Died: Sam Nariman Medora, 87, iconic figure in Indian rowing who had won innumerable regattas, served as a coach and later as an international referee; on March 3, 2024 in Calcutta after battling Parkinson’s disease and chest infection.
The Lake Club in Calcutta where he had honed his skills and shown his proficiency as an exceptional sculler (a rower who uses two oars, one in each hand to propel forward) had organized a final salute and guard of honor for Medora: Senior and junior members stood in facing rows, holding onto the shafts of their oars, allowing the blades to meet at the top to resemble an inverted V formation. As the hearse passed beneath, pairs of oars opened up, one after another. After the members placed flowers on the body, once again the hearse made its exit under the crossed oars before proceeding for the final rites. Down south, the Madras Boat Club flag was lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect for the honorary member.
Recognized and honored as a "Rowing Legend” and presented with a salver a few years ago, Medora had continued his association with the sport until he was nearly 75 years. Having won umpteen regattas in Calcutta, Madras, Colombo, Karachi and creating records in his younger days, in later years he coached both men’s and women’s crews at the Lake Club, the TISCO (Tata Iron and Steel Company) crews and the four-member women’s team which won gold at the Rowing Nationals. He also qualified to become an international umpire and officiated at the Asian Games (1982), and regattas in Hong Kong, Japan and China.
"The Rowing Federation of India (RFI) mourns the loss of a stalwart whose legacy will forever be etched in the annals of Indian sports history. As we reflect on Sam’s life and achievements, let us remember the incredible journey of a man who dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in rowing,” noted a tribute from the president and executive committee of RFI.
Rowing since the age of 15, within three years he had made a mark when selected as a reserve to accompany the Lake Club team to Madras for the ARAE (Amateur Rowing Association of the East) regatta he emerged as a champion when he got an opportunity to show his prowess. He won the Macklin Sculls for the first time in 1954 and five times thereafter, a feat which remains unsurpassed, according to news reports shared by his family. Besides his mastery at the Macklin Sculls he had also won the pairs and fours events on multiple occasions. His name is now synonymous with the sport in India. "There are over 20 trophies that are still on display in our house, whilst some were returned to the Lake Club as we ran out of places to put them!” recalled his family members summarizing his accomplishments.
Above and inset: Sam Medora; top, r: guard of honor presented
by the Lake Club in Calcutta
Top, from far l: Adarbad and Navaz Master, Khush and Sam Medora,
Deenaz and Gautam Ahuja, Vinita and Darius Medora;
above: Sam (sitting, far l) with the Caregiver team he coordinated
He used his six-foot height and formidable physique to keep improving his rowing performance even after he was temporarily incapacitated by an unfortunate accident in 1956 when he was hit in the left hip by the tip of another boat coming from the wrong direction. Despite the setback and surgeries, he eventually returned to the sport to win most of his major trophies. In a write-up in the Indian Express of July 15, 1991 sports writer Gul-fraaz Ezekiel had commented, "Medora is part of rowing folklore not only because of his feats on the water, but also because of his courage off it… His entry for the 1956 Commonwealth Games was refused ironically because there was no national body in existence at the time!”
The year 1964 was particularly momentous for Medora for shortly after his marriage to Khush Shroff in February 1964 he received an invitation to row in the Henley Royal Regatta which he termed "the Wimbledon of rowing.” During the two months he spent with the Thames Rowing Club he participated in the Henley, Marlowe and Walton regattas in sculling. Even though he did not win any trophies, he impressed the officials there with his technique. The same year he joined TISCO and was slated to go to Jamshedpur for training in November. Since the Colombo East Regatta was to be held in December and the Lake Club was extremely keen to send Medora as their top sculler with the formidable reputation of being unbeatable, his transfer was deferred by using the contacts of Sir Biren Mookerjee, chairman of the Indian Iron and Steel Co Ltd and a founder member of the Lake Club, Tata chairman J. R. D. Tata and TISCO managing director Russi Mody. "He is undoubtedly the best sculler India has ever produced,” noted a write-up in the Tata Review, Vol VII, No. 3 of 1972.
Following Medora’s retirement from TISCO as assistant director of marketing in 2001, he served for the next 14 years as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Calcutta Zoroastrian Community’s Religious and Charity Fund (CZCRCF). For their Caregiver program introduced by the trustees in 2005, he formulated an efficient and comprehensive system whereby support could be assured to those in need, especially the elderly Parsis. The caregivers who reported directly to Medora visited those who were unwell, arranged for medical assistance, provided medical equipment, accompanied them on doctors’ visits, or gave them company. Even after he retired as CEO, he continued to coordinate the Caregiver program for many years. In 2013 he was felicitated by the trustees of The Late Ervad D. B. Mehta’s Zoroastrian Anjuman Atash Adaran in recognition of his dedicated service to the Parsi community in Calcutta. A devout Zoroastrian, prayers were an important part of his daily routine.
Sam was the youngest of Mani and Nariman’s four children. He had inherited his sense of humor from his mother and enjoyed poking fun and playing pranks with his sister Gool. Eldest brother Phiroze was his role model, being a talented sculler too before Sam. Another brother Zal had unfortunately drowned at a school picnic when he was in his early teens. Sam had studied at St Xavier’s School and St Xavier’s College in Calcutta from where he graduated in commerce. Playing different games and sports at the Calcutta Parsee Club, he excelled in athletics mainly in the 100 m and 200 m events. He was also affiliated with the scouting movement and eventually became a scout master.
Sam took violin lessons from Philippe Sandre (a French violinist who set up the Calcutta School of Music). Since Gool played the piano, the siblings often practised together. Playing as second violinist in the Calcutta Symphony Orchestra, Sam was privileged to perform with well-known musicians like Yehudi Menuhin and Mehli Mehta. Subsequently he took up the clarinet which he also played in the Calcutta Symphony Orchestra. Years later Sam was on the committee and eventually became the vice president of the Calcutta School of Music making erstwhile president Dickoo Nowroji comment, "He understands music from his innards.”
His daughters Navaz Master and Deenaz Ahuja, and son Darius viewed him as "a wonderful father — encouraging, supportive and very patient. He taught us to swim, ride a bicycle, ride a horse, and drive, and we could always count on him for anything. After we got married and moved to different cities, we would look forward to going back home for holidays and sharing the laughter and good times once again.”
The sincere sculler is survived by his wife Khush, daughters Navaz Adarbad Master and Deenaz Gautam Ahuja, and son Darius.