cucumber, peach, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, beans, cabbage and cauliflowe­r, and greens like mint and fenugreek — PURNIMA RAU

 ??  ?? Purnima at her farm
Purnima at her farm

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