Bombay Gymkhana?

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My friend mentioned the Bombay Gym. What kind of club is it? also how much does it cost to join and be a member? and last what kind of people belong there? Thanks for the help.

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Located on a prime site on Azad Maidan in South Mumbai and offering the finest sporting facilities to its members, the Bombay Gymkhana has had as fascinating a history as that of the city of its birth.

Until the restructuring of the Fort area in the 1860s after the demolition of the ramparts, the foreshore beaches and maidans of the city, such as the Bombay Green and the Esplanade formed the core of Bombay's social and sporting life. The maidans were popular venues for a variety of sports and especially cricket. The British had their Hunt and gymkhanas, swimming, yachting and racing clubs but had no formal club-houses.

In 1872, a decision was taken to amalgamate the activities of several sporting clubs such as the hockey, football, golf, cricket, gun and boat clubs into one association and, as an early brochure published by the Club decreed, "to offer young sportsmen of small means the opportunity of indulging their proclivities at a minimum cost to themselves and at a maximum production of enjoyment to the general public". The establishment of the Club was largely due to the steadfast efforts of Captain Ernest Lindsay Marryat and Lieutenant Carmichael Light Young.

The historic meeting of members of the various clubs to formally establish the Bombay Gymkhana was held on 19 June, 1875 in the offices of W Nicol & Company. The first President of the club was Justice Sir Lyttleton Bayley of the Bombay High Court, who served in this capacity for the following 20 years until his retirement in 1894. Social status and an interest in sports were important criteria for membership and 200 gentlemen were enrolled as the first members of the new Club.

Permission was obtained from the authorities to erect on the Parade Ground (now Azad Maidan) close to the site where the Cricket club tent was formerly pitched, a pavilion of such construction "as will admit of easy and speedy removal". The site was to be relinquished at short notice from the Government. A Swiss chalet style club house and pavilion were designed by John Adams and completed in 1876 at the southern end of the Maidan near the apex of the triangular piece of open ground on the Esplanade near the junction of Waudby Road with Esplanade (Mahatma Gandhi) Road. The opening was celebrated in style with a Members' Dinner.

Ironically, of the total cost of Rs.18,625 for the construction of the building, which was primarily raised by subscriptions and donations from Members, the Parsi philanthropist, Sir Cowasji Jehangir voluntarily contributed Rs.1,000 for furnishings although he could never enter the clubhouse, since membership was then only open to Europeans.

In 1876, the Boat Club was incorporated with the Bombay Gymkhana. During the year the Bombay Government gave the Club permission to enclose the triangular piece of land to the south or back of the pavilion. A part of this land was used as a lawn tennis court and outdoor gymnasium Lawn Tennis was also played on the lawns fronting the pavilion. A part of this land was used as lawn tennis court and outdoor gymnasium / Lawn Tennis was also played on the lawns fronting the pavilion.

1877 was the momentous year during which the Club's colours - Black and Gold - were selected and adopted. In the same year a cement flooring for a skating rink was laid on the plot of land behind the clubhouse. Permission and sanction were obtained from the Commander-in-chief and the Government of Bombay to enclose a plot of about 5000 square yards on the Maidan immediately in front of the pavilion, which had until then been used for lawn tennis. The tenure of the land, however, was insecure as it was returnable on seven days' notice. In 1880 a bowling green was laid down in part of the enclosure. The skating rink was converted into a court for what was then popularly known as 'Indian lawn tennis'. The year 1882 saw the completion at a cost of Rs.33,500 of the Racquet or Squash courts on a plot of land close to the pavilion. Three years later, in 1885 a long lease of the site was obtained at a cost of Rs.6,175. In the earlier year, 1884, the grass lawn tennis courts were converted into metalled or gravel courts while the old skating rink was slightly set back. Permission was also obtained to enclose a further stretch of the Maidan on which more courts were laid out. Badminton, which was becoming increasingly popular was played in the central hall of the pavilion.

