Love for Madras, passed down through generations

Chennai, Madras during my growing-up years, is my home and the birthplace of some of my happiest memories. My family, going back to my great-grandfather, has lived and built its businesses here. My grandfather had the honour of serving as the Sheriff of Madras, so this city has been more than a backdrop to our lives; it is woven into our story, as a shared history. As a teenager, I spent countless afternoons at First Division league matches—at Pachaiyappa’s College, IIT Madras, Anna University, and, of course, Chepauk—watching the game in the unhurried, delightfully local way only club cricket can offer. Chennai’s storied journey in promoting tennis drew me into the sport eventually, making me a regular on the courts of the Madras Cricket Club. I came to realise that my love of sport and what I feel about Chennai are inexplicably linked, each reinforcing the other.