Le Kanchees auditorium near the Calicut University campus on Wednesday saw a rare gathering of achievers from different walks of life. They got together to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of a sports personality who brought laurels for Calicut University as its first physical education director.
Even at 90, E.J. Jacob continues to be a celebrity among those who love sports in Kerala. A man with immense experience and multiple foreign degrees, Prof. Jacob is loved by those who cared for sports on campuses. The initiatives he made for promotion of sports on campuses in Kerala were far too many.
Yet, in his own words, he was more sinned against than sinning. In spite of laying a solid foundation for sports in Calicut University and in spite of making Calicut University the best in sports at national level, Prof. Jacob was chucked out of the campus when he turned 55 years of age. Those at Calicut University who brought in a law to expel him at the age of 55 had never foreseen that Prof. Jacob would remain the campus’ most loved sports personality.
