Prior to Madras (Chennai) Port began its maritime operation in 1872, there were a few individuals and their families dedicated to providing services to the ships calling at this Port. The services provided to the steamships calling at the roads of Madras Port then ranged from providing labour for unloading and loading from and into the ships, catering to the chandling and bunkering requirements and also facilitating as interpreters between the locals and the ship crew which lead them to being called as 'Ship Dubash'
Two such Dubash families were that of Sri.P.Mukunda Naidu and Sri.Ramanjulu Naidu, who were providing services to the ships calling under the agencies of M/s. South India Export Co. and M/s. Parry & Co., respectively. In course of time as business developed they become pioneers in this field under the stewardship of Sri.R.Krishnaswamy Naidu and Sri. T.D.Radhakrishna Naidu.
The services rendered by these Dubashes were to some of the famous lines of yesteryears like American Mail Line, American Express Line, Indian Natal Line (a division of Bank Line).
In order to regularise and streamline these services, the government framed a policy on licensing of stevedores, which was introduced in 1951. On April 10th 1951, three like minded individuals viz., Sri.R.Krishnaswamy Naidu, Sri.T.D.Radhakrishna Naidu and Sri.A.D.Baboo Rao joined hands and formed a firm under the name and style of The United Stevedores
The firm progressed and achieved fame under the aegis of Sri. R. K. Varadhanarayana and Sri T. R. Ramakrishna, the sons of Sri.R.Krishnaswamy Naidu and Sri. T.D.Radhakrishna Naidu respectively.
Infact, Sri. R. K. Varadhanarayana was one of the founders of Madras Dock Labour Board in 1956, when the regulation of employment of dock labourers came into force. Sri R.K.Varadhanarayana was a stalwart in this field, who served as the President, Administrative Body of the Madras Dock Labour Board and as the longest serving member of its Board. He was also a member of the committee constituted by the Government of India, which was instrumental in framing the datum for various cargoes handled in this Port.
