Triumph of mind over matter

V. Geetanath.

INSIDE A built-up multi-storied complex near Clock Tower, a small group of children and adults are engrossed in the scrabble game on different tables. Damaraj is testing his own vocabulary against a bureaucrat.

In between building his words file, he has paused to order luncheon for the participants, take charge of the mementos which arrived from a sports shop, ensure the fans are working properly, arrange for the next round, etcetera. "I am the organiser, manager, player, `chaprasi' - all rolled into one," he laughs. That in essence gives an insight into the interesting personality of Venkat Ramana Damaraj, an unpretentious man with a wonderful sense of humour.

In the last few years, this chartered accountant has been scouting summer camps, reaching out to schools and travelling a lot to promote the game. "I am very keen on roping in children as it enhances their ability to use the right words in their speech and writings. It is more fun learning new words this way and scrabble needs little introduction as many are familiar with English," he explains. "But, I would like the schools to take it up as a movement".

Damaraj has been taking introductory classes and even distributing the scrabble kits free. This, he has been doing in places like Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, and Visakhapatnam to an "encouraging response". Damaraj, born and brought up here, got onto the game while working at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant in the mid-'80s. He recalls wryly: "I took to scrabble as I was in no position to woo the girls. There were a set of friends crazy over crosswords and scrabble. I learnt a lot from them."

The first scrabble tourney was organised by him there in memory of his engineer friend, Satyamurthy ("a very good player"), who died in a freak mishap inside the plant. "It was very much appreciated," he reminisces.

But, he first approached schools during a holiday in Kerala. "My mind works better during holidays!" he grimaces. He introduced scrabble in a Kochi school through which he gained the "confidence to reach out to children directly."

Thus, `Zygo' ("bringing together people of common interest") clubs came into existence. Four years since, Damaraj is more or less a one-man scrabble man with little support. And, he digs into his own pocket most times. "Nobody is interested in children and nobody is prepared to organise contests. So, I do it myself," he is nonchalant on the lack of sponsors. Whenever he goes on tours on his professional work, he spends an extra day for scrabble.

A bachelor, 44-year-old Damaraj (phone No. 7800560), has plans to set up neighbourhood clubs here, encourage more schools to take up scrabble and also reach out to places up north. "I have to keep travelling, there is no other way," says, the wiry man, with a smile.

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