A historic working men’s club in the heart of Delhi has been given six months to close its doors, after British investment firm Greycroft Capital submitted a bid to redevelop the site into luxury apartments and a retail complex. The Turf Club, established in 1926 by Indian trade unionists and railway workers, has been a meeting place for generations of labourers, clerks, and political activists. Its closure would mark the end of an era for the Old Delhi community, already reeling from the loss of traditional industries.
The club’s secretary, Ramesh Kumar, 67, said members received the eviction notice last week. “We have no way to fight this. The land is worth millions now, and the government says it is private property. Our monthly fees are 200 rupees. We cannot match these developers.” The site, located near the city’s historic Red Fort, is in a district that has seen property prices rise by 400 percent in the past decade. Indian real estate analyst Priya Sharma said the new development would likely price out local families. “This is not just about a club. It is about a community being displaced for foreign investment. The people who built this city are being pushed to the margins.”
Greycroft Capital, which manages assets of £12 billion, has not confirmed the plans but sources say the firm is eyeing similar “forgotten gems” in Mumbai and Kolkata. The bid has sparked protests from the National Front of Indian Workers, which is calling for a heritage listing. Union leader Vikram Patel said: “We will not let this history be bulldozed for cocktail bars. The Turf Club is where the first strike for eight-hour days was planned. That is worth more than any skyscraper.”
The club’s library houses rare pamphlets from the 1930s independence movement, which members say are at risk. “These are our archives, not just a building,” said librarian Asha Devi. “Where will our children learn about the struggle for rights?” Delhi’s Chief Minister has declined to intervene, citing “market forces”.
For the regulars, the news is devastating. “I came here after my shift for 40 years,” said retired tram driver Baldev Singh. “Where do I go now? To a shopping mall? This club was my home.” The members are now crowdfunding for legal fees, but with a deadline of November, the clock is ticking. As one graffiti painted on the club’s red sandstone walls reads: “Save our club. Save our soul.”
A spokesman for Greycroft Capital said the firm had “no comment at this stage”. But the writing is on the wall: for many in Delhi, the price of progress is the loss of a way of life.
