JOIN USBangalore Club: 150 and still going strong
Bangalore Club, the elite, British-era club in the heart of the city, released a coffee-table book, postal covers and stamps on Saturday to commemorate its 150th-year celebrations.
Justice (retired) N Santosh Hegde, a former president of Bangalore Club, released the commemorative book entitled ‘Another World’ that traces the club’s history and culture. Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command of the Indian Air Force, Bangalore Club president R Ramakrishnan, vice president Varun Gurjer, immediate past president Girish Punja and others were present on the occasion.
Hegde reminisced about his years at the club and its former members. “I applied for membership in 1969 when I was a young lawyer. Back then, young boys were not much encouraged to join the club. Fortunately, I somehow got the membership and I created best memories here,” he said. “Young boys were not allowed inside the bar back then. I had to spend most of my time in an umbrella bar in the club. But after we turned seniors, we were allowed inside the bar and we made wonderful memories.”
Speaking about the coffee-table book, Punja said it contained valuable information about the history and different aspects of the club. “We have expanded the scope of the book by explaining the relationship between the club and the cantonment. We have recorded every significant event that happened in the past,” he said.
The club has also released a 12-minute video, a logo for the sesquicentennial celebrations and a potpourri of events held over the past few weeks. Ramakrishnan said the club did not take a single paisa from its members for the celebrations. “Over the past two months, we have organised some of the best events by roping in eminent artists and celebrities,” he added.