Know Your City: Bangalore’s Century Club that takes its name from initial membership count

The records of the Century Club hold that it had a similar beginning – when none other than Sir MVisvesaraya (who was at the time Dewan of the princely state of Mysore) was told during a visit to a club that he would have to remove his iconic Mysore-style turban and put on a European hat.

This led to the formation of the Century Club just off Seshadri Road in Cubbon Park – taking its name from the initial membership of 100 members (over 7,200 today.) A perusal of the original Memorandum of Association reveals that the club was registered as a society in 1917, for a fee of Rs 10, with a stated purpose of providing “an adequate measure for recreation and sports and the social amenities of the citizens of Bangalore and its visitors.”

However, important memorial stones with historic value have been preserved; for instance, two stones from the 1950s commemorate visits by Vice President Sir Radhakrishnan and King Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. Another from the Golden Jubilee of the club was laid down by Chief Minister S.Nijalingappa. (Photo: Century Club)

However, it had already started operation before then as early as 1912, operating under the names Bangalore Club and Cosmopolitan Club before the current name was finalised.

The list of members of the first executive committee of the club reads like a who’s who of the prominent residents of the then Mysore state. Sir Visvesvaraya was, of course, the first president of the society (interestingly, his grandson, Satish Mokshagundam, is also a member of the club today). Some of the then members include the vice-president Sir Leslie Miller, who held the post of chief judge N Madhava Rao, who would go on to succeed Sir Mirza Ismail as Dewan of Mysore in 1941, and S V Ramaswami Iyengar, who helmed Minto Ophthalmic Hospital in its early years.

With many IAS and IPS members as presidents in the later years of the club, no less than seven club presidents after Sir Visvesvaraya had at one point held the title of Dewan of Mysore state.

According to club president B R Priyadarshi and club secretary EG Jaideep, the club has changed little as an institution in terms of rules and memberships, with only slight alterations over the years as far as the dress code is concerned. Memberships, too, are chronological in order, with new applicants on a waiting list.

However, with the club constantly changing over the years, it is not easy to nail down a single portion of the building as a heritage structure. The club today looks reasonably modern with a nod to old-world charm for the most part, with a grocery store, a spa and a salon being among the newer amenities.

However, important memorial stones with historic value have been preserved; for instance, two stones from the 1950s commemorate visits by Vice President Sir Radhakrishnan and King Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. Another from the Golden Jubilee of the club was laid down by Chief Minister S.Nijalingappa.

Interestingly, while Sir Visvesvaraya is remembered as the founder of the club, the patron has always been considered the Maharaja of Mysore. In fact, the original land that the club stood, a plot of seven acres and 20 guntas, was granted by the then maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar. Today that plot is a little under five acres, with part of the land having been re-acquired post-Independence. A portrait of Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar also hangs above the stone commemorating his visit, unveiled by his great-grandson Yaduveer Wodeyar, who heads the royal family today.

Non-member visitors to the club can enter and use the facilities if accompanied by a member.