Behind the success of pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, the elders of her native village of Parsa see the reclamation of their lost glory. There was a time when the entire region would celebrate the unmatched physical strength of the Parsa people, particularly the men, who would win the ‘rassa-kassi’ (tug-of-war) competition held at the Rohru fair every April.
Renuka claimed three wickets in six matches in the World Cup.
“The way Renuka is being appreciated and welcomed gives us a feeling of déjà vu. Decades ago, our men were unbeatable in the rassa-kassi competition across the entire Mahasu region, which now includes Shimla, Solan and large parts of Sirmaur district. Later, the competition was dropped from the fair, only to be reintroduced recently, but only for women. After India’s victory in the Women’s World Cup, Renuka visited all local shrines, like the players of our village used to do after winning the rassa-kassi,” Parsa pradhan Ganesh Dutt Sharma (75) told The Indian Express.
Sharma, who retired as the chief administrative officer at Shimla district courts in 2014, added, “I had heard much about the physical endurance of Renuka’s grandfather Parmanand Thakur, but I personally witnessed the strength of one of her uncles Thakur Kamla Nand, who would pull the rope either from the front or the end during the competition. I’m sure Renuka draws her immense physical strength from her ancestors. Late Kahan Chand Sharma was the captain of the village’s tug-of-war team. Pehle to Parsa ka naam sirf elake mein mashhoor tha, par ab is beti ne Parsa ka naam poore duniya mein roshan kar diya hai (Earlier, Parsa was famous only in the region, but now its daughter has put it on the world map).”
The ground where Renuka’s uncle Bhupinder Thakur observed the bowling skills of Renuka at Parsa village. (Express Photo)
Purshotama Devi Sharma, Pradhan of the village Mahila Mandal (Women’s Circle), said, “Although the women’s team of our village participates in the rassa-kassi at Rohru fair, they are yet to achieve the glory the men of our village once enjoyed. We regret that, but this girl, Renuka Singh Thakur, has filled that void. We are proud of our daughter.”
She said the women’s team from nearby Tikkar village has been winning the final rassa-Kassi competition for several years.
After winning the World Cup, Renuka visited Parsa on Sunday amid a rousing welcome by villagers. Renuka, along with her mother Sunita Thakur and brother Vinod, first visited the Hatkoti temple. On Monday, the family offered prayers at Mahasu Devta Temple at Hanol in Uttarakhand.
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Renuka’s uncle Bhupinder Thakur, who first identified her talent and sent her to a women’s cricket academy in Dharamshala, said, “Her physical strength is genetic. Our family belongs to a martial community. My father was known for his exceptional strength in the region. Our ancestors shifted to Parsa for its fertile agricultural land, which is particularly suitable for rice cultivation. They would carry heavy sacks of rice on their shoulders from the riverbanks to the fields uphill. International shooter Zeena Khitta also hails from Parsa.”
Parsa residents demanded adequate playgrounds for children to nurture their sporting talent. “I first spotted Renuka bowling to a male batsman years ago at a small playground. Given the tough and rugged topography, there is little scope for large playgrounds in most parts of the state. Games like volleyball and kabaddi are more popular since these require less space compared to cricket or football,” said Bhupinder Thakur, Principal of a Degree College in Theog, who is also a volleyball coach and an international referee.
Pradhan Ganesh Dutt Sharma, too, echoed similar sentiments.
Parsa village, comprising around 81 households, was once under the jurisdiction of neighbouring Lower Koti Gram Panchayat before it was granted the status of an independent panchayat. The village is largely inhabited by Rajput and Brahmin families. Renuka’s ancestors originally lived in Lower Koti before migrating to Parsa for farming.
Renuka lost her father, Kehar Singh Thakur, an employee of the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department, when she was just three. Her brother and she were raised single-handedly by their mother, who later secured a compensatory appointment in the IPH Department.
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Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Renuka’s mother for raising her single-handedly. Modi appreciated Renuka’s mother when members of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team called on him in New Delhi after winning the ICC Women’s World Cup on November 7.
