#history
YMCA in India.
The YMCA in India took roots in Calcutta, way back in 1857, after a short-lived attempt in starting one in 1854.
On February 27, 1857, the Calcutta Christian Juvenile Society of 1822 formed by John Lawsan, a Baptist Missionary associated with William Carey, changed its name to Calcutta YMCA.
This was the beginning of the very first YMCA in Asia to be followed by the one in Colombo, Trivandrum, Bombay, Madras and several others.
In 1889, the Y.M.C.A. International Committee sent a young American named David McConaughy to Madras to serve as the first foreign secretary in India. He was later instrumental in forming the National Council of India, Burma, and Ceylon, after a conference in 1891, which brought together representatives from 35 local associations. The National Headquarters was set up at 5 Russell Street in Calcutta in 1891, and stayed there until it was shifted to New Delhi in 1964.
The beautiful building at 25A Chowringhee Road was set up in 1902.
The inaugural lecture on ‘Alcohol, Science and Christianity was delivered by the Reverend AH Bowman. Today an old staircase leads to the first floor that has a badminton court (open to members-only), office rooms and an indoor cafe with an open-air extension for walk-ins. The lodging and dining facilities are operated by eastern India’s Seacom Group.
