In 1827c, Godse Bhataji aka Vishnubhat Godse (गोडसे भटजी / विष्णुभट गोडसे) was borne in a poor Brahmin family in Varsai (वरसई), which is now in district of Raigad, Maharashtra. His book 'Maza pravas' (माझा प्रवास), published in 1883, is a first travelogue in Marathi.
It remains one of the best Marathi books that have been published in last one twenty-five years.
In March 1858, Godse was in Jhansi. There he saw first hand the battle between the forces of British and Rani Lakshmibai, ruler of Jhansi.
I wonder if anyone knows if and when Godse saw a game of cricket. Or indeed participated in one. Or did he just hear about it? Was the colour of the ball red in those days?
He refers to cricket as 'chenduphalii' (चेंडुफळी) in following passage that describes exchange of shells on the third day of the battle.
"...दिवसा सूर्याचे तेजामुळे गोळे दिसत नसत. या मुळे लोक फार ख़राब होत असत. रात्रौ स्पष्ट चेंडुफळीचे खेलाप्रो। ते लाल दिसत..."
("...during the day because of Sun's brightness shells couldn't be seen. Many people used to suffer because of that. In the night, they looked distinctly, like in a game of cricket, red...")
Looks like it was a day-night cricket match!
Appealing against the bad light or against the unfairness of the British Raj was as hopeless as in the picture below.
Eventually Jhansi fell. British forces plundered it. Godse's description of the Empire's cruelty is heartwrenching.
Artist: Mike Williams, June 1 1977, Punch Magazine
Caption reads: 'We'd like to appeal against the light.'
Please visit http://www.punchcartoons.com for more fun.