Bowring Institute: Where two worlds mingle

Bowring Institute: Where two worlds mingle
The Times of India

Bangalore: Cultural cornucopia and olde-worlde charm — Bowring Institute has both. Oodles of them, in fact.
It began as the Bangalore Literary and Scientific Institute (BLSI) in 1868, but through the centuries transformed itself into a place for everything: from glitzy wedding parties to quiet evenings of whisky, rummy and bridge and, hectic games of tennis.

Yet, it is still so avant garde that it is one of seven clubs featured in a new coffee-table book titled ‘Elite Clubs of India’.

Old and new: The fusion of the old and the new is perhaps best exemplified in the imposing club library — a treasure house of 24,000 books. Colonial roots are evident in untouched

cupboards full of books on literature, travel and geography. Here lie titles such as ‘Voice, Speech and Gesture: Elocutionary Art’ and

‘Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches’ and travelogues from the distant past like ‘The Making of a Frontier’.

The more well-thumbed sections, however, contain familiar names such as New Age guru Deepak Chopra, Arundhati Roy and bestselling authors of thrillers, romances and science fiction.

But the library isn’t the only room buzzing with activity. People in other rooms are sampling the games, entertainment or the delicious food. History: The club had humble beginnings. According to ‘Elite Clubs...,’ L B Bowring (a British Chief Commissioner after whom it is named) did not set it up. Rather, B L Rice, a director of public instruction, along with P N Krishmamurthi, B L Jagirdar and Rao Bahadur A Narainswamy Mudaliar started it as the BLSI in 1868.

Initially, it was based at rented premises on Museum Road. Author Maya Jayapal in ‘Bangalore: The Story of a City,’ says the then Mysore government offered a site in Cubbon Park but ultimately, “the foundation stone for the original building was laid by Lady Prendergast at the bandstand in St. Mark’s Square in 1888.’’ The building was completed in 1891 at a cost of Rs 23,000.

The first members were mostly Anglo-Indians. Jayapal says “(card) games such as Brag and Baccarat were played in the early days even though gambling was forbidden.’’ In later years, Picquet replaced Brag at the card tables.
Modern Times: Card games are still very popular. But the ambient music has changed from old English waltzes to Bollywood music. And from the initial 75 members, now there are 3,941 members.

Consider the range of memberships available — honorary life, life, permanent, corporate, life associate and associate to long-term temporary, short-term temporary, non-resident and service members. What can be more modern than that!