The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Entertainment

Today's Edition

| Friday , August 8 , 2008 |

Advertise with us

IN TODAY'S PAPER

	Front Page
	Nation
	Calcutta
	Bengal
	Opinion
	International
	Business Stocks Live
	Sports Cricket Live
	Entertainment
	Sudoku
	Crossword Enhanced!
	Jumble
	Gallery
	Horse Racing
	Travel

WEEKLY FEATURES

	Knowhow
	Jobs
	Telekids
	Careergraph
	Personal TT New!
	7days
	Graphiti New!

CITY NEWSLINES

FEEDS

RSS
My Yahoo!



Archives Web

ARCHIVES

Since 1st March, 1999

THE TELEGRAPH

-	About Us
-	Advertise
-	Feedback
-	Contact Us

President Speak
- t2 in conversation with Calcutta Club’s new boss

It’s a busy time for clubs with elections, nominations and annual general meetings. t2 introduces Calcutta Club’s new president Sambhu Mukherjee.

What does Calcutta Club mean to you?
Members always say that the club is a second home but to me it is an extension of my home. Instead of having a cup of tea in my balcony, I have it here at the club. I have been coming to Calcutta Club almost every day if I’m in town. This has been the routine for the past 25 years since I became a member. I have been in the committee for nine years with gaps in between and have served in almost all the departments except library and finance. I’m what you call a grand old fella!

What plans do you have for Calcutta Club this year?
We are a century-old club and I am the first president after the centenary year. One change we would definitely like to bring about is getting younger people into the club. We want to catch them young. But it’s difficult because every club has it’s own branding. We are basically a social club though we have sporting options.

What are you doing to catch the young?
We have to create an atmosphere in order to get them here. The average age of our members was 65-66, five to six years ago. Now it has dropped to 50. Someone who is 40 is called chutku. We may try for a few more functions where we can get the young to come but we have to be careful so that it doesn’t go against the senior members of the club.

Calcutta Club also has a new banquet hall that will open soon…
Yes, it is ready and members can use the new banquet hall for children’s parties or get-togethers. It can easily accommodate around 40 people and has an attached pantry and toilet.

Some special changes in the years that were?

We introduced membership for ladies which was a big move for us. This year too, I want more ladies in the club. In the AGM, there was just one lady. I want more colour in the club and more ladies around me (laughs)! On a serious note, the club also started the scholarship fund for students in the engineering, medical, arts and liberal arts fields. We also had a couple of celebrity guests like Amitabh Bachchan and President Kalam.

Will you get a celebrity guest this year?

If Shah Rukh Khan comes, I shall be very happy!

What is Calcutta Club’s motto for the year that will be?

This year our slogan is “Friendship and fellowship”. We believe that is what the club is all about. Let us bond together and let it be stronger than ever.

KARO CHRISTINE KUMAR