GymKhandan

Fancy clubs can be useful places where powerful people meet, talk and make connections. But a club should change with the times instead of staying stuck in the past.

India still has many exclusive clubs that were started during British rule. That alone is not necessarily wrong. Humans naturally make groups and boundaries — families, neighbourhoods and even countries do that. So a club like Delhi Gymkhana Club having expensive fees and strict entry rules is not the real issue.

The bigger problem is that the club sits on government land and still behaves like a private kingdom for a small group of old families. The British gave the club 27 acres not just for sports and parties, but also so important people could meet and build connections. Back then, it was mainly British officers. But India has changed a lot since then, and so have the people who lead business, culture and society.

Even today, most members are still government officers and defence officials, almost like in colonial times. Where are today’s business leaders, startup founders and creative people who also need places to meet and exchange ideas? Many are missing because membership is tightly controlled and often stays within the same families. Officially, membership is “not inherited.” But in reality, people know that relatives of members often get special treatment and have a much easier path in.

If the club were completely private, like some other clubs built on private land, this would matter less. Private space can make its own rules. But since this club benefits from public land, it should be more open and modern.

Networking — meeting people informally and building trust — is important everywhere in the world. Many big decisions and partnerships begin through casual conversations over lunch or tea. A city like New Delhi, which is full of government offices and businesses, naturally needs places where influential people can connect. Elite clubs can still have value — but only if “elite” includes today’s India, not just old powerful families and officials’ children.