The name sounds unusual for a club, but the founders of Mouchak wanted the club to run exactly like a beehive, where the Queen bee orders around and the servants follow the orders. In this case, the secretary is the Queen Bee and all members are her workers. Mouchak has been functioning this way through its 75-year journey.

The club is one of the oldest among those around Kona, Chamrail and Jagadishpur. Senior members of the club remember seeing Martin Rail pass from the front of the club. Although established in the pre-Independence years, the members were not associated with the freedom struggle. “At that time, this was a remote village in Howrah with only a handful of residents, most of whom were farmers. Gradually, people from other places have come and settled in Chamrail,” said Sailendranath Mondal, the secretary of the club.

Those who liked to do physical training or were involved in music, did not have a place to practise. “They would go to local resident, Tarapada Mondal’s house which became a centre for physical exercise and cultural activities,” said Mondal. Later, the local zamindar, Panchkari Santra, donated land for a club. This was a low-lying pond which was filled to make the first club house. “Initially, the club house had a mud floor and bamboo walls and a tiled roof. Later, the building was made into a concrete structure,” said Mondal.

Mouchak was initially started with the purpose of providing space for gym and physical training. Later, however, the members took interest in social welfare of Chamrail, including literacy drives. The founders of the club were Sisir Kumar Ganguly, Rohini Kumar Mondal, Naresh Chandra Manna and Ashwini Kumar Mondal and they began several welfare activities. “Many institutions in Chamrail had started from this club. Chamrail High School was initiated at this club. When the school building was not there, classes were held at the club. Members were involved in welfare activities like clearing overgrowth in residential areas, cleaning drains and other activities,” said Sachin Das, a member of the club.

The children’s section of the club started 45 years ago. It started with bratachari sessions at the club and the children from this club would go to Sab Peyechir Asar. Much later, the club band was formed. The library was a part of the club at one time but became a government sponsored library in 1982. A blind school also ran from the club, till the school found its own building nearby. The new club house was built in 1998 and the first floor was extended in 2010.

At present the club is involved in cultural activities like holding classical dance and music, recitation and art and craft lessons. A handwritten magazine, Pora, was earlier published by the club members, but it stopped after a wall magazine started at the library. Yogasana is also practised at the club.

There are not too many sports activities, the reason being that the club does not have its own ground. “The club never had its own playground which is why we could never carry out regular coaching camps. We do have a volleyball team, but they practise at the barowari committee ground. We also organise an inter-club cricket tournament with underarm bowling,” said Mondal.

The platinum jubilee celebration started from January 4 with a colourful procession. More events are coming up later this year. “We will have cultural competitions at different times of the year and we also plan to organise an inter-district underarm bowling cricket tournament where 16 teams from Howrah, Hooghly and other districts will be participating,” said Mondal.

FACTFILE

Name: Mouchak
Estd: 1940
Address: PO and Village, Chamrail
Activities: Music, dance, recitation and yogasana

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta,India / Front Page> Howrah> Story / by Daila Mukherjee / Friday – July 03rd, 2015