(…….. in its 130th year )
In 1860's and 1870's many tea gardens sprang up in Jorhat area
of Upper Assam, which is today the tea capital of the world. The
garden life in the jungle was very dull and lonely and the planters
thought of a club.
Led by J. Huttman (1863-1899), Superintendent of Jorhat Tea Co.
the planters formed the Jorhat Gymkhana Club and the racecourse
in 1876. The original club building, a quaint wooden structure
was in the middle of the racecourse and about 2 km east of the
present club ground. The Assam Light Infantry Brigade also used
this ground as camping and parade ground. For privacy the planters
decided to shift the club premises.
During 1885 the present clubhouse was built by importing material,
masons and carpenters from Calcutta, the British headquarters.
The same attractive building stands even today, resplendent in
its heritage and colourful history of its members.
The first aeroplane ever to land on North East Indian soil was
at the club ground in 1928 to remove an ailing British lady for
treatment at Calcutta.
The Jorhat Gymkhana club was out of bounds for the Indians for
more than half a Century. In 1929 at the Annual General Meeting
the membership of Indians (that too without voting rights) was
passed by a vote of 29 for and 14 against.
Prince Philips, the Duke of Edinburgh, made it a point to visit
the club on 16 December 1960.
The Jorhat Gymkhana Club, after its centenary facelift, with
its golf, tennis, billiards, bridge, race weeks, flower shows,
seasonal balls and, of course, ubiquitous bar gossip is a must
see place when in Upper Assam