How Duleepsinhji was Called “Smith”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 827, 22 November 1929, Page 7

How Duleepsinhji was Called “Smith”

JOKE AT CAMBRIDGE FAMOUS BATSMAN’S NAME Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji. the young Indian batsman with the English cricket team, laughingly explained t«> a •'Melbourne Herald” interviewer how he came to be known as ■‘Smith.'* Me said that the nickname was "ccnjerred” on him as a joke live or si>. years ago by fellow undergraduates at Cambridge University. Duleepsinhji is a nephew of ti*<% famous K. ?■?. llanjitsinliji ("Ranji' > who is now Jam of Xawanagar, India When first asked why he had adopted the name of **ssniith/’ the young Indian asked to be excused. 'I have two friends waiting for me to go out to tennis, and you wouldn't have me keep them waiting, wouid you?” he said. At the suggestion that barrackcrs. would probably refer to him as “Smithy/’ Duleepsinhji laughed. After further questioning he said: "I did not choose the name of ‘Smith ’ They gave it to me live or six years ago at Cambridge University, and there it is. I suppose that was their joke.” How to Pronounce It Regarding the pronunciation of his name, Duleepsinhji said: ‘Tt is pronounced as it is spelt—Du-leep-sinhji —but I do not leap.” He had not received cricket tuition from his uncle, the great ‘•Ranji/’ he said, but he had always been fond of cricket. The initials K. s?.. which precede hi* name and also preceded that of Ranj;isinhji. do not stand for Christian names, but for the Indian title. "Kura.^r