Jairaj "Jai" Galagali is a California-based technologist who has emerged as one of the foremost archivists of Indian cricket history. Dedicating his Sunday mornings to this passion project, his nonprofit YouTube channel "Jai Galagali," started in 2017, has grown to over 38,000 subscribers with millions of viewers across cricket-playing nations. What began as a personal coping mechanism during a family health crisis has evolved into a significant cultural contribution. Galagali has meticulously restored and contextualized cricket footage dating back to 1948, preserving pivotal moments in Indian cricket history that were previously believed lost to time. His collection includes India's first test victory against England (1952), the inaugural India- Pakistan series (1952), and debut matches of legendary players like G.R. Vishwanath, B.S. Chandrasekhar, and Sunil Gavaskar. For footage lacking audio, Galagali retrofits commentary in his own voice. Galagali's archival work has been recognized in publications like The Hindu and Sportstar, and celebrated by cricket luminaries including Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, and the Pataudi family. Dr. Shashi Tharoor has acknowledged Galagali's contributions, even assisting when his channel faced copyright challenges. Galagali continues to release new discoveries from his collection of 200 newsreels, having shared only about half of this historical treasure to date. His efforts have transcended sport, creating emotional connections across generations and providing viewers with meaningful links to their personal and cultural histories.

About the Talk
"The Accidental Archivist: Epic Moments from India's Forgotten Cricket Footage" In this presentation, Jai Galagali will take the audience on an exploration through India's rich cricket history using his discovery of rare footage once believed to be lost or non-existent. The visual narrative begins with a celebration of cricket's early days from the 1800s at the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club in 1965, then progresses through pivotal moments in Indian cricket from the 1940s to 1983. The presentation will include original footage of legendary cricketers including C.K. Nayudu, Vijay Merchant, Vinoo Mankad, Nari Contractor, Vijay Hazare, Ajit Wadekar, and Tiger Pataudi. It will feature a special documentary on Subhash Gupte with original footage showcasing his exceptional bowling technique.

Galagali will present several historic milestones that shaped Indian cricket: The inaugural India-Pakistan series (1952); India's first-ever test victory (1952). The presentation will explore how these moments contributed to India's cultural identity in the post-independence era and how preserving this visual heritage creates meaningful connections across generations of cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

Preserving history is important as it reminds us of who and what we were and what and how we

have become what we are today – Sunil Gavaskar.