He is considered to be one of the greatest cricketers in Indian cricket history. Politics He was greatly influenced by Gandhian ideology and worked to bring Home Rule to India. In the 1910s, Palwankar Baloo met Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and became his close friend. They admired each other and worked to improve the oppressed communities. However, in 1932, Baloo opposed Dr. Ambedkar's demand for separate electorates for the depressed classes. Later, he also signed the "Rajah-Moonje Pact" in opposition. He described the conversion of oppressed communities to other religions as 'suicidal' when Ambedkar expressed his intention to convert to Buddhism. In 1933, Baloo unsuccessfully contested the Bombay Municipality constituency on Hindu Mahasabha ticket. Four years later he joined Congress and contested the Bombay Legislative Assembly elections against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, but lost. He died in 1955. His funeral was attended by many national leaders as well as cricketers. See also Jim Thorpe Johnny Mullagh Jackie Robinson References Further reading External links Marathi people Indian cricketers Hindus cricketers People from Dharwad 1876 births 1955 deaths Cricketers from Karnataka Indian social reformers Indian human rights activists Dalit activists Dalit politicians Dalit sportspeople Members of the first Indian cricket team to tour England in 1911