Cotah Ramaswami, better known as Cota or Cotar was a sports personality who represented India in both cricket and tennis during the regime of British Empire in India. Cotah Ramaswami was born on 16th June 1896, in Madras (now called Chennai). He showed his talent in every sports arena at that time.

Cotah Ramaswami was hailed from one of the leading sports families in India. He was the youngest son of Buchi Babu Naidu. Buchi Babu Naidu was often considered the father of Indian cricket in Madras (now called Chennai). His two brothers, son and four nephews all played first class cricket in national scenario.

Early Life of Cotah Ramaswami
Cotah Ramaswami studied in Wesley High School, Wesley College and the Presidency. On one instance while at Wesley, he put on more than 200 runs for the last wicket to win a match after his team was 50 for nine, himself scoring 188. When the only brother of his mother died young, Cotah Ramaswami was given in adoption to his maternal grandfather, which led to his family name being different from that of his brothers. Later, Cotah Ramaswami joined Cambridge University in 1919 where he studied until 1923. In the summer of 1920, Cotah Ramaswami won singles the Doherty Cup tournament open to all students in the university. Cotah Ramaswami won a "half blue", an award that year, representing Cambridge University in the doubles, and earned a blue in 1921. On a tour of Holland, Cotah Ramaswami won the singles and the doubles, partnering S. M. Hadi, who is another first class cricketer of British ruled colonial India.

Tennis Career of Cotah Ramaswami
In 1922, Cotah Ramaswami represented India in the Davis Cup with Dr. A. H. Fyzee and A. A. Fayzee. India defeated Romania in the first round at Bristol but lost to Spain in Beckenham. Cotah Ramaswami played only in the doubles partnering Dr. Fayzee and won both his matches. In 1922, Ramaswami took part in Wimbledon, reaching the second round. Cotah Ramaswami is one of the two Indian cricketing double internationals, the others being M. J. Gopalan. Cotah Ramaswami returned to Madras (Chennai) in January 1924 and joined the Agricultural Department as an Officer. He served in different parts of the Madras Presidency in the next 24 years.

Cricket Career of Cotah Ramaswami
Cotah Ramaswami had his appearances in two Test matches in global cricket hemisphere. He came to England in 1936 when he was already 40. He played well there, and thus opened his cricket career in test matches. He wrote later in his autobiography that he was picked for non-cricketing reasons. Though well past his prime at the time, he scored 40 and 60 on debut and ended his career with an average of 56. Cotah Ramaswami was a left-handed batsman and an attacking player. Ramaswami played for Hindus against Arthur Gilligan`s MCC team in 1926-27 and scored 83 against Jack Ryder`s Australian Services XI in 1935-36. Later, after his retirement from Indian Cricket, Cotah Ramaswami served as a selector and manager to the Independent Indian team to West Indies in 1952-53.

Book by Cotah Ramaswami
Cotah Ramaswami wrote his autobiography "Ramblings of a Games Addict", which is known as one of the earliest autobiographies in Indian cricket.

Personal Life Cotah Ramaswami
Cotah Ramaswami married Lakshmi Chaya Devi in 1928. He had two sons, Ram Swarup and Lakshman Swarup, and a daughter, Shantha Devi. Ram Swarup represented Madras and Andhra in first class cricket. Cotah Ramaswami left his home in Adyar on the morning of 15 October 1985 and never returned.