Just a handful of citizens in Goa are aware that the original name of the pristine beach in Panaji was ‘Piddooc’ (the black beads worn by ladies) which was later named as ‘Praia de Gaspar Dias’ after the owner of the lands here, one Gaspar Dias. In mid 1960’s , this location became known as Miramar Beach after the bus conductors, ferrying students to the newly instituted Dhempe College of Arts & Science, started to refer to this location, after a small recreational outlet which was named as Casino Miramar.
Still fewer people are aware that a small fort known as ‘Fortress of Gaspar Dias’, once existed here and is now extinct. The only remnant of this fort at Miramar is the cannon inside the rotunda, below the twin statues of Miramar. Fortress of Gaspar Dias was one of the four forts built to guard the mouth of River Mandovi from any sea borne attacks from the enemy.
Today, the Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias is one of the oldest premier social clubs of Goa. Established in the second decade of the earlier century, this institution has travelled through colonial era, to reach a prestigious milestone of being on the threshold of completing a 100 years of its institution.
It is believed that in the year 1921 a small group of well placed, like-minded, jolly and athletic citizens of Panaji took a strong-willed decision to create an elite beach retreat, away from the city. After a few meetings, it was decided to commence activities of the proposed social club, which was initially named Clube de Gaspar Dias, after the extinct fort.
The basic Constitution of the Club was registered on April 25, 1926. During the presidentship of Oliveira Chaves, who was the Director of Post and Telegraph, the workings of the club achieved stability, which had hitherto been run as a private affair. For this purpose, the Bye-laws were drafted and finally approved by Portaria (order No 609 of January 2, 1948 published in the government gazette.
Initially, as an interim arrangement, a modest shack covered with bamboo mats and coconut fronds was erected on a piece of land at Gaspar Dias, ceded by the well known Camotim Mamai family of Panaji when Subraia Camotim was the Head of the Family. Here, while the men-folk played card games such as Sol, Poker, Bridge, Canasta or leaning over Draught or Chess boards, the ladies were either busy serving homemade appetisers, doing embroidery or busily engaged in conversation.
During summer season, many musical groups enthralled the people visiting the beach side and this club. Portuguese Governor Massano da Amorim was a frequent visitor to this club during the earlier era, while many high placed dignitaries have visited here over the period. In the 1930’s, the club developed several recreational facilities, besides becoming an entertainment hub for the members, who were highly placed officials, well established businessmen and prominent citizens.
The story of ‘Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias’ will certainly appeal to those who would like to delve into the past glory of the city and its surroundings. In the year 1934, an American industrial magnate Josephine Hogaz, introduced the game of lawn tennis in Goa, and provided the necessary finance to build the first lawn tennis court in the club premise. This laying of the court proved very popular amongst the members of the club. Later, with the construction of one more tennis court, the game of lawn tennis became the major activity of the club, and hence, came to be known as ‘Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias’.
In 1950, late Siridora Caculo, an affluent businessman of that era, constructed and also partially funded the cost of construction of the solid, masonry structure as the Club edifice, which included an indoor badminton court, and also acted as a dance floor, while the Casa Social de Camotim Mamai donated additional land, aggregating approx. about 12,000 square meters. From then onwards the club witnessed an upsurge of sporting, cultural and educational activities which still are a facet of the club’s activities today.
Later, at the start of the millennium, the presiding committee considered upgrading the facilities of the club for the members, and decided to construct the new premise, and new tennis courts, which would offer games such as pickle ball, badminton, table tennis, gymnasium, billiards, card rooms, swimming pools, etc, besides creating sophisticated facilities for literary activities, convention areas (halls), food and beverage and residential services for members, sportsmen and guests from allied affiliated clubs across India and the world.
At the time of liberation there were only 11 members on the rolls of the club. Some of the names are late Vaikunthrao Dempo, late Anselmo Rodrigues, late Robert Hepp, late Nathurmal Melwani (treasurer), late M M De Souza, late Mickey De Souza (secretary) and late Jorge Renato Fernandes. They may be considered as a ‘life-line’ of the club from the colonial regime to a free Goa. The present strength of the registered members is 2400 plus and the club has affiliations with 30 plus social and sports clubs across India, as well as eight clubs across the globe.
After liberation in a notification of September 6, 1966, the new revised bye-laws were registered and notified. Also keeping with the laws of the land, the club was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
In the year 1993, Sunil A Naik, Pradip Bhandare, Vilas Bhangui along with president late Dinkar Bhobe, decided to upgrade the edifice of the Clube to enhance the sports faculties. This move was supported by late Vasudev V Dempo and other members with Rs 1.5 crore spent from the club’s own funds. In 1998, the new club building, housing some of its sports facilities in Phase I was inaugurated at the hands of the then chief minister Dr Wilfred D’Souza.
From April 1, the club will complete 99 years and step into a century. The formal launch of the proposed year-long centenary celebration activities was held on April 1 at the Sala de Gaspar in the presence of the Governor of Goa, P S Sreedharan Pillai and Justice Valmiki Menezes, Judge, Bombay High Court with Bench at Goa. Year-long calendars of activities have begun till April 1, 2026.
(The writer has founded forums such as 'Hands-on-historians', 'SansCritic - The Behind and the Beyond' and is a member of Goa Shutterbugs)
