Sarada Ranjan Ray: The Pioneer of Cricket in Bengal and the Grace of Bengal

The Bengali middle class, known as the Bhadrolok, has long been a dynamic force in shaping the social and political landscape of the subcontinent. Since the days of the British Raj, this class has been at the forefront of various social movements, from political protests to the cultivation of a distinct sporting culture. Whether advocating for noble causes, engaging in political struggles, or fostering new forms of recreation, the Bhadrolok has consistently played a pivotal role in the evolution of modern Bengal. 

The arrival of the British in India, initially motivated by trade, eventually transformed into a colonial dominance that reshaped the subcontinent. During their leisure time, British soldiers played cricket, a game that would come to have profound implications for Indian society. As the British introduced the game to India, it spread across the subcontinent, gradually becoming embedded in the cultural fabric of various regions. By the eighteenth century, cricket had become an integral part of India’s sporting culture, with regions such as Patiala, Rajputana, Central India, Kashmir, and Bengal all investing time and resources into the game. 

For some, cricket was a tool to gain recognition and favour from the British rulers, a means of assimilation into the colonial system. However, for the Bhadrolok and the Maharajas of Bengal, cricket became more than just a game—it was a platform for resistance. In their eyes, mastering the sport and excelling at it was a way to challenge British supremacy and assert Indian agency. By embracing cricket, the Bhadrolok and the Maharajas played an instrumental role in not only spreading the game throughout Bengal but also in using it as a medium for political and cultural defiance, transforming the sport into a symbol of resistance and pride.

Sarada Ranjan Ray: The Intellectual Architect of Bengal's Cricketing Legacy

Bengal cricket owes much of its early development to the visionary leadership of the Maharaja of Natore, but it also owes a significant debt to the contributions of Sarada Ranjan Ray Chowdhury. Sarada Ranjan, the elder brother of Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury and the paternal uncle of the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, played an instrumental role in shaping the cricketing culture of Bengal. 

Born in the intellectually rich environment of Kishoreganj, a district in present-day Bangladesh's Dhaka Division, Sarada Ranjan Ray grew up in a family renowned for its academic and cultural influence. The Ray family’s intellectual legacy deeply shaped his worldview. Sarada’s early education began in the Minor school, followed by Mymensingh Zilla School, which was then part of Mymensingh before the region was later separated in 1971. 

The economic growth of Mymensingh district outpaced that of Dhaka, leading to the eventual political reorganization that saw Greater Mymensingh split from Dhaka. This regional shift, while politically significant, is secondary to the impact Sarada Ranjan Ray had on Bengal’s sporting landscape. 

After relocating to Dhaka, Sarada Ranjan completed his matriculation and pursued his college education at the prestigious Dhaka College. It was here that his passion for cricket truly flourished. From an early age, Sarada Ranjan was drawn to sports, particularly cricket, at a time when the game was beginning to take root in Bengal. Those who knew him as a young man recall how he would walk along the muddy roads of Katiyadi, bat and book in hand, a symbol of his dual devotion to academics and athletics. 

Cricket was not merely a pastime for Sarada Ranjan Ray; it was a lifelong pursuit that he studied with the same intensity as his academic endeavours. His deep love for the game extended beyond playing—it inspired him to write about it and, more importantly, to spread its reach across the region. His efforts to promote cricket in Bengal were as much about nurturing a sporting culture as they were about fostering a sense of community and pride in the game. Sarada Ranjan’s contributions were foundational, and his legacy in the world of Bengali cricket endures as a testament to his passion and dedication.

Sarada Ranjan Ray: Pioneering Cricket’s Rise in Bengal and Making the Game Accessible

While studying at Dhaka College, Sarada Ranjan Ray, alongside his brothers—Upendrakishore, Muktidaranjan, Kuladaranjan, and Pramadaranjan—founded the Dhaka College Cricket Club. This institution became a crucial space for introducing students to cricket, while simultaneously instilling the importance of physical fitness. During this period, a prevailing belief among the non-Bengali population was that the people of Bengal lacked the physical strength to assert themselves over others. Sarada Ranjan Ray, deeply uncomfortable with this stereotype, set out to challenge it by fostering a culture where Bengal’s youth would prioritize physical conditioning, preparing themselves to counter the criticisms with strength and vitality. His efforts bore fruit, as young Bengalis began to take sports and physical exercise seriously, laying the foundation for the development of a competitive cricket team.

After graduating from Dhaka College, Ray received the prestigious Premchand Scholarship and began studying Sanskrit. However, he did not complete his degree and instead took a position as a mathematics teacher at Aligarh University. Even while teaching, Ray continued to spread his passion for cricket, nurturing the game alongside his academic responsibilities. Eventually, he returned to Dhaka College as a professor, the very institution where he had first ignited Bengal’s cricketing flame.

The fruits of Ray’s early efforts soon became evident when his Dhaka College Cricket team travelled to Kolkata in 1884 to play against the renowned Presidency College. The match, held at Eden Gardens, ended in a historic victory for Dhaka College, which defeated Presidency College. This unexpected loss was not well received by the students and faculty at Presidency, who protested the inclusion of teachers in the Dhaka College team. The skill and experience of Sarada Ranjan and his brothers—Kuladaranjan and Pramadaranjan—had proven too much for the Presidency team to handle.

Sarada Ranjan, initially irked by the protest, voiced his discontent, but the matter was later addressed through negotiations between the British professors at Presidency College and officials from the Calcutta Cricket Club. They persuaded Ray to exclude teachers from his team in future matches. Feeling slighted by this compromise, Ray resigned from Dhaka College in protest.

Following his departure, the esteemed Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar invited Ray to join the Metropolitan Institute as a professor. However, the institution’s financial difficulties led Ray to pursue a different path. In 1895, he founded “S. Ray and Company,” a business selling books and cricket equipment. Ray’s shop, located in Kolkata, sold imported cricket merchandise, including bats and balls, but he made a point of offering these goods at affordable prices, ensuring that the game was accessible to young enthusiasts. The willow used for the bats was imported from Sialkot, and Ray’s factory in Jessore Road began producing affordable cricket bats. These low-cost bats became popular among teenagers, fueling their enthusiasm for the sport. In 1906, Ray’s “Balanced Bat” won an honourable prize at the Kolkata trade fair, further cementing his legacy as a key figure in making cricket more accessible to the masses.

Conclusion

Sarada Ranjan Ray was not only a passionate cricketer but also an astute coach and his coaching prowess did not go unnoticed. The Maharaja of Natore, recognizing his exceptional understanding of the game, enlisted him to coach his cricket team. Sarada’s grasp of cricket’s rules and technical intricacies was unparalleled, positioning him as one of the foremost intellectuals of the sport. He dedicated his life to both playing and imparting the game’s nuances, cultivating a deep appreciation for its beauty among his students and peers. His distinctive white beard often drew comparisons to the legendary W.G. Grace, but the resemblance was not merely physical. Sarada Ranjan Ray was, in fact, the *Grace of Bengal* due to his profound and lasting contributions to the game.

In many ways, Sarada can be regarded as one of the first individuals to introduce and popularize cricket in Bangladesh. His influence extended from his birthplace in Kishoreganj to Mymensingh, and eventually to Dhaka, where his legacy continues to resonate. His teachings laid the foundation for a cricketing culture that would flourish in the eastern part of Bengal, where the sport has become a defining element of the region’s identity. Sarada Ranjan Ray’s enduring impact is felt not only in the history of cricket in Bengal but also in the broader narrative of the game’s evolution in South Asia

Thank You
Faisal Caesar