Interview with M.A.Parthasarathy (current Vice-President of Beagles)

A Rainy Sunday Beginning

The Beagles Basketball Club traces its origins to a chance meeting at the old Breeze Hotel near Malleswaram Circle in 1965. Over a cup of coffee on a rainy Sunday, the Late Mr. Srinivasan happened to run into his basketball colleague, K. Raghunath. What began as a friendly chat turned into a conversation about starting a basketball club of their own—an idea proposed by K. Raghunath that resonated with their teammates and gained support from the seniors at Bharat Sports Union, one of Malleswaram's renowned basketball clubs since 1955.

The club, which emerged from a simple enthusiasm and love for basketball, supposedly had no reasoning behind the name, "Beagles". According to Mr. M Parthasarathy, who has been in the game for over 50 years and is currently the vice president of Beagles, it was just something that stuck and was collectively decided on.

Finding a Home

With the support of B. V Patankar, a basketball enthusiast, and access to a court in his extensive private property, Patankar Layout, the foundation of the club was laid. Much later, the club was offered the 15th Cross, East Park Road location by the Young Pioneers basketball club. Eventually, both clubs merged under the Beagles name, and the game has been going strong ever since. Some of the notable members involved in the establishment of the club—who "bring glory to Beagles"—are Mr. Jayaraj, Mr. Raghunath, and Mr. Dileep Gurumurthy, who represented India at the Moscow Olympics in 1980.

Basketball in Early Malleswaram

Back in the day, basketball clubs in Malleswaram were few. The sport however, was popular and loved, and it thrived among the children of the area. Bharat Sports Union, Young Men's Mandyam Association, and Young Pioneers Sports Club were the three basketball clubs that helped popularize the sport in Malleswaram and Bangalore, especially as one of enjoyment, going beyond competition.

Challenges and Growth

Although basketball has been a loved sport all these years, Mr. Parthasarathy recalls its position within media and funding to be the same as it is today. Because media attention and funding for infrastructure were—and continue to be—largely funneled towards cricket, other sports in the country are often left to build more organically. He claims this to be rather unfortunate, grumbling about cricket lacking the "public engagement" that basketball is largely catered towards, but goes unrecognized. Issues with support from local corporations such as the BBMP and BDA have also been persistent, ever since the Young Men's Mandyam Association was taken down to make way for the Malleswaram market that stands today.

Amidst flaky management and issues with space, enthusiasm for the sport remained consistent. Beagles, especially, experienced "dramatic change", and has evolved tremendously since its conception, says Mr. Parthasarathy. Not only do they now provide a vast indoor stadium (which was built in 2018), but it welcomes the public for a small and affordable fee, opening its doors to over 400 children and anyone interested in the sport looking for a space to play or practice. Mr. Parthasarathy emphasizes the club's dedication to promote basketball as a sport of upliftment, which is reflected in its accessible fee, ranging from ₹800-1000—much less than other sports clubs.

YOHO: Empowering Women Through Sport

One of the club's most beloved initiatives close to Mr. Parthasarathy's heart is their "special batch" of mothers and homemakers, who are given coaching between 11am to 12 noon everyday. Called 'YOHO' for 'young homemakers', the idea for such an initiative emerged from mothers requesting the coaches for training when they dropped off their children to the court. Mr. Parthasarathy believes, in this context, that "once the woman has sent her child off to school, packed lunch for her husband, and taken care of her in-laws, only then she is free...". He urges that women be provided with opportunities such as this, that help them reclaim time for themselves, engage in the sport, and learn something new. The women coaches at Beagles and the fact that girls make up 40% of their students point to a growing inclusion in the sport.

Building a Community Ecosystem

Embodying a love that is simple, yet palpably deep, the club engages with the game in a way that creates a supportive ecosystem both within and beyond the court. Beagles encourages every child enrolled in their coaching program to play with a basketball of their own. To make this an easy process for parents and support local businesses, Beagles has partnered with a basketball manufacturing unit that offers them at reduced prices. Further, jerseys and bibs are made by local tailors, while tournaments bring in collaborations with snack and water vendors. From coaches and support staff to vendors and suppliers, Beagles has been able to generate employment for over 100 people—this, Mr. Parthasarathy believes has not happened "because of the club", but has fallen into place in a neighborhood that thrives on communal support and engagement.

A Lifetime in the Game

Mr. Parthasarathy, in his articulation and humility, represents a great history of sport excellence that Malleswaram is largely recognized for. Being one of Bangalore's most respected players, he fondly recalls how his cousin encouraged him to try basketball simply because he was tall. That basketball would become a lifelong passion for him was an unimaginable reality—a sense of "intoxication" for the game, as he describes it. His newfound interest in computers much later, brought about the same feeling. He stands by his philosophy of "location is your vocation", meaning that joy in your work is what always drives lasting success. Having captained college and state teams for 18 years and playing in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), he was also honored with the Karnataka Olympic Association award by Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in 2024. These achievements are a testament to this philosophy and his brilliant journey as a sportsman.

A Living Legacy

Beagles Basketball Club stands today as an amalgamation of encouragement, growth, and community. Its presence emulates a nurtured love for the game that sparks enjoyment while carving a path forward—marking a significant space of memory and legacy in Malleswaram. To talk about the story of Beagles without any mention of early Malleswaram would be an incomplete conversation, as the club has grown alongside the community. Still bustling, the streets—once lined with trees and huge bungalows—have seen considerable transformation. Many generational homes have been replaced by modern apartments and roads such as Sampige and Margosa, treasured for the trees that once lined them, now have noticeably fewer of them. For someone like Mr. Parthasarathy who has grown up witnessing these shifts, this is a reflection of the broader evolution of the neighborhood. Yet, amidst this change, Beagles Basketball club continues to carry forward the spirit of Malleswaram—through stories and memories that linger, even if faintly, in its people and places; a living memory of the neighborhood's history.

Sources:

malleswaram.org

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