Is Beige The New Brown?

India's 'exclusive' clubs still can't get over their Raj-era affectations

Is Beige The New Brown?
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Madras Club

  • Applicants have to go through as many as 4-6 meetings with committee members who assess suitability for membership
  • Children are not allowed in the club's main buildings or dining room
  • Especially difficult for politicians and filmstars to get membership
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Delhi Gymkhana
  • Kurta-pyjama and Kolhapuri chappals not allowed
  • Applicants must attend an 'at home' where committee members can size them up. Pak high commissioner could not attend; his membership held up
  • Ayahs, members' domestic servants, cannot enter club buildings
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Calcutta Clubs
  • Dhotis only allowed on Poila Boisakh and Bijoy Sammelan, and then too they mustn't reveal legs above the mid-calf
  • Sandals permitted only if they are "substantially genteel and cover portions of foot and ankle"
  • Kurta-pyjama not allowed (this rules out W Bengal Governor Gopal Gandhi), nor are cargo pants
Bangalore Club
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  • Has a bar reserved for Men Only—it's out of bounds to women members
  • Laptops can’t be used on the club grounds—never mind if Bangalore is India's cyber capital
  • No churidar-kurta. National Law School director, turned away from a Republic Day function, resigned his membership.
  • Only leather shoes, no sports shoes allowed in clubhouse
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Bombay Clubs
  • Willingdon Club: No memberships to Bollywood stars, racehorse owners & jockeys; photography without permission is prohibited; a barefoot M.F. Husain was shown the door when he arrived
  • Bombay Gymkhana: In the dining room, shoes are the norm, chappals not allowed
  • Breach Candy: Once it had a sign saying 'Dogs and Indians Not Allowed'. Now Indians can get in, but the application for membership has to be proposed by a foreign committee member. Still has a special quota for foreigners.

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