Being at the helm of an iconic club is no mean feat. Very few can do it with panache. But this came easily to Anil Mukerji, who was the CEO and managing member of the historic Tollygunge Club – fondly known as ‘Tolly’ – for 14 years. As Anil’s tenure comes to an end, he sits down with Esha Dutta – close friend and long-time Tolly member – to look back on his incredible journey for My Kolkata.
Esha Dutta: How satisfying has your role at the helm of an institution as iconic as Tollygunge Club been?
Anil Mukerji: Every journey has its highs and lows. I have had a very chequered life, and the past 14 years have been a milestone for me. They have marked me forever. It’s been a wonderful journey!
When you think about these past years, do you have any regrets? Is there anything you would have done differently?
Everybody has regrets. I do, too. I have made a few mistakes, but there has never been a lack of integrity of purpose. I feel satisfied that I made no mistakes without trying my best. I have failed, but as we all know, failure is a part of success. So it’s okay!
Esha Dutta and Anil Mukerji enjoy a cup of tea at the South Verandah of the Tollygunge Club
Udita ChakrabortyThe animals at Tolly have been an intrinsic part of the fabric of the club, and could always count on your support. Tell us about your association with them over the years….
The animals at Tolly mean a lot not just to me, but also to my family. Ever since I was a young man, Tolly’s friendliness towards animals and the bond it shares with other life forms have been quite unique. It gives you a sense of belonging, and makes you feel like you are, in a small, microcosmic way, a part of a larger universe. The animals at Tolly are some of the best things that have happened to me and to my family.
Can you comment on some of the new features/additions to the club that came to fruition during your tenure? What were some of your most important contributions?
I never did anything on my own; I was always a part of a larger team. I think that being a part of the team that restored this beautiful building (the Tolly Clubhouse) was probably the most satisfying for me. If anything is to last forever, it will probably be this iconic building. It typifies and stands for what Tolly is all about.
I also think that being a part of the team that did the water recycling and resourcing is close to all our hearts. In fact, this would be close to the heart of anyone who has half a mind, because the ecological preservation of Tolly – and, indeed, the planet we inhabit – is of utmost importance. And here, we are moving in the right direction. Perhaps, we will eventually become carbon positive! We have certainly taken the first step.
What thoughts would you like to share with your successor?
Brigadier V. Ganapathy (Retd) is a fine man. He comes from a very old Indian Army regiment – Gorkha regiment – which has some old traditions. I think he will do a great job. The processes of the club are easy to understand, but if there was anything I could tell him, I would say that it is important to be sensitive to the dynamics of the club – what it stands for, its culture, and the sensitivity of the members. Being able to loop all that into one’s work as CEO would make all the difference. Understanding the dynamics, being sensitive to them, and managing the processes – these are key.
Anil Mukerji at the iconic Tolly Greens
Udita ChakrabortyShare with us some of your thoughts on the young people who have joined the club and their potential for Tolly’s future.
These clubs as institutions were typically British. When the British left, the Indians who were at the helm of affairs seamlessly moved into their place. They mostly belonged to the military or civil services. There was no real change except for the complexion of the skin. You had to be born into that class in order to be a member of these institutions.
That glass bubble has broken. The new and younger India has taken their place. These young people come from different backgrounds, and they come with new energy and aspirations. Twenty years ago, you didn’t hear Hindi music at Tolly. Today, it is integral to us. Bengali theatre was something unheard of; today, it is integral to us. We also host jazz and rock concerts, and the very best of us come here for these events. So, it is a great fabric of what India is – the young people are from varied homes and backgrounds, and it brings colour to the club. I hope we don’t lose that colour.
The club is not just a leisure centre. It is to be treated like a home, and there is a kind of emotional involvement to it. There has to be that passion and involvement. The building, the people, and even the trees matter. To be a stakeholder in all of that is bigger than just being paying guests.
Finally, are you looking forward to a less stressful, less hectic life now?
I think stress is a state of mind. You can be with or without stress under any circumstances. I am looking forward to a different kind of life now. I have enjoyed my time here, but the time has come to move on!
Two other members of the Anil friends’ club at Tolly – Aniruddha ‘Tony’ Roy Chowdhury, and Sumantra ‘Sumo’ Dutta – had a couple of questions for him as well!
Anil Mukerji, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and Sumantra Dutta with their friends at Tolly
Courtesy: Aniruddha Roy ChowdhurySumo: After 14 glorious years, now that you are moving on, what will you miss most at the Tollygunge Club?
I will miss the environment and the ambience. I will also miss my friends. I am very close to my friends, including you and Esha. We were a special bunch, and we will continue to be a special bunch. Tolly brought all of us together, and that is going to be missed a lot.
Tony: So what will happen to our morning addas?!
As you know, we are the ‘Aam Adda Party’! (laughs). We have to continue the tradition, only it won’t be a seven-days-a-week adda party. But let me reassure you, Tony, that our addas will go on, and they will be as exciting as they were before!
