Social Progress: Gymkhanas

Zoomed-In Crop of Gymkhanas

In addition to transportation systems, the map also highlights several “gymkhanas” along Chandra Bose Road. Gymkhanas, the Indian term for “place of assembly,” are social and athletic clubs for residents of Mumbai. Along Chandra Bose Road, the author of the map indicates the location of three adjacent gymkhanas: Hindu Gymkhana, Parsi Gymkhana, and Islam Gymkhana. Collectively, these three gymkhanas have played an integral role in Mumbai’s cultural and social growth through the development of cricket, the country’s unofficial national sport.

Islam Gymkhana

As the founding members of the Bombay Cricket Association, the Islam Gymkhana and the Parsi Gymkhana are the headquarters and training grounds for the city’s cricket team (1). Cricket, the country’s most popular sport, has been a defining part of India’s cultural growth. Debuting in 1932, the India’s national cricket team gained popularity after its internationally acclaimed match with the British team. Soon after, the team advanced to become one of the top four cricket teams in the world. In 1983, the country’s cricket team astonished the world after it won its first Cricket World Cup (2).

Hindu Gymkhana

Hindu Gymkhana

Cricket has also been cited as a unifying social force within India. Originally, in the early 20^th century, most of the gymkhanas were segregated based off of religious and cultural affiliation. However, during World War II, when the government decided to occupy the Parsi Gymkhana and Islam Gymkhana, the Hindu Gymkhana opened up its doors to non-Hindu members (3). In doing this, the Gymkhanas made a step forward in the cultural unification of the once heavily segregated country. Through cricket, the gymkhanas depicted on the map reflect the city’s social and cultural development.