INTERVIEWS
Turn of the Century The mother of all local Indian clubs and associations pulls out all the stops as it launches into a 100-day celebration to mark a century of its success in the Kingdom.
ALSO THIS MONTH: 70 CHRISTIAN ZANDONELLA 74 HE MuhammaD Saeed Khan
Anand Lobo
T
he Indian Club is going through the most exciting phase in its history in Bahrain. The ageing building in the heart of Manama decks up this month to mark the milestone in style. Anand Lobo, the club’s president, was voted in last year to oversee the centennial arrangements; he is pleased with the developments so far. “We’re proud to be part of the club especially at this moment. The team is planning the grand celebration and aims to improve the facilities at the venue,” says Anand. “The Indian Embassy chose to have its Independence Day ceremony on our club’s premises this year, which gave us a big boost.” Anand has been orchestrating the BD300,000 renovation exercise that will culminate as celebrations peak in December. The Indian Club has been declared a ‘no smoking zone’ www.bahrainthismonth.com
and security has improved significantly thanks to an imposing boundary wall. CCTVs are being installed at various entry points for better surveillance. Additionally, the reception area has been expanded and spruced up. “Our aim is to improve the standards of the club and to offer unprecedented facilities to its members. We’ve achieved these objectives to an extent; membership has gone up from 500 to 900,” Anand adds. The revamped gym will remain open round the clock, with different timings for men and women. The badminton courts now have wooden floors; a sports lounge has been built for members in addition to a snooker and cards room. “We’re increasing the capacity of the Sanskar Hall to accommodate around 800 people. A fine dining multicuisine restaurant is being added as well,” the president explains.
Anand has more ambitious plans for next year. He hopes to transform the outdoor tennis courts into a car park and build a swimming pool for members. Celebrations kick off The 100-day celebration will begin with a marathon on October 24. Around 5,000 people from various Indian associations are expected to participate in the race. In the evening, an Indian market boasting jewellery, textile and food kiosks reels in visitors from across the Kingdom. The club’s dandiya dance festival to be held in October is set to be one of the largest in Bahrain. The Centenary Cup for cricket, football, hockey and volleyball matches throughout the month will conclude in a grand finale on October 30, with Indian sporting stars in attendance. October 2014 69