Bengal Rowing Club 4.4

The Bengal Rowing Club, located in Kolkata, India, is one of the most famous rowing clubs in India. The club was founded by GD Birla, on the site of a former lakeside bank, on 25 August 1929.The club's membership includes Indian business leaders and sportspersons.HistoryFoundationThe foundation stone of the Bengal Rowing Club club was laid on 25 August 1929. It took 6 years to finish constructions and finalise arrangements. The sports club was opened to its members in 1935. The club came to notice for its casual attire rules and intake of women members, which was in stark contrast to some of the other British clubs around the city. This was a sign of Indians uniting to non-cooperate with British raj rules and establish their own rules.The club was called the Marvari Rowing Club because club facilities were initially intended for people who had travelled from Rajasthan, as traders, to Kolkata. These traders are referred to as Marvaris .BackdropWhen Kolkata was swept over by a wave of westernization during the 1920s, the community’s loyalty to their traditional life-style gave them the look of a close-knit society. At the same time, a need was felt for a common platform for exchange of ideas. So the progressive men of the community came together to form a Club – ‘The Marvari Rowing Club’.Important EventsInitially, the Club functioned out of the residence of its first Secretary Sri Kanai Lalji Jatia, a situation that repeated itself during the Second World War when the Club was shifted to the residence of a member. Under the guidance of its first President Sir.B.D.Goenka and other founding members, the Club slowly built for itself a trustworthy reputation.During the second half of the Second World War (1942–1945), the club premises were requisitioned by the army and all club activities were stalled.