The day I was born, everyone cried…
I was supposed to be a boy, but there I was—a chocolate-skinned, 5lb girl, daughter number four born to parents desperate for a son to carry the Kalyana family name. My great-grandfather, ‘Bhai,’ asked for ‘Toto’ to be passed to him and blessed me in Swahili, tears in his eyes. I’m guessing my Kenyan dada didn’t realize “Toto” is also the dog in The Wizard of Oz, nor that his great-granddaughter would carry his name across the world, telling stories of women in sport.
Fast forward 50 years, and I’m on a stage in Delhi, serving as a jury member alongside the Director General of the BBC at the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Awards. Now in its fifth year, this event celebrates women who’ve dispelled stereotypes, defied cultural norms, and brought glory to India through sport. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house watching 17-year-old Sheetal Devi make history in Paris last year as India’s youngest Paralympian to win a bronze medal in archery—using her feet with precise skill. Her parents faced discrimination from the community who were unsure she could overcome her challenges and amount to anything, yet here she stood, inspiring a generation of girls. The evening honoured Manu Bhakar, Smriti Mandhana, Avani Lekhara, and Vinesh Phogat, with Mithali Raj receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. And yes, I did a little happy dance for us cricket folks.
I left Delhi with my heart brimming with pride for my next stop, Bombay—a city often described as New York on steroids—where I visited the children of the Bombay Port Trust. It was my second trip to see the Magic Bus India foundation in action. At 6:30 a.m, I stopped at a local temple to pray for the girls of Magic Bus who’ve inspired me with their courage and passion for sport. I asked Devi Maa (Mother Goddess), who sits like a warrior on her tiger, to bless them with her fighting spirit.
Twins Vaishali and Ujwala greeted me with smiles and hugs. They’re finishing college soon and dream of becoming police officers—a testament to Magic Bus using sport to break cycles of poverty and give young people a future. The next couple of hours flew by as I watched a spirited girls vs boys cricket match. “Tapa math hone de” (“Don’t let the ball bounce!”) echoed around us, and one of the girls even launched into her own Hindi commentary mid-game. I have no idea what the final score was amid the chaos, but it hardly mattered.
Walking through the narrow gullies, I spotted shy wicketkeeper Rama washing utensils outside her house, still in full sports kit. Her face lit up when I called her name, and I marvelled at how seamlessly she shifted from athlete to homemaker—just like I did at her age. The laughter, sledging, and excited chatter still ring in my ears. Cricket here is more than a sport; it’s a joyful force that unites communities and levels social divides.
My heartfelt thanks to the Government of India for supporting my quest to shine a spotlight on women in sport, to the ECB for donating cricket equipment to Magic Bus, and to the kind-hearted cricketer Sairaj Patil, for gifting his Mumbai Cricket Association issued kit bag to these youngsters. Most of all, I’m grateful to the incredible young people who remind me how sport can transform lives.
It’s over and out from Toto—the girl child who finally found her calling in life and is still trying to follow the yellow brick road…
Jai Hind