Delhi Gymkhana Showdown Sparks Debate Over Access & Privilege | Elitism & Public Access

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]Rakesh Sinha, you've heard these opening remarks. You've been You've been a supporter of the fact that these clubs need to be taken over. Respond to what you're hearing. There is a new elite already. The new elite, which as Tavleen Singh says, wears watches worth lakhs of rupees, specs worth lakhs of rupees. I mean, who is the elite? Define for me, Rakesh Sinha, who you believe is the real elite that this government is taking on?

[00:00:26]>> No, Rajdeep, we are not against elites or non-elites. We don't want any battle between the elites and non-elites. The debate has something else.

[00:00:34]That is the public good. And I think that Narendra Modi government is rationalizing the club culture.

[00:00:41]It is a question of rationalization. It is not a question of socialism and capitalism. You know, after decolonization, the Indianization, all these debates are going on. But here, as the club is concerned in India, there are 60,000 clubs. There are many exclusive clubs. There's nothing wrong.

[00:00:56]You can have your own rules, your own regulations, your own traditions, your own membership criteria. But in democracy, you have to go by the preamble of the constitution. That liberty, equality, and justice. You cannot impose hereditary things in the club. Next thing, 70 76 acres of 27,000 crores cost of the land. And over here, almost 750 JJ cluster, Juggi Jhopdi cluster. Almost 30% of the lights are the slum dwellers.

[00:01:26]>> So, then No, but you're not going to put with due regards You're not going to put slum dwellers where where the Delhi Gymkhana exists. 27 acres of land is not going to be given to slum dwellers.

[00:01:35]>> No, no, no. No, no, no. It is Rajdeep, it's not a black and white. If you're rationalizing this, the slum dwellers will go and leave. It's a question of I'm just asking the question what it has it done for the common good of the people? Except enjoying the exclusive luxury. Exclusivity of the uh the is the core of this club. And that who are its members is not a concern.

[00:01:59]Whether they are elites or non-elites, whether they are wealthy people or the retired bureaucrats, question of they are enjoying this 76 acres land.

[00:02:07]>> 27 27 acres land, but that is true of all clubs, sir. Sir, that is true of all clubs. Tomorrow you'll stop Calcutta Club, you'll stop Bombay Gymkhana, you'll stop all the clubs because they're all exclusive.

[00:02:18]>> Rajdeep Rajdeep Rajdeep Rajdeep Allow me to speak. You know, since 1991 to 2011, there's a one deficit in this country that all informal public spaces during the Manmohan Singh regime have eroded. There is erosion of informal public spaces. Pavan Varma must be remembering that in Delhi University or Jawaharlal Nehru University and other university, particularly in in Jadavpur University or Calcutta, informal spaces where people used to sit, deliberate, contemplate. They're good people.

[00:02:47]They're wealthy people, non-wealthy people, students, teachers, and common man. All these spaces have been commercialized since 1991 to 2011. So, we have no public space. And in that area where the 80% people lack the space and there is a special inequality you have imposed in this country, you are enjoying this 76 acres land. So, a public good requires that its rationalization. So, eviction >> So, what would you So, what would you use it as an eviction for? No, no, no, sir, you have made use the word public good four times. What would you use the place for? You are using prime property.

[00:03:20]What will you use it for? To set up another defense headquarters? Is that public good?

[00:03:25]There are enough bhavans across the country.

[00:03:27]>> No, it's it's No, no, in fact, if certain private individuals are enjoying something and something is done for the larger public public interest, whether it's a security headquarter security agencies or or the or some library or something else, it depends on the government. But it definitely it is for the larger benefit of the people and the larger But, in the would be in the larger interest of the people. Second important point here is you see Ras Deep.

[00:03:56]When we go to to to clubs, it it it has certain for the individuals who are members, it is also some some larger utility. What is the larger utility except the 26 green tennis clubs and and and other things in the club? What what is the larger larger utility? Certain people are enjoying this the maximum facilities without any responsibility. So, you have you own the responsibility. I know many clubs who are doing the great job. Have you done anything for the slum dwellers?

