India, May 23 -- In the centre of Lutyens' Delhi, there is one of India's most exclusive social institutions, the Delhi Gymkhana Club. This club was founded in 1913 as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club under British rule. The club has historically attracted senior bureaucrats, diplomats, military officers, business leaders, and political elites.

But beyond the colonial-era charm of the club, there was a question that has defined the club's mystique and exclusiveness, i.e., why does it take up to 37 years to get membership at the Delhi Gymkhana Club?

Colonial Legacy and Elite Status Behind Delhi Gymkhana Club Membership

The Delhi Gymkhana Club was originally established as a recreational space for British administrators and officers duri...