M. Buchi Babu Naidu

Mothavarapu Buchi Babu Naidu (1868–1908) was an Indian socialite and cricket pioneer who organised cricket clubs for native Indians. He is considered to be the "father of south indian cricket" and founded the annual Madras Presidency Matches, the first of which was held shortly after his death. The annual Buchi Babu Tournament is held in his honour. Two of Naidu's sons, M. Baliah and C. Ramaswami, played for the Indian national cricket team.

Life

Mothavarapu Buchi Babu Naidu was the eldest of five brothers. They were was adopted by his maternal grandfather, Modhavarappu Dera Venkataswami Naidu, a wealthy man who was involved with Parry & Company and who had a high standard of living. Naidu and his brothers were brought up in the English tradition and developed the habits and manners of well-bred Englishmen. Naidu, who loved sports, gained the confidence to treat the English ruling classes of his time as equals.

A good cricketer, Naidu founded the Madras United Club (MUC) to accommodate Indian players in the then Madras Presidency. Until his time, cricket in the area was predominantly an Englishman's game, was dominated by them and was represented by their exclusive, European-members only preserve, the Madras Cricket Club (MCC). He trained those Indian players and when necessary he provided the necessary attire and equipment for promising individuals. He also arranged regular fixtures for them against the MCC, from which evolved the annual Presidency Match. This match was first played in 1908, shortly after his death but as a consequence of negotiations between him and the MCC's Henry King and P. W. Partridge. Subsequently, it was played annually from 1915 to 1952 and was commonly known as the Pongal Match because it was played during the harvest festival week. It was very popular before the introduction of Test cricket and became the Presidency’s biggest fixture until the Ranji Trophy competition was started in the 1930s.

Naidu also challenged the social norms embodied in Madras cricket, such as the rule that forbade non-Europeans from enjoying the comforts of the pavilion during lunch and instead being left sitting under the shade of trees to eat lunch. He was responsible for bringing Ranjitsinjhi to Madras and for sending Chari to England, while the Buchi Babu Memorial Tournament has become a prestigious annual affair, involving India’s top teams.

Legacy

Naidu has become known as the "Father of South Indian Cricket". His dream of having a ground open to everyone for play was the start of the process whereby the Chepauk grounds were freed of the MCC monopoly and, eventually, were leased by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.

He had three children who followed in his cricketing footsteps: Venkatramanujalu, otherwise known as Bhatt, M .Balliah, and C. Ramaswami. The latter was one of the two Indian " Double Internationals". Subsequent generations of the Naidu family played Ranji Trophy Cricket, and two of the family playing at Test level.

References

• Buchi Babu, Buchi Babu (Father of South Indian Cricket) and his sporting clan, reproduced in Suri & Raja (ed), 1993.
• V Ramnarayan, Mosquitos and other Jolly Rovers
• Cricinfo Profile
• Cricketarchive Profile