Club by city’s biz community celebrates 80 yrs of ‘desi’ pride
Times of India | 19 February 2025
12 Kolkata: A club set up by the business community in Kolkata in the 1940s, when all other city clubs were either dominated by the British or had a British influence, has turned 80.
Hindusthan Club on Sarat Bose Road, which now boasts 3,000 members, nearly all of them Marwaris and Gujaratis, was first mooted in 1945. The club was established in a bungalow on Lansdowne Road, now Sarat Bose Road, on Feb 18, 1946. In 1990, the club purchased the property on which it was situated. Around 2000, the old building was demolished, and a 10-storey club was constructed in 2003 to house various sporting and cultural facilities on different floors.
"Despite being a vertical club, we have a swimming pool, squash court, pickleball court, badminton court, table tennis room, a cricket facility in the parking lot at night, and indoor games like billiards, pool, and darts. The sports arena has been completely redeveloped. We also have a new fitness, zumba, and yoga centre and a revamped gym. Floor-by-floor, we are transforming the club into a modern and vibrant facility," said club president Rishabh C Kothari, who is the president of the new committee that calls themselves the ‘Change-Makers'.
While undertaking the transformation in the physical infrastructure, the committee says it will make its cultural activities even more vibrant. "We had 80 programmes in the club in the past four months," pointed out Kothari. The Hasya Kavi Sammelan on Holi evening is one of the highlights in the club calendar, as is Diwali night. Still rooted in tradition, Hindusthan Club is the only club where onion and garlic have never been used in the vegetarian cuisine it serves.
Speaking at the club's function to mark its 80th anniversary, mayor Firhad Hakim congratulated the club members and said it was an honour to be a part of this celebration. "A club is more than just a place; it is a home away from home. It is where people come together, unwind from stress, and rejuvenate in the company of like-minded individuals. Hindusthan Club embodies this spirit, offering top-notch amenities that provide a fresh start every day. It is truly a pride of Kolkata to have such a distinguished institution in our city," he said.