History

Before 1920, tennis was confined to the privileged class not only in Bengal but also in India. An incident, though unpleasant, occurred in 1920 which virtually laid the foundation of this club. Mr Anadi Mukherjee and Mr Ganesh Dey were cycling along Woodburn Road one afternoon. They saw a large gathering inside the Woodburn Park. They stopped, inquired and learnt that a tennis club (Punjab Club) was entertaining a delegate from Punjab who had come to participate in the Indian National Congress. Being ambitious, they asked the secretary for membership. As the rules did not allow membership to other communities, their request was turned down. They immediately resolved to undo this state of affairs. They approached Mr. Chapman, the District Engineer of Calcutta Corporation, and succeeded in convincing him to grant a 1ease for one tennis court in the same park for use of all communities.

A club without a name was opened in June 1920 and the handsome amount of Rs.35 was collected from five members! Second hand gear was bought and play was started without screens. The Calcutta North Club at Beadon Square was then the home of Indian tennis. At the suggestion of Mr. Ananto Mookerjee, one of the members, this new baby at Woodburn Road was named "Calcutta South Club” with a vow to make it the new home of Indian tennis. In order to limit the liability of its members and to procure additional benefits of company law, the word "Limited" was added to the name on 30 January 1959

At the end of the first year, the club had 17 members including the world famous Japanese Shimdzu and Okamato who had earlier confined their play to their own club. the Nippon Club. Mr. R. Daglish and Mr. Anadi Mookerjee were the first President and Secretary.

An amusing anecdote about Shimdzu – Despite the fact that he was usually behind in his payments of club bills, he never liked playing with old balls! Owing to tight finances, the club could not afford to give new balls more than twice in a month. A deal was struck. He was to bring a dozen new balls whenever he came to play. After play, the balls were to be left in the club.

The club made steady progress. Four more courts were sanctioned in 1924 and five more in 1925. Approval was granted for a club house and the pavilion was built in 1926 with a member's, Mr Sajjan Chowdhury, financial assistance. It was opened on 4 November 1926 by Mr M. Senda. With the help of the then Mayor of Calcutta Corporation, Mr.J M. Sengupta (club's vice-president from 1926-1933), six more courts were sanctioned in this year. Since building of courts involved felling of several big palms, a vigorous press campaign was started for and against the proposal. While some called the new constructions "Vandalism In the Park", The Statesman (24 August 1928) said: "After all, grownups too need some place in which to exercise themselves and as they can hardly run about in the maidan flying kites and chasing toy balloons, it is necessary that they should have grounds in which to play their more ordered and systematic games." The battle was won when the Mayor said in his speech (recorded in The Statesman 3 September 1929) in the corporation discussions: "As far as playing tennis was concerned, the corporation would take pride in the fact that they had been instrumental in establishing the South Club in Woodburn Park, one of the finest lawn tennis clubs in Calcutta”.

When the need was felt for yearlong continuous play, permission was sought and granted for six hard (brick) courts. These were built and the inauguration was done on 10 June 1934 by the Mayor, Mr S.K. Basu. The pavilion (the existing one) was extended and bar facilities were also started during that year. In 1937, the then Governor of Bengal, Hon. Sir John Anderson, an honorary member of the club, suggested that the club should have a golf course, 24 tennis courts, a skating rink. a swimming pool and a large club house. This scheme also had the blessing of Lord Brabourne and a site was nearly selected in the lake area. The unfortunate demise of the governor became the death knell of the plan. Keeping with the need of the time, four clay courts were lighted in 1985 and two asphalt based rubberized lighted hard courts with latest technology were built in 2004, perhaps the only club in the world with all the surfaces at one place.

Till 1934, the All India tournament of the club, called Calcutta Lawn Tennis Championship (AITA approved), was held in March. From 1935, its name was changed to East India Lawn Tennis Championship. In due course, this assumed the form of the National Championship of India. The First National Championship (1948) and the First Asian Championship (1949) were held here. Two club members, Mr Sumant Misra and Mr Dilip Bose were the respective first winners.

It was thanks to this club that the visit of the first foreign team to India could be arranged. In 1929, the French team comprising of H. Cochet (world's No. 1 then), J. Brugnon (another world ranked player), P. Landry, R. Rodal with M. Parisot as manager, was touring Japan. Since it was beyond the financial strength of the club to bear the expenses, some members volunteered to raise Rs.14,000 through personal guarantees on the understanding that they would forget their money if the venture flopped. The team came and played before a full house. Thus a new chapter was opened in the history of the club leading to subsequent visits by Austin, Tilden, Drobny, Borotra, Mervin Rose, Kramer, Hoad, Rosewall, Segura, Trabert, Sedgman, Emerson, Stolle, Cooper, Anderson, Gimeno, Olmedo and Santana. Though the champions now demand exorbitant prices [according to Indian standards], efforts still continue to get them to visit this legendary place.

