Delhi Gymkhana Club | From Green Card To Rs 7 Lakh Waiting Fee: Inside Delhi Gymkhana Club's Culture

Tucked besides the imposing Ashoka trees and the power corridors of the Capital, the Delhi Gymkhana Club has for over a century symbolised power, elitism, exclusivity, access, colonial influence and above all privilege. It has always been more than just a sports or recreation club. Its membership defined people's status in the Delhi high society. Founded in 1913 as the "Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club", the institution was created during the British colonial era as a socialising space for imperial officers and the ruling elite. After Independence in 1947, the word "Imperial" was dropped, but much of the club's culture, traditions and aura survived. And money alone is no guarantee for entry. It has always been about the "network". Families with influence -- bureaucratic, military or political -- spanning generations. Recommendations, social standing, and connections mattered more than the money