Bombay Gymkhana
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2016: Permanent membership for senior officials rejected
The Times of India, Jun 15 2016
Namita Devidayal & Nauzer K Bharucha
Bombay Gymkhana rejects officers as members
One of the Mumbai's most elite clubs, the 140-year-old Bombay Gymkhana, has failed to carry through a controversial proposal seeking permanent membership for senior government officials. The issue has raked up ageold debates about privilege, exclusivity and changing times. The resolution, put to vote, was rejected despite a majority of the members voting in favour of offering a new category of “ordinary membership“ to bureaucrats above a certain rank.Although 67% of the total votes were in favour of the reso lution, the number fell short of the 75% required for it to sail through. Of the 414 votes polled, as many as 280 were in favour of the proposal. Since this constituted 67.6% of the total votes polled, the resolution could not be passed with the “requisite majority“.
The proposal had started a fierce debate within the club with some members alleging it was only meant to keep influential officers in good humour. There have been allegations that some senior bureaucrats have been surreptitiously arm-twisting exclusive private clubs in the city for permanent membership, which would allow them to use the club's facilities even after retirement from their public posts.
Most of these clubs like the Bombay Gymkhana are situated on land leased by the state government. It is learnt that the club's land lease has already expired and members fear the government may put some stringent conditions to renew it. Other issues that have concerned the club are pending permissions for repairs as well as the facility for pavement parking.
Some members who attended the meeting said that the managing committee chairman Darius Udwadia made an impassioned plea citing the survival of the club as well as the need to create “an environment of engagement“. He spoke about how the club had changed its membership policies from the time it had started and must continue to do so to stay relevant.
“I hope that the club will not face any adverse repercussions as a result of this vote,“ said a long-term member of the club, referring to many of the repair permissions that are pending. “The bottom line is that the land belongs to the government and the lease is up for renewal.“
Another member said, “They should have considered having an open house where the managing committee just diplomatically allows a couple of powerful bureaucrats in at their discretion, as honorary members. When government officials get rejected from membership, they may put spokes in the wheel. They cannot do it openly . So it's their subtle way of pulling their weight.
