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Churchill's unpaid India bill on show | Churchill's unpaid India bill on show |
(4 days later) | |
By Geeta Pandey BBC News, Bangalore Evidence of the unpaid bill is clear for all to see | By Geeta Pandey BBC News, Bangalore Evidence of the unpaid bill is clear for all to see |
Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill still owes the exclusive Bangalore Club in southern India 13 rupees in unpaid bills. | Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill still owes the exclusive Bangalore Club in southern India 13 rupees in unpaid bills. |
An entry in the ledger book of the club from June 1899 has "Lt WLS Churchill" named as one of 17 defaulters. | An entry in the ledger book of the club from June 1899 has "Lt WLS Churchill" named as one of 17 defaulters. |
Churchill arrived in Bangalore in 1896 as a young army officer and left three years later to fight in the North-West Frontier - now in Pakistan. | Churchill arrived in Bangalore in 1896 as a young army officer and left three years later to fight in the North-West Frontier - now in Pakistan. |
The Bangalore club was formed in 1868 by a group of British officers. | The Bangalore club was formed in 1868 by a group of British officers. |
Today, it is one of India's most elite clubs, retaining much of its late 19th- and early 20th-Century splendour. | Today, it is one of India's most elite clubs, retaining much of its late 19th- and early 20th-Century splendour. |
'Rarest of the rare' | 'Rarest of the rare' |
"He was just another young officer, no-one thought he would one day become the prime minister of Britain," club Secretary Col Krishnan Dakshina Murthy told the BBC. | "He was just another young officer, no-one thought he would one day become the prime minister of Britain," club Secretary Col Krishnan Dakshina Murthy told the BBC. |
It is seldom that the prime minister of a country would be owing something to a club in another country Col Krishnan Dakshina Murthy | It is seldom that the prime minister of a country would be owing something to a club in another country Col Krishnan Dakshina Murthy |
"It is seldom that the prime minister of a country would be owing something to a club in another country. It's the rarest of the rare case," he says. | "It is seldom that the prime minister of a country would be owing something to a club in another country. It's the rarest of the rare case," he says. |
The ledger book with handwritten entries of bill defaulters is displayed in the main club building which is more than 150 years old. | The ledger book with handwritten entries of bill defaulters is displayed in the main club building which is more than 150 years old. |
A framed photograph of a strapping young Churchill with fellow officers adorns the wall above the display. | A framed photograph of a strapping young Churchill with fellow officers adorns the wall above the display. |
The entry in the ledger is clear and concise. It is dated 1 June 1899. | The entry in the ledger is clear and concise. It is dated 1 June 1899. |
"The sub committee approved the following unrecovered sums being written off," it reads. | "The sub committee approved the following unrecovered sums being written off," it reads. |
Churchill's is the 12th name from the top in a list of 17 names. | Churchill's is the 12th name from the top in a list of 17 names. |
His debt to the club was discovered posthumously and, after it became public, many visiting British citizens have offered to clear the dues. | His debt to the club was discovered posthumously and, after it became public, many visiting British citizens have offered to clear the dues. |
Col Murthy says in the last three years that he has been the club secretary, many Britons have approached him. | Col Murthy says in the last three years that he has been the club secretary, many Britons have approached him. |
"We tell them that history is history, it can't be rewritten," he says. | "We tell them that history is history, it can't be rewritten," he says. |
Sleepy cantonment | Sleepy cantonment |
The club has no historical records of Churchill in Bangalore. | The club has no historical records of Churchill in Bangalore. |
Churchill (standing on extreme left) did not enjoy his time in Bangalore | Churchill (standing on extreme left) did not enjoy his time in Bangalore |
"We have only the old ledgers and the minutes of club meetings documented there," Col Murthy says. | "We have only the old ledgers and the minutes of club meetings documented there," Col Murthy says. |
In the days Churchill made Bangalore his home, it was not a bustling city with bright lights. | In the days Churchill made Bangalore his home, it was not a bustling city with bright lights. |
Historians say it was then a sleepy cantonment town with little to offer in the way of amusement to young soldiers. | Historians say it was then a sleepy cantonment town with little to offer in the way of amusement to young soldiers. |
And Churchill, by his own account, found the city boring. He spent most of his time reading and collecting butterflies. | And Churchill, by his own account, found the city boring. He spent most of his time reading and collecting butterflies. |
In his memoir, My Early Life, he describes Bangalore as a "third rate watering place" with "lots of routine work" to do and "without society or good sport". | In his memoir, My Early Life, he describes Bangalore as a "third rate watering place" with "lots of routine work" to do and "without society or good sport". |
In such circumstances, it is assumed that Churchill spent many an evening in the Bangalore club, drinking whisky which cost seven annas (less than 50 paise, or half a rupee) for a large drink and four annas (25 paise) for a small peg, or measure, of whisky. | |
And perhaps that is how he accumulated the debt of 13 rupees - a considerable sum in those days. | And perhaps that is how he accumulated the debt of 13 rupees - a considerable sum in those days. |
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