secunderabad: Priceless Heritage Lost In Ashes | Hyderabad News
Perhaps, the talismanic charm failed to work on Sunday and the invaluable collection in the main hall of the 144-year-old grand club was lost in the flames forever.
Every piece of heritage in the ballroom, Colonnade Bar and billiards room and a few office rooms of the club were reduced to ashes in the early Sunday morning fire. Right from billiards tables to hunting trophies, chandeliers and war memorials to sports trophies and wooden furniture to regimental coat-of-arms were lost. None from the lost collection is less than 120 years old.
“Though the property loss is estimated to be around 20 crore, the heritage and antique value of the arts and artefacts burnt to ashes cannot be valued,” said heritage experts. According to them, they are simply priceless as they reflect the heritage of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
What however came as a solace is that the fire had not touched the library and the mixed lounge where some of the priceless books and murals are present. The heritage trees on the campus including the 120-year-old Peepul and 140-year-old Baobab trees are in good condition.
The club built on Salar Jung’s land in 1878 is one of the five oldest clubs in India. Prior to the relocation of the club on the current premises, the campus served as a sojourn for the Nizam’s prime minister. The fire consumed the largest collection of regimental coat of arms (of Secunderabad troops) in any club in India. Sports trophies including the one with Hussainsagar engraved on it was also lost, as also the trophy wall containing stuffed crocodile, mountain goat, bison and a tiger skin.
The main clubhouse building had won Intach heritage award. Intach city convener P Anuradha Reddy told TOI that it was a major loss for the heritage of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
“The collection was priceless and one of a kind. Intach will help in renovation of the structure,” she said.
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