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The Calcutta Swimming Club

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The Calcutta Swimming Club (mainly known by its acronym CSC), located on the Strand Road near Babughat in Kolkata, is the oldest swim club in India.

The club was built in 1887 under the name Calcutta Swimming Bath by order of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. The present structure and club were founded by Walter Davis, a partner of Hamilton & Company, who was also the first Secretary of the Club. The Lieutenant Governor of Bengal was the Head of the Club from its inception until 1923 when Mr. N. Hamilton was elected as its first President.

The famous Olympian swimmer D.D. Mulji trained at this club.

The club celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1937. It was renamed the Calcutta Swimming Club in 1941, in appreciation of its contribution to the war efforts. The club would not accept Indians as members even after independence. This changed in 1964, when Maharaja of Cooch Behar was inducted as its first Indian member. In 1976, PT Basu was elected as the First Indian President of the Club.

The club has indoor swimming pools, other indoor sports, a discothèque, health parlor, bar, and banquet hall. The club also boasts an open-air swimming pool that is one of the largest not only in India but also in Asia. CSC organizes colorful Christmas and New Year parties every year.

References

The Calcutta Swimming Club Wikipedia