[00:04:26]8 to 9 crore rupees per per year this benefit is is profit. It has 76 crores operational cost. 43 crore comes from the tea and other other things and snacks. So, this club cannot be allowed to function as exclusive super India within the India.

[00:04:44]>> Okay, I've got your point.

[00:04:46]I've heard you patiently.

[00:04:49]>> Just as summarizing the Narendra Modi government's social philosophy. Their social philosophy is based on that everything should be done in the interest of the 140 crore people. There should not be segmentation of the people. Certain people who are enjoying since the colonial era a kind of tradition that we are elite we we are monopolizing the things the government is not going to tolerate this.

[00:05:10]>> Okay, that's their social philosophy.

[00:05:11]Sir, I've Sir, I've listened to you now patiently.

[00:05:15]While I've listened patiently, you have said its social philosophy is to cater to the public good even though some believe what we have created in recent times is a billionaire raj where 1% of the population owns 40% of the national wealth. But, I'll come back to that. I want to bring in Yogesh Prasad. Yeah, Major Yogesh Prasad is someone who's been a club member, managing committee member. You're listening that you're listening to the opponent saying that what public good does a club or a gymkhana serve? Simply playing tennis, playing playing squash, these are recreational activities for an exclusive group of people. They don't serve a larger public good, says Rakesh Sinha.

[00:05:53]>> Uh Rajdeep, at the outset, I would like to say that this word elite, I don't know from where it has come.

[00:06:01]It is the the club's constitution clearly states that only half the membership of the club at any point of time will be from the officers of the armed forces of India and the civil servant. The balance of 50% is open to everybody.

[00:06:18]Now, the question about the children.

[00:06:21]There is a specific clause in the articles of association that a child who has used the club as a dependent in the age group of 13 to 21, on reaching the age of 21, if he or she wishes to continue to use the club, must apply for membership. And a nomenclature has been given, and it is called green card.

[00:06:47]Now, if people have objection about the children using the club, I would say we are quite prepared to make changes according to uh the wishes of the government. But how can or with a stroke of pen, you can say that the government takes over the club for this neighbor >> Because the club the club does not the club does not pay market rents. The club is in prime property land close to the prime minister's residence. There's a belief that this could be put to a better public good rather than simply recreation. They'll give you some alternative place.

[00:07:23]>> any case, in any case, the prime minister's residence is moving away from there anyway.

[00:07:29]>> Mhm.

[00:07:30]>> In the last 70 years, no threat has emerged from the Delhi Gymkhana Club. And and Gymkhana Club has very responsible uh members. So, there is no threat to security. I'm afraid I'm not prepared to buy that. As far as Look at Look at the kind of contribution this club has made.

[00:07:51]Whenever Davis Cup matches are held, it is the preferred preference of our players is grass courts. We have the best grass courts outside Wimbledon, maybe the best in the world.

[00:08:03]We have excellent squash facilities. We have produced champions there.

[00:08:08]Uh if you take If you go back to the history, Mr. Sumant Mishra, Mr. Narendra Nath, Mr. Prem Pandey are uh another playing member at the moment is playing for Indian Davis Cup team.

[00:08:23]In squash, we have produced champions.

[00:08:25]We have got uh >> So, you don't you don't accept Okay, I I I've heard you, sir.

[00:08:31]I I've heard you.

[00:08:32]>> It's not that Gymkhana Club is only for pleasure. It is It is It is elitism. It is something which has uh you know, >> So, you don't see yourself as an elite.

[00:08:42]You don't see yourself, Major Saab, as an elite.

[00:08:46]>> Sorry, say again.

[00:08:47]>> Do you see yourself as an elite? Do you see yourself as part of the elite?

[00:08:51]>> think I'm an elite.