In the tenth anniversary year, 1885, the Club Custodian, Cowasjee Dhunjibhoy, fondly known as Talkajee, died and was succeeded by Pestonjee Eduljee who served for several years. The Pavilion was enlarged during the year and several 'Smoking Concerts' were given here by the newly established Glee Club. In the next year, two new metalled courts for lawn tennis were laid out and another in 1887. In 1888 the Boating Raft at Apollo Bunder was scraped and in 1890, a brand new boat shed was duly constructed at Mahim for the Members to practice their oarsmanship in the smooth waters of Mahim creek but was moved to Bandra two years later. In 1892, new golf links were also laid out at Pali Hill in Bandra. Within the pavilion premises, the game of badminton gave way to gymnastics and boxing which had become more popular. In 1894, Government sanctioned enclosure of the cricket pitch with a removable fence and the agreement for the tenure of the land occupied by the Club was put into writing.

In 1895, further additions were made to the pavilion by adding a bar room and lounge between the members dressing room and the existing bar room. A decade later the bar was moved again to the central hall of the pavilion and the vacated extension was converted into a billiards room. This extension unfortunately collapsed in 1907, seriously injuring some members in the process.

By the turn of the century, the Club had become one of the most popular recreational and sporting centres in the city. Among the amenities offered to members within the pavilion was a refreshment room and bar and dressing rooms, while the rest of the ground was occupied by a bowling green, tennis courts and a garden, with an excellent cricket pitch laid out on the Maidan. Football and boating clubs were also affiliated to the club, while golf, horse-riding and polo were popular games with the members, played on the vast Maidan. Since its inception and under its auspices, rugby, football, tennis and racquet tournaments, athletic and sporting meetings were held annually. The Club was also entrusted with the management of the Presidency Cricket matches held each year and the Aga Khan Hockey Tournament from 1896 - the year that a serious plague epidemic broke out in the city.

Meanwhile, membership had increased from 601 in 1884 (of whom 280 were resident) to 1,222 (392 resident) in 1894. Justice Bayley was succeeded as President by Sir Charles Farran, then Chief Justice of Bombay, who died in 1898. The next President, Justice I.P. Russell and the Committee Members took an active interest in all sporting activities in the city. For instance, in February1898 the Honorary Secretary wrote to the City Improvement Trust suggesting that something should be done to make the fine open space of the Oval Maidan, where polo was played twice a week, of more use to the riding public. He pointed out that the ground was badly drained and during the monsoon, no equestrian exercise was possible.

In 1904, membership of the Bombay Gymkhana had increased to 2,261 (445 resident). In July of that year, a member brought to the attention of the Managing Committee the fact that the pavilion erected in the 1870s needed replacement especially due to the increased membership. The Committee took the decision to construct a new, larger pavilion and proposed increase in the monthly subscription from Rs.4 to Rs.5 towards meeting the costs of construction. In 1905 the Committee began negotiations with the Government regarding the tenure of the land. The Club was offered and accepted a 99 year lease of the land, which was then in its exclusive occupation at a rent of around Rs.2000 per annum. At the same time, the architect, Charles Fredrick Stevens, son of the renowned F.W. Stevens, offered his professional services as Honorary Architect of the proposed new pavilion.

The handsome new pavilion completed in 1907 at a total cost of around Rs.88,000, was designed by Stevens as a steel frame structure. Its most attractive feature was a wide and airy verandah which offered a pleasing view of the Maidan. The ground floor housed the dressing rooms, a central hall, a billiards room, a bar and a lounge. On the first floor were the Committee Room, a central lounge, a ladies' cloakroom and a reading room with an adjunct that could be used as a stage. The entire first floor was constructed with movable partitions that could be removed and the space converted into a large concert room or ballroom.

In 1906, a group of members volunteered to form a sub-committee to supervise the running of the refreshment department, on the condition that the catering which had been hitherto contracted, was carried on for the benefit of Club members. The sub-committee functioned efficiently, not only in improved catering, but also in organising Military Bands to play twice a week at the Club and in bettering the Ladies' Evening's entertainment and members were highly appreciative of their efforts. In fact, the income generated by the sub-committee's activities helped to cover the lease rent payable for the entire year as well as the interest on loans taken for the construction of the new pavilion.

In the following year, the Bombay Government authorised the Club to enclose by removable posts and chains, 25 yards of the strip of ground fronting the pavilion with the stipulation that the Club keeps the turf in good order. In the same year, the Managing Committee also undertook proper fencing.

The first ever test match in India was played at the Gymkhana grounds between India and England, which lasted for 4 days beginning on 15th December 1933.

It is pertinent to note that the Gymkhana is listed as one of the Heritage Buildings in Mumbai. The Gymkhana's initial membership consisted of 200 members and has now over the years grown to 5000 members.

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