In Memoriam: Mr Sankara Das

A tribute to the late Mr Sankara Das, the only race rider and driver from Sembawang Naval Base.

By Suresh Nair

I was asked by Gajandran Das to write a tribute for his late father, who passed away on September 27. I had no qualms about it although it would be the first time I’m penning a few words for someone I never met!

Rather embarrassing, personally, I must say, considering I’m a journalist and never heard of Sitharam Sankara Das, probably among the first Indians to participate in motor racing in Singapore and the only Indian in the Singapore Motor and Sports Club (SMSC), way back in 1956 (two years after I was born!).

Sankara Das is even possibly a regional racing-legend, too, as he raced in both cars and motorcycles. He was also dubbed the "most successful champion combination" together with his partner Frank Bradshaw at the Shell Malayan Motor Rally in 1957.

Sankara Das admires the nostalgic photos of his racing feats in the 1950s.

The elder brother of former Member of Parliament Chandra Das (People's Action Party MP for Chong Boon (1980-1988) and Cheng San GRC (1988-1996), and uncle to the Malaysia Cup football legend S. Rajagopal “The Camel”, he passed on because of pneumonia, leaving behind wife, Sangaram Sita, and five sons. He was cremated on Tuesday (September 28) at Mandai Crematorium.

A family picture of three generations: Sankara Das (right), with his eldest son, Gajandran Das (centre) and grandson.

He was 91 and following his demise, his sons, Gajandaran and Melbourne-based Jeevadaran, requested that their dad’s sporting dare-devil experiences on the race-track be written and majority of his sporting artifacts have been donated to the  Indian Heritage Centre (IHC). I must confess here that much as I covered sports journalism for more than three decades, I seldom came across Sankara Das. Perhaps it was because the print media seldom wrote about the race-track heroes, especially an Indian who did both the two-wheelers and four-wheelers the same day!

A Low Profile Sportsman

Says the eldest son, Gajandaran Das, who runs a motor-hire agency, "My dad never blew his sporting trumpet and went his low-profile way in the motoring industry. But this is a legacy that cannot be forgotten and that’s why we donated a lot of his articles to the IHC so that the younger generation, visiting the IHC, will know of this brave Singaporean pioneer who was involved in a dare-devil street sport."

Jeevadaran, the youngest son, adds, “His share of crashes underlined his fearless driving and riding skills. He was the bravest role-model dad and he always encouraged us to take on the most daring challenges, without fear.” 

Much as his family advised him not to professionally race or ride, he was actively involved in the SMSC (Singapore Motor and Sports Club) from the early 1950s. He retired from competitive racing in 1961 but continued his love for the race-tracks by becoming a track marshal for the Singapore Grand Prix  from 1965 to 1973, then held along  the Old Upper Thomson Road.

Another close shave:
Jeevandran says: "Family pressure was the main reason for his retirement from the sport as it underscores the real dangers of hardcore competitive racing. He told me multiple times of his scary experiences getting into near-death accidents."

Jeevadaran, who was more involved in football and played for Pioneer Arsenal FC, a lower-rung FAS amateur club, and later coached youth levels at Jurong FC (1998), Clementi Khalsa (1999) and Tampines Rovers (2000) and did the UEFA (European Football Union) “B” Licence coaching course, says: “Family pressure was the main reason for his retirement from the sport as it underscores the real dangers of hardcore competitive racing. He told me of multiple times of scary experiences of near-to-death accidents.”

Marbles on Track 

He particularly recollects in the mid-1960s while racing in Jakarta, Indonesia, there were some spectators who deliberately threw big marbles on to the track whenever a Singapore rider was approaching. He fell victim to such ghastly acts resulting in him in a number of unpredictable falls and he never completed some of the major riding races.

Jeevadaran remembers his dad’s words to get the race-basics right, from constant attention to the engine’s mechanics and controls. This added with flawless skilful driving or riding usually leads to a winner’s trophy. “He always had winning on his mind and never gave up until the final flag,” says Jeevadaran.

Truly a Singapore-born Naval Base work veteran, who seldom thought of making the headlines, both in a two-wheeler and four-wheeler, Sankara Das deserves to be acknowledged for his contributions to the race-tracks.

Sankara Das ranks as possibly the only Singaporean to ride (a two-wheeler) and race (four-wheeler) on the same weekend.

As I look back to what I’ve written, it amazes me, too, that I never met this sporting hero. But in his demise earlier this week, much thanks to his family, I feel honoured to be provided with photos and family nitty-gritties to do some deserving words for someone who never egged for the limelight but really risked body and soul to do his racing-and-riding best.

May his soul rest in peace.

Article and pictures: Kind courtesy of Suresh Nair and Gajandaran Das