The annual general meeting report still carries the sexist line: "No associate member male or female, or lady member is entitled to vote or attend the meeting.” But that did not stop Xerxes Dastur, chairman of the 135-year-old Ripon Club’s (RC) managing committee (MC) from stating he wanted "to make RC a family club!” He was keen to change the Club rules to permit children entry, noting that he had a vested interest, having young children. He felt restricting children to the fourth floor would isolate them. But some of his co-trustees wanted a minimum age limit of eight, or the children to be of a "manageable age.” That may prove difficult as even adult members raise their voices and occasionally use intemperate language, especially at the main members’ table frequented by the Club’s management. The members voted in favor of admitting children and left it to the Club’s MC to specify the terms and conditions for admission.
Clockwise from top l: sign at Ripon Club entrance; portraits in hall
adjacent to dining area; bust of Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Photos: Jasmine D. Driver
If the Club’s 781 members (253 life members, 382 resident members, 33 non-resident members, 102 associate lady members, 10 lady members and one associate member — sex not mentioned) did not better utilize the Club, "the day may come when we have to drastically increase the (annual) rates,” cautioned Dastur. Trustee Jimmy Pochkhanawalla said he and a handful of others were present for lunch Monday through Friday and this kept the Club going. The Club is frequented mostly at lunch time, especially on Wednesdays (dhansak day) and Fridays (pulao dal). Those two lunches garner the Club 82% of its meager revenue, Dastur, a chartered accountant noted. The rest of the time, it’s nearly deserted. Temporary membership granted to overseas Parsis was suspended some years ago, noted lawyer Kurush Presswalla, further depleting the Club’s income. Some left with bills unpaid, was the reason given for the stoppage.
The Club kept 10 percent (Rs 2,12,183 for the period April 2018 to March 2019) of the catering turnover, which is less than two lakh rupees a month. Their total annual income is Rs 3,45,665. In addition RC’s investments garnered Rs 9,70,147. Expenses amounted to Rs 17,97,306. The Club incurred a loss of Rs 5,48,819 from April 2018 to March 2019.
On top of losses and underutilization, the Club is set to surrender one of its two floors in the N. M. Wadia Building on Mahatma Gandhi Road. The trustees of the N. M.Wadia Charities have filed an eviction suit against the Club and the consent terms include surrendering the fourth floor.
An unofficial copy of the proposed consent terms obtained by Parsiana states, "the plaintiffs shall be in exclusive use and possession... and shall become vested with all rights, title and interest in respect of the said premises situated on the fourth floor equivalent to 4,103.6 sq ft covered area with 3,773 sq ft as terrace area.”
In return, the landlords undertake that from the "monthly compensation payable by such incoming licensee in respect of the said fourth floor premises, 35% of the net compensation amount shall be shared (with) the defendant every month by the plaintiffs.” Parsiana has not been able to verify whether the conditions mentioned comprise the final terms.
Dastur had reneged on an earlier promise made in 2017 to put the issue of women’s membership on par with men before the general body within a three-month period. Then he tied women’s membership up with the suit and said after that was settled, he would put the matter to vote. But with the Assistant Charity Commissioner, P. R. Satav ordering an inquiry this November 13, 2019 on an application filed by activist Khushru Zaiwala as to whether RC is a trust, whether any property is the property of such trust and so on, the filing of the consent terms may be delayed. Club honorary secretary Hoshang Hodiwala informed the gathering that the issues had still to be framed in the 2010 Small Causes suit filed by the landlord. These refer to the points the Court must opine on.
Dastur refused to be tied down to any deadline for the vote on women as full members. In 2009 the Club "had agreed in principle to admit women as full fledged members” but nothing came of it. Hopefully the Club will not have downed shutters before that is decided.