A new era dawns at Tollygunge Club as Partha Sarathi Barman, a veteran financier and longtime member, assumes the presidency.
Situated in southern Calcutta, the club is poised for a transformative journey under Barman’s leadership. Having been an integral part of the club community for over two decades, he brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of its traditions and aspirations. His keen business acumen and passion for the club’s well-being make him an ideal candidate to steer the institution into the future. With grand aspirations for the 129-year-old institution, Barman sits down with The Telegraph to discuss his plans for the future.
Tell us about your experience at Tollygunge Club and your journey so far.
You know we have a very good system of governance here. There are committees and subcommittees for golf, library, equestrian activities and so on. And the heads of these committees report to the general committee, which comprises the president, vice-president, chairman and more. In 2002, I joined the property committee and it was my first one! I was also a part of the finance committee for a very long time and then I was the chairman of the golf committee too. In fact, golf is a passion that I acquired at Tollygunge Club when I first became a member here over two decades ago. I went on to fall in love with the sport and even represented the club in inter-club events beyond Calcutta. I remember winning the title of Golfer of The Year twice at the club too. Since I became a member here, I have spent a lot of time on the premises and being elected first as vice president and then president feels like my journey has come full circle.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, I was born and raised in Calcutta. I studied at Jadavpur University and finance was my stream. Post that I worked in HDFC Limited back when it was just a company that gave home loans and it was the first one in India back in the day. I went on to be the general manager of HDFC Limited for a very long time and played a major role in the making of the bank. My work took me abroad too but Calcutta always had my heart. Presently, I have my own company and it keeps me occupied. I play golf in my spare time and love the club culture.
What are your primary goals for the club during your tenure as president?
First, I want people to be more involved in activities hosted. For instance, we are prepping for Tolly Fest now and in the past, we have noticed that members sign up for events but mostly because of children’s exams, end up not participating. So, this time what I did was start workshops for parents and children ahead of the fest to make their presence easier. Participants will also get official certificates on completion of these workshops, which makes the whole process productive and gratifying. Second, being a person from a finance background, I definitely want to leave the club’s balance sheet bigger. I hope I can contribute to uplifting the overall ambience because it is already a one-of-a-kind club.
What can members expect from you as president?
As an active member of Tollygunge Club, I understand the high expectations our members have. My focus will be on maintaining the club’s exceptional standards in food and beverage, sports facilities, and overall member experience. We will strive to continuously elevate these offerings to ensure that Tollygunge Club remains the premier destination for its members.
Pictures courtesy: Tollygunge Club
