Mothavarapu Buchi Babu Naidu - Father of South Indian Cricket

 

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 Naidu and C. Ramaswami, played for the Indian national cricket team.

Naidu was born in this house

Establishment of Madras cricket club

Madras cricket club, was established in 1846 by sir Alexander j. arbuthnot. Now famously known as Chennai chepauk ground. During buchi babu's days, Indians are not allowed to enter this ground. Only Englishmen men can play in the ground and enjoy the benefits of club. A few Madras peoples are allowed to sit under the tree to watch match and to have food under the tree shade. This kind of behavior irritated the madras people and also increased the fire to show that they were not inferior to English men in playing cricket. However they were unable to do anything as they were ruling us. 

How Buchi babu became Father of madras cricket

'In our land we are not allowed to play' may be this kind of thought might have pondered in buchi babu's mind. Finally founded a solution. Until then, the Chennai chepauk ground which was considered to be only for Europeans, had come to an end. Buchi babu founded the madras united club similar to mcc, for the people who eager play cricket but unfortunately to be only audience. 

He gave training, dress, gloves, pads and everything to the players to look like a good cricketer. Also fixture matches between Indians and Europeans annually. He accomplished this match with cooperation of henry king and p.w.partidge. He planed to play the matches around in mid-January the harvest period, which is the time of pongal festival. So the match popularly known as pongal match and buchi babu named it as presidency match. This how, he later came to know as father of madras cricket.

The first Presidency match between Hindus vs Presidency Europeans

The first presidency match was Hindus vs Presidency europeans match was planned to play between December 29 1908 and January 1 1909. Buchi babu who was to captain Indian side. Unfortunately, shortly before the match babu died due to heart attack. At the young age, his daughter became a widow and subsequently his wife passed away, might have affected babu a lot. However match was played on the fixed day by the efforts of his assistant b. subramaniam. Still it was quit due to rain, with out finishing first innings. In 1909 subramaniam organized annual buchi babu tournament European vs Indian series but for myriad reasons the tournament was played on 1915-1916. This match is considered as the first madras presidency match. Buch bahu's dream came to reality. 

The matches played until 1942. After the Second World War and India independence the match lost its ramp. Till 1956 33 matches played Indian won 15 and Europeans 8 with 10 draws and it came to an end.Buchi babu's sons upheld their father's fame of patron of cricket. His elder son, vekataramujulu referred as bradman of madras. Continuously three generation played cricket. Buchi babu is great Tamil who fetched freedom for cricket from Englishmen.

Indian Debonair Cricketers of bygone era in 1940 , everyone sitting here belong to balija community, that’s the greatness of my community 🔥🔥