Turning the adage Monday Morning Blues into Monday Morning Cool News, after nearly 1.5 years of a revamp, the Shivaji Park Gymkhana (SPG) reopens today. For the management who are the custodians of this space in the iconic Shivaji Park maidan, the feeling is as satisfying as a batsman seeing his straight drive roll triumphantly past the bowler and into the boundary.
“It is mission accomplished, but even with this opening, a new chapter begins for our historic club, one that prioritises gender opportunities, better facilities for members and expanding our member base,” explained the management. Sunil Ramchandran, assistant secretary, said, “The new look SPG is painted Wimbledon green and beige. We are also planning to start our own ladies’ cricket team.”
A bit of mystery at the club prior to its opening. Pics/HEMAL ASHAR
Sanjeev Khanolkar, honorary general secretary SPG and Ramchandran said, “We got our Occupation Certificate (OC) on September 19, and here we are, opening three days later on September 22. We understand that people are excited and eager, especially our approximately 3000 member families.”
The office bearers stated that there was no extra FSI, so they have not increased the plinth. “That was the real challenge,” said SPG President Parveen Amre. “We had to give better facilities within the existing area of the ground, plus the first floor.” There is a refurbished gymnasium, the club has two terraces overlooking Shivaji Park and the tennis courts around also have a facelift.
Fusion style
Amre added, “We had to find a fine balance — one that retained the historic flavour of the SPG with modernity. It is a fusion. We are now focused on gender parity and opportunity. Look at how well the Indian women’s cricket team is doing. Today, we see girls coming into town to play from Vasai-Virar, our endeavour will be to give good, adequate changing rooms and washroom facilities to these girls when they play here at the maidan, especially for MCA tourneys.”
Shivaji gymkhana’s revamped spaces, set for inauguration. Pic/Hemal Ashar
Amre added, “We all have worked so hard to see this to fruition. Like on the sports field, it is teamwork with the SPG committee working as one and contributing, keeping all sensibilities in mind.” Ramchandran said architect Sunil Sadekar has served up an ace with his design. Asked if they are going to increase their member base, Amre said, “Yes, we are, though not immediately. We will, of course, whet candidates and assess if they can be part of the SPG family.”
The history
Excerpts from the club’s website state that the Shivaji Park Gymkhana was born as the New Maharashtra Cricket Club in 1909. After a couple of migrations to other plots and even a club name change from ‘New Maharashtra Cricket Club’ to ‘Dadar Hindu Gymkhana’, a small plot of land was allotted to the club at Shivaji Park. The possession of the plot at Shivaji Park brought a sense of stability to the club. The small plot of land was later exchanged for a 5000 sq. yds. plot on the present site. Members then concentrated on having their own pavilion. It was very difficult to obtain permission to build a structure within the Shivaji Park area. After overcoming that challenge, the opening ceremony of this building was held in 1931. In 1942, the area in the possession of the gymkhana was increased to its present dimensions of 19000 sq yards.
