During our journey China wholesale Purification Product through the Kotturpuram Bridge, many of us might have stopped vehicles just to have a glimpse of the training at the Madras Boat Club (MBC) and enjoy its beauty. We have a lot of women rowers who represent MBC in national-level competitions. People consider it a rich man’s game. Being the present captain, I feel there should be strict measures to clean up the Adyar river.The current captain James Joseph, who is busy with the ongoing activities, is excited about the last leg of celebrations.Rabindranath Rao, the organiser of the MB&C, says, “It’s been ten years since we conducted the Merchant and Bankers regatta. Out of 50 kids who participate, at least 20 come back to become student members and continue their journey with the club. Thrilled about the club’s 150th year celebrations, the current captain, organisers and members talk about their memories and the boat club culture that has evolved over the years.

One of the upcoming high-profile regattas is the Merchants, Bankers & Clubs (MB&C) regatta to be held on June 24. The second oldest rowing club in India, the MBC is now in its 150th year celebrations!Established in 1867, MBC has been part of the famous Madras-Colombo regatta, the oldest inter-club regatta in the world and Amateur Rowing Association of the East (ARAE) regattas — boat races — from the beginning.James started rowing at the MBC from 1985 and has won gold and silver medals for several national boat races. Over the years, the idea of rowing has changed.“I am passionate about rowing and the boat club is like my second home. It’s the club’s 150-th year and we have decided to revive it. We do have summer camps for children. “To be frank, the water wasn’t clean back in 1972 either! But it has become better over the years. When I started off, it was mainly a men’s sport and only a few women could be spotted rowing.”One of the senior members of the club, Rabindranath started rowing way back in 1972. Located by the river Adyar, the Madras Boat Club is one of the main historic landmarks of Chennai. We have rechristened Merchants & Bankers to Merchants, Bankers & Clubs Regatta.. I feel good meeting old acquaintances and staff at the club. We will be ending the celebration this July with an international regatta,” he says.James JosephShe also says that unlike before, the boat culture in the city has changed for the better — “Rowing has become a favourite sport among the city peeps, with a lot of events happening at the MBC. Also, there are very few merchants and bankers who are interested. The training fee for children is very nominal. If the captain feels I am fit and in good form, I can be a team member,” she smiles.We quiz Rabindranath about how the members cope up with the polluted Adyar river.

“I am happy the way MBC has evolved over the years.”Another member Sumana Narayanan can’t pass a day without rowing and it has now become a part of her life. With the progressing scenario, we have decided to welcome clubs like Gymkhana Club, Andhra Club and Yacht Club to name a few. Also, I am looking forward to the Madras-Colombo Regatta, to be held in July. Once in a while, the Corporation workers and individual organisations do clean the river,” he says. But I beg to differ.”Some of the regattas that take place at the boat club are 100 years old and have a great history. “We are in the last phase of celebrations and all the members are thrilled about the upcoming tournaments. My mother and four of my aunts rowed and represented the club for Madras-Colombo Regatta a couple of times,” says Sumana, who works with an NGO in the city. In the last few editions of M&B, none of the companies that participated were old established corporate firms, but from advertising and IT industries. It’s high time we save the river and should stop encroachments,” he concludes. But over the years the concept of ‘Merchants & Bankers’ has evolved into other forms of commerce. “Currently, I am training one of the MB&C teams. Now I’m back in the city and have been part of MBC for four years.

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