My Tribute for the tragic loss of iconic ‘Secunderabad  Club’ by a devastating fire accident today on 16th Jan 2022.

The Secunderabad Club was established on 26th April 1878, in british army Secunderabad Cantontment, meant mainly for british army officials. Initially called ” Secunderabad Public Rooms ” in the year 1888 it was named as ” United Services Club”, originally land with a hunting lodge belonged to Sir SalarJung I, which he gifted for the club.

Architecture – The well balanced design of 150 year old building is of  “Colonial”  architecture style located on a vast serene 22 acres of land, with as old trees. Right in the centre is a entrance “porch” with a low lying “close couple” tiled gable roof with trusses supporting on twin very well dressed stone pillars on either sides. The low plinth stairway leads to the bar lounge with galleries on either sides, which connects the inner areas and courtyards.

The very high roof of lounge is supported on network of trusses. All around walls are adorned with wild animal trophies donated by club members, portraits of past presidents who served as administrators in respected tenures. Colourful army regimental insignias/coat of arms. Beautiful old wood lounge furniture , bar counter,etc. the wooden wall panelling, I have no words to describe how well its decorated and maintained.

On front facade in between the high stone pillars are the fixed wooden venetian blinds to prevent the rainwater splashing in, cosy courtyards which served as dining spaces surrounded with colonade of stone pillars and “flat arches” connecting the cards rooms, coffee shop ,restaurants , billiards room, library, etc.On upper floor is a ” ballroom” with beautiful ” paraquet” flooring reached by a interesting engineering wonder a lovely wooden staircase.

Billards Room- high cieling with well laid out snooker and billiard tables , one of them a rare eight legged 1892 dated.

Pianos – Still in use 1851 dated manufactured by Feurich Piano Co.,Germany and Adolf Ernst Voist, Germany.

Library – Has a proud collection of over 50,000 books some of them very rare.

Printing press- dates back to 1885 , some peinting machines still in use.

In this tragic fire the areas located on front facade have gutted along with all the artefacts and exhibits, resulting in irreplaceable loss of heritage, i have described in my write up using a tense asif everything exists, for its hard for me to believe this loss.

ASIF ALI KHAN

Architect, Hyderabad.