symbols-of-apartheid-gymkhanas-must-be-shut-down

The Government of India has been quite late in deciding to redeem the 27 acres of precious and prime land in the heart of Delhi, known as Gymkhana Club. There is understandable rage among the entitled and the privileged who are using this prime facility at a nominal price.

 

Imagine, the land worth Rs 6000 crores being left at the “exclusive discretionary” use of about 5000 super-privileged members, most of whom have inherited the membership, just because their fathers were the members. From the current practice, it will mostly be the children/ successors of the existing members who will be entitled to the “elite membership”.

 

This reminds of the “no go zones” for the non-whites during the apartheid regime in South Africa or the segregated spaces in the United States. Other than the privileged members of such clubs, no one else can visit these, leave aside availing any services there.

 

Thankfully, it is only the select few affected “members” who are voicing their anger and outrage over the closure of the club. Unlike most of the other decisions of the Modi government, this one is being hailed even by his staunchest critics, and rightly so. Providing exclusive and super-luxury privileges to a select group of people at the cost of the state exchequer is outrageous.

 

That the Gymkhana Club survived so far, is because most of its members are from the elite and omnipotent civil services, which again is the burdensome colonial legacy India is carrying on with.

 

The Delhi Gymkhana Club was set up in 1913 by the British government, after the capital of the country was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. The membership was exclusively restricted mostly to the British civil servants and military officers.

 

The British had founded these clubs all across the British India in important cities and district headquarters. These were meant for exclusive and segregated socialising by the British officials amongst themselves. The tradition continued even after the independence of the country. Membership of such clubs is still a craze as it accords social status to the members and it provides a forum for liaising with people who matter.

 

The Gymkhana Club provides ultra-luxurious facilities like gym, swimming pool, sports, stay and also social gatherings, including weddings, exclusively allowed to the members.

 

An overwhelming majority of these members can now easily afford such luxuries at private facilities also. There may indeed be some senior members who may not afford such luxuries elsewhere, but there are million others who also cannot. That does not mean that the government provides them with such luxuries on huge subsidies.

 

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Places like the Gymkhana and other such clubs, particularly golf clubs, spread across the nook and corner of the country, are not the symbols of heritage, but of segregation and apartheid. The membership of these clubs is highly restricted. The waiting list is too long and may take around 30 years for someone to become a member. Entry to the club is by membership only. No non-member can ever enter the premises unless s/he is sponsored by a club member.

 

Although such privileges should have been done away long back, given that the interests of the babus and bureaucrats were at stake, it was virtually impossible to do. While during the British Raj the Indian Civil Services served and watched the interests of the British, in the post-independent era and India, the civil services mainly watched their own interests.

 

It will be interesting to watch how the government will manage to take back the club premises as it will mean stirring the hornet’s nest. Some prominent names and opinion makers who have direct interest in the Gymkhana Club have already started a campaign that it is part of India’s heritage and this must be preserved. The fate of about 600 employees working the club is also being made as a ruse against shutting down the club. The government can always accommodate such employees elsewhere.

 

Hopefully, the government remains firm in its decision to get the premises vacated and restored. Although the government has spelt out the purpose of redeeming the space for defence and security purposes, it can also utilise the space for public interest by developing a park, sports complex or even a hospital which can provide services to common people, unlike right now when it serves a luxurious purpose to a select few privileged people who have always claimed it as a matter of right and entitlement.

 

There is a sprawling Golf Course in the heart of Delhi spread across 200 acres of prime land. The Golf Course again is accessible to members only. Interestingly, hardly any professional golfers emerge from these golf courses as it is mostly retired bureaucrats and businessmen who relish the luxury of golfing at the cost of the state exchequer.

 

The government must also redeem the Golf Course land and better develop a public park with sports facilities for aspiring sportspersons instead of leaving such precious land for the luxury of a few retired people who have nothing else to do. There, of course will be strong resistance, as great vested interests will be hurt. But India cannot allow “exclusive” spaces for a select few at the cost of state exchequer. It is apartheid paid by the government. It must end. Right away.