social clubs

dhoti

membership fee

Bangalore Club

NLSIU director Mohan Gopal

SUM AND SUBSTANCE OF PROPOSED BILL

MP

MLA

MLC

MEMBERSHIP FEE

Bowring Club

Bangalore Turf Club

Bangalore Golf Club

THE MAN WHO TRIGGERED IT WELCOMES MOVE

* Allshould allow people inor any dress ‘reflecting Kannada culture’* Mandatorily give membership to elected reps* State check onAll was well and rosy with city’s clubbing circuit till 2002 whendenied entry to a high-profile academician, then, because he was dressed in a dhoti-kurta. The Club stood its ground citing its rules ban traditional Indian costumes and got the knickers — not allowed either — of an entire bunch of citizens in a twist. And the debate raged on for years.The issue soon caught the fancy of the elected representatives who pushed hard for relaxations, apart from seeing in it an opportunity to get themselves into the elite social clubs. If, 13 years later, the government has its way — and there is no reason why it should not since all political parties on the same page on this issue — then all social clubs in Karnataka will have to allow people in dhoti or any “dress reflecting Kannada culture’’. The clubs will have to mandatorily give membership to elected representatives and cannot impose a dress code; moreover, the government will have a say on their membership fees.A new bill — The Karnataka Entry into Public Places (Removal of Restriction on Dress and Regulation of Membership and Fee) Act 2015 — has been drafted under Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 and moved by Stamps and Registration Department; the bill plans to rein in social cubs that the political class believes is clinging on to the blasts from the past or the British Raj. The Bill provides for removal of restrictions, imposed by recreation clubs and public places, on persons wearing veshti (dhoti) reflecting 8Kannada culture or any Indian traditional dress to enter into such places and for government to ‘regulate’ the membership fees.The trigger to this move is perhaps the denial of entry by Englishman’s Club, as Bangalore Club is condescendingly termed by a section of the public, to the then National Law School of India University (NLSIU) director Mohan Gopal in 2002 when he arrived in a dhoti-kurta.Soon after, a legislature house committee was formed to go into administration and activities of the social clubs. The committee members who inspected 28 clubs, in a report submitted in 2013 and tabled in legislature, had suggested scrapping of the “dress code” and extending honorary membership to Bangalore MLAs, MLCs or MPs.The Sept 3, 2015 draft Bill explains the idea behind this move: ‘‘It is the fundamental duty of every Indian citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture. Imposing restrictions on persons for entry into public places on the ground that their dress does not conform to western culture, membership and fees would amount to continuation of the colonial attitude. It has become imperative in the context of happenings in the past to remove such restrictions and unreasonable attitude.’’Obviously, the proposal has not gone down well with the clubs which are caught unawares. Many of the managing committee members voiced a similar opinion: “Why doesn’t Siddaramaiah wear dhoti when he goes abroad? Why does he wear a crisp suit? A market and a club are not one and the same. Every institution has certain rules.’’* No person wearing a veshti (dhoti) reflecting Kannada culture or any other Indian traditional dress, shall be denied entry into any public place, provided that the dress is decent. No club shall make any rule, regulation or byelaw or issue any circular imposing such dress restriction.* No membership fee will be prescribed without the approval of the government.* No membership will be denied to, person with meritorious contribution in sports, ex-servicemen or a renowned person (there is, however, ambiguity on whether the membership will be immediate and whether the individual continues to be a member even after he vacates his post).2 lakh Has 5,000-odd permanent members and about 2,000 applications are waitlisted.20 lakh + ST No waiting period, direct membership. Currently has 3,600 members.2,500 , Membership restricted only to 350, only against death of member/s and default. Elections are held every year to elect member/s.30,000, The club has 3,000 members and has closed its memberships as the waiting period has reached 15 years. Membership is only against vacancy.1 lakh, About two years back, it floated a limited edition special membership for Rs 20 lakh. About 2,500 applications are in queue.Former NLSIU director Mohan Gopal, who was stopped from entering Bangalore Club in 2002 because he was attired in traditional Indian dress, welcomed the draft bill. “It is a wonderful decision. It was a long overdue step to end a meaningless colonial hangover. Indian attire is more dignified and prestigious,” Gopal told Bangalore Mirror. After facing the ignominy of sorts, Gopal had resigned from the Bangalore Club membership saying: “No club — howsoever exclusive - can or should consider itself above the core values embodied in our Constitution. I regret that I am unable to associate any longer with an institution that treats our culture and attire with prejudice and contempt.’’A portion of the proposed The Karnataka Entry into Public Places (Removal of Restriction on Dress and Regulation of Membership and Fee) Act 2015 is a direct Ctrl-C-Ctrl-V from a similar Bill in Tamil Nadu. In August 2014, TN introduced the Tamil Nadu Entry into Public Places (Removal of Restriction on Dress) Act, 2014 which talks about what Karnataka government is planning now. Revenue department has copied the entire contents of this portion, only replacing the word ‘Tamil’ culture with ‘Kannada’ culture.Ashoke Chatterjee, a member since 1970s and former executive director of National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, was also shown the door at a lunch buffet for being dressed in kurta, pyjama and waistcoat nine years ago. Since then, he has been corresponding with the Club management about amending the dress code. Now 80, Chatterjee resigned from the club in April in protest.An exclusive club for legislators on the lines of Constitutional Club of Parliamentarians was mooted. In October last, the government made an attempt to allot Balabrooie Guesthouse to Karnataka Legislature secretariat. However, bowing to opposition from citizens, government dropped the idea. In August, a new proposal was mooted to establish the club in Cartlon House premises, also one of city’s iconic and heritage buildings. A committee comprising chief minister, constitutional heads of both the houses, opposition leaders, law minister are yet to take a final call on the issue.