To help the youngsters to learn the game, a coaching scheme was started in 1950 under the supervision of Mr. Sidney Matthews. In 1955, Government of India launched a coaching scheme named after Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the first lady cabinet minister, for various games. Tennis was one of them. Our club was made the main center with our member and the first Asian Champion Mr.Dilip Bose as a coach which produced Davis Cup players Premjit Lal and Jaidip Mukerjea. After the winding up of this scheme in 1957, club gave its courts to Bengal Tennis Association to run a coaching scheme. Being not satisfied with their working and in keeping with its tradition, a coaching scheme with quarterly age group tournaments was started from April 1982 with over a hundred youngsters in order to check declining standards in Indian tennis. Its trainees Zeeshan Ali, Leander Paes and S.Fazaluddin represented India in Davis Cup apart from winning championships at National and International levels. Teams of promising teenagers are sponsored regularly for championships here and abroad.

Late Mr. S J Matthews, affectionately known as "Prof" and "SJ" who spent all his time at the club encouraging young players and become the first official coach of the State Tennis Association. Tilden had no hesitation in writing, "The center court at the South Club in Calcutta is one of the best grass courts of my experience" (Page 151 of his book Aces, Places and Faults) and then included its name in the list of 20 clubs unique in his memory (Page 125 of the same book). It was due to this that most of the home ties of Davis Cup games have been played here bringing India victories most of the time. Even today, it is the first choice for Davis Cup matches on its center court.

MEMORABILIA

A LETTER SENT HOME IN THE FORTIES

About once a week I try to get into the South Club for some tennis. I go to the modest but attractive clubhouse (a converted residence) and let the skilful bearers divest me of uniform and clothe me with white shirts and trousers. Then to the courts. The grass courts that we used before the monsoon rains are among the best in the world -so Tilden said- and certainly they are the best I ever played on. Now we use the excellent brick dust courts, which dry quickly after a shower. If I have no one with me, I readily find others to make up a match, perhaps a British officer, an American businessman and a young Indian maharaja. It is quite a family affair. The Indians, like the British, are enthusiastic about tennis and this love of tennis is a potent bond. Moreover, there are no "dumb" players. You are sure of a good match. At hand on the courts are good tennis balls and very youthful ball boys to chase them- the same as for tournaments at home. After one set, we usually give up the court to other waiting players, but before long are able to go ahead at another newly surrendered court. The brief rest is enjoyable in this heat. At the end of the match, I deliver myself again to the deft bearer, who strips off my clothes and ushers me into a bath. Afterwards we drink and chat at the bar, most of us are men, perhaps a wife or two or an attractive Indian girl. Last time I refrained from a gin and lime in favour of a strange but delightful non alcoholic beverage proffered me by Dr. Kakko, a milk base to which were added a dozen Indian ingredients including rose water and almonds. Recently little ceremony was held to present Hal Surface, who is about to go home after twice winning the tennis championships of India, a handsome platter. Hal was quite touched and said a few words about international goodwill to his audience of friends. I like the South Club and agree with Hal Surface that international problems all over the world would be greatly eased if only as sportsmen we could know one another and battle it out with tennis rackets instead of guns. S.C.Godfrey, Brigadier General, USA Air Engineers

FOND MEMORIES

The smell and the look at the start of the season of the green expanse of the grass courts, players in whites and the special sound of the rackets meeting the balls and dark blue background purdahs. The obvious and somewhat awesome pride that Ganesh Dey exuded in contributing to our Club lawns and reputation. The excitement of our annual International Tennis Tournament. Shri L. P. Mishra appealing to my father in the dressing room to encourage my Tennis career and his discouraging response! My hoping that Sir Walter and Lady Mitchelmore would invite me to join them for a cup of tea after a Club game and enjoy tasty cucumber sandwiches ! being attracted to pretty girls visiting the Club, feeling hopeless about making friends in general for fear of disapproval. Mr Cargin, whose Company (Jessops?), I think, engineered the removal Spectator Stands.

Being asked to improve my Tennis at another Club before membership of the South Club and realizing years later what useful condition of eligibility this was because it ensured that almost any member could enjoy a game with anyone, thus minimizing cliques. The high standard of Tennis and the Club etiquette on and off the courts. Feeling embarrassed about taking advantage of my father.

Being a committee member and wishing years later some members had made fun of me about it on my face.

Receiving three coaching lessons for juniors from a French Estrabeau, organised by the Club..." take on the rise, stop twirling your racket, you are not a butterfly, "46 years later I said hello to him on the phone in Paris after discovering that my host and Estrabeau played Tennis at the same Club. He recalled happy memories. Remembering my father talking about entertaining the British team that included Bunny Austin, who were the first foreign team to be invited by South Club to promote the game. In 1954 Bunny Austin drove down to Geneva to invite my parents to Caux, fondly remembering the South Club and his Indian visit.

S J Mathews who ran coaching classes for juniors on the hard courts, our South Club in my opinion pioneered the promotion of good Tennis as a spectator sport.

Strange as it may seem, playing Tennis specially in my teens at the South Club is one of my happiest memories and very sad that it did not last longer. I also regret my creeping snobbishness as I grew but happily fate conspired to knock this trait out of me in later years. So many names and faces of goodwill for which I am grateful. I think I enjoyed the best days of the Club.

Bijmohan Thapar

(Shri B M Thapar is the senior most living member of the club, having joined the Club in 1937. He is a big industrialist too. A Life member of the Club, having completed more than 50 years of continuous membership is a Vice-President of the Club and his father, Late Lala Karam Chand Thapar, former Vice-President of the Club).