by Mrinal Talukdar
Scattered across Assam’s tea estates, exclusive social clubs like the Misa Polo Club, Thakurbari Club, and Dibrugarh Planters Club have long been a part of the state’s tea legacy. These clubs, with their stately architecture, golf courses, and exclusive memberships, once served as the heart of the tea planter’s social life. However, as the tea industry undergoes significant changes, these iconic institutions are grappling with the challenge of staying relevant and financially viable.
The debate is heating up: Should these clubs open their doors to tourists and the local community, or should they preserve their exclusivity, catering only to the traditional tea planter community?

The Golden Era of Tea Clubs
The tea clubs of Assam, including the renowned Jorhat Gymkhana Club, which was established in 1876, were symbols of prestige, serving not only as social venues but also as business hubs where planters mingled. As Rajib Handique, a deputy manager in the tea plantation sector, pointed out, “There are very few agency houses left in tea where it is mandatory for executives to attend the club. The new local owners of erstwhile famous gardens are not interested in retaining club membership for their executives.” This changing dynamic is a key factor in the decline of these once-thriving establishments.
Voices for Transformation
Supporters of opening the gates of these clubs argue that embracing tourism and a broader membership base could be the solution. Assam Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah shared a balanced view, stating, “This is a good thought; we can consider it if all stakeholders are on board.” His statement indicates a willingness to explore tourism partnerships that could breathe new life into these clubs while preserving their heritage.
Kaustubh Khaund, with his extensive experience in tea plantations and clubs, suggested a pragmatic approach: “Open the gates. For tourists. And the gentry around. Bluntly speaking, funds are needed to keep them alive. But with a filter in place. The clubs were about tea, games, sport, and festivities—it was a way of life that needs to be revived, but by welcoming a cross-section versed in taste and etiquette.”
Similarly, Suresh Goduka, who has worked with international organizations like UNDP and IGNCA, supported collaboration between the clubs and the tourism sector: “If not all, a few clubs could collaborate with the tourism sector on mutually beneficial terms. Instead of building new infrastructure, these clubs can offer heritage plus comfort, at minimal investment, especially in key tourist destinations.”

A Broadened Patronage: Evolving to Survive
Nirbhay Singh, with extensive experience handling over 4 million KGs of tea and overseeing a workforce of 3,000, added his voice to the debate, saying, “There are success stories wherein clubs have broadened their patronage to a healthy mix of members, infusing vital capital to maintain the unique beauty of such establishments. We must evolve to survive, so why not also look at tourism? As long as the ethos is honoured, it is for the better.”
Singh’s perspective highlights a balanced evolution—maintaining tradition while allowing clubs to stay financially viable through broader memberships and tourism.

Heritage Tourism as a Lifeline
Proponents of tourism, like Sajid A., a tour operator specializing in the Northeast, view heritage tourism as a natural fit for these clubs. “It will help preserve [the clubs] and give more value to them. A lot of places around the world have done this with great success,” he noted. The Jorhat Gymkhana Club has already opened its doors to tourists, a move that has revitalized its status, serving as a model for other struggling clubs like Biswanath Gymkhana Club and Thakurbari Club.

The Skepticism
However, not everyone agrees with this open-door approach. @TeaSnob84, a frequent commentator on Assam’s tea industry, expressed concern: “Once you open the gates to tourism, the exclusivity that defines these clubs will be lost. They were built for planters, not for tourists. What’s left of the planter community needs to preserve these as our own spaces.”
Another user, @PlanterLifeAssam, raised a practical concern: “Tourists can bring money, sure, but at what cost? Most of these clubs are not equipped to handle mass tourism. It could lead to wear and tear that we can’t afford to fix.”
These voices reflect a broader fear that opening the gates could dilute the very essence of what made these clubs unique in the first place—exclusivity, tradition, and the personal connection to Assam’s tea heritage.
Deepak Kumar Sarmah, a tea-processing expert, echoed these concerns, stating, “The clubs should remain exclusive to the planters’ community only.” But as I pointed out in response to Sarmah, “Is there any more planter’s community left in 2024?” The shrinking community of traditional tea planters may not be enough to sustain these institutions.

The Road Forward
The overwhelming consensus from both sides of the debate is that these clubs must adapt to survive, but the method of adaptation remains a topic of contention. Supporters like Rick Lahkar, a commercial real estate broker, argue that embracing tourists and local businesspeople is the way forward: “Rather than struggle and crumble, these clubs should welcome tourists and let the local community become members. The grand old Jorhat Gymkhana Club is no longer an exclusive domain for tea planters, and that club seems to be thriving.”
Similarly, Pankaj Boruah, a data solutions architect, believes that opening the clubs to corporate memberships could offer a new revenue stream: “Open it up for public and corporate.”
However, the skepticism expressed by Twitter users like @TeaSnob84 and @PlanterLifeAssam reminds us that any transformation must be carefully managed to avoid losing the heritage and exclusivity that made these clubs special.

Final words
The tea clubs of Assam represent more than just places of leisure; they are cultural and historical symbols of the state’s rich tea legacy. Balancing this heritage with financial sustainability is a delicate task. Opening the gates to tourists, as suggested by Nirbhay Singh and other supporters, may be necessary, but care must be taken to preserve the ethos of these institutions. As Jayanta Malla Baruah wisely stated, “If all stakeholders are on board, this is a thought worth considering.”
The road forward may not be clear-cut, but one thing is certain: Assam’s tea clubs must evolve to survive, and the debate on how best to do that will continue.