Dear Members,
There are moments in life that make us pause, look back and simply say thank you.
As I reflect on the past two years, my heart is filled with immense gratitude, pride and humility. Serving as President of The Poona Club has been one of the greatest honours of my life. This Club is not just a place of heritage, sport and recreation. It is a home where friendships are built, families come together and generations create memories that last a lifetime.
None of what we achieved would have been possible without the support of our Management Committee, all our Sub Committees, our CEO & Secretary, dedicated staff, professionals, volunteers and, above all, you our members. Every achievement belongs to all of us.
Together, we created memories that will last forever:
* Cricket entered a new era with the creation of our state-of-the-art sand-based cricket ground. Seeing this dream inaugurated by the legendary Kapil Dev Sir and Chandu Borde Sir, alongside the dedication of the Chandu Borde Pavilion, was an unforgettable and emotional milestone in our Club’s history.
* Our Golf Course reached new heights, with continuous improvements, the creation of the Eagle’s Den, and the successful hosting of prestigious tournaments, including The Poona Club Open, proudly placing our Club on India’s golfing map.
* Every sporting discipline flourished. Whether it was tennis, badminton, squash, swimming, bridge, billiards, table tennis, football or cricket, it was heartwarming to see members of every generation come together through the spirit of sport.
* Club life became more vibrant than ever before. Music, entertainment, family events, celebrations and cultural programmes filled our calendar, creating countless moments of happiness and togetherness.
* It was especially heartening to see younger families making the Club part of their everyday lives, while our senior members continued to receive the care, warmth and respect they truly deserve.
* We strengthened the Club’s future through careful financial management, valuable sponsorships and thoughtful planning for new facilities and infrastructure that will benefit generations to come.
But the greatest achievement was never a building, a tournament or a financial milestone.
It was seeing children laugh on our grounds, families spend time together, old friends reconnect, new friendships begin and members proudly call The Poona Club their second home.
Those moments cannot be measured on a balance sheet, yet they are the true measure of a successful Club.
A journey we shared together
Leadership is never about one person. It is about listening, building trust, taking difficult decisions with courage, remaining transparent and always placing the interests of the institution above personal interests.
Every success over these two years belongs to everyone who walked this journey together.
From the bottom of my heart… Thank You.
To every Past President who built this wonderful institution…
To every committee member, employee, professional and volunteer who worked tirelessly behind the scenes…
To every member who encouraged us, trusted us, shared ideas, appreciated our efforts and even challenged us to do better…
Thank you.
We are merely custodians of a remarkable 140-year legacy, with the privilege of leaving it stronger than we found it.
The memories of these two years will remain with me forever. I sincerely hope that the work we have undertaken, the friendships we have strengthened and the values we have upheld continue to enrich The Poona Club for generations to come.
May our Club always remain a place where friendships blossom, families come together, sporting excellence thrives and every member feels a deep sense of pride and belonging.