London: The India Club in London, a hub for Indian
nationalists in the UK during the independence movement in the 1930s and
40s, is fighting for its survival after plans emerged for the building
to be demolished internally.
The Club has its roots in the India League, which campaigned for Indian
independence in Britain, and is located near India House – the Indian
High Commission in the UK.
It has functioned as an Indian restaurant and hangout for Indian
journalists and intellectuals since 1946, with former Indian prime
ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi among its guests over the
years.
"This is a tragedy. We have done everything possible to retain the ethos
and spirit of the place. We intend to build as much community support
as possible to preserve this piece of Indian history," said Yadgar
Marker, the director of Goldsand Hotels Limited trading as The Strand
Continental Hotel – which houses the India Club.
Parsi-origin Marker has been running the establishment with his wife, Freny, since they rescued it from ruin in 1997.
He is now campaigning for it to receive listed status from English
Heritage as a historically important landmark to save it from
extinction.
The campaign has already received some high-profile backing, with
Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor speaking out in favour of a Club
co-founded by his late father, journalist Chandran Tharoor, along with V
K Krishna Menon – independent India's first high commissioner to the
UK.
"The India Club has, for many years, offered a home away from home for
Indians. It is iconic, as it has continued to preserve its old world
charm… Given the importance of The India Club to Londoners and Indians
alike, I am of the belief that it should be bestowed with 'heritage
status'," writes Tharoor in his endorsement letter.
The India Club is located on the first floor of the Strand Continental, a
26-room hotel always in high demand as a low-cost option in central
London for travellers.
The linked India Restaurant, which serves South Indian food, has been popular for its rustic and authentic Indian feel.