Lady Hydari Club
Lady Hydari Club was an elite club exclusive to women in the erstwhile Hyderabad state in India. It was located in what is now the Old Gandhi Medical College near Basheerbagh. History The club was started in 1929 by Lady Amina Hydari so that women could play tennis and socialise. The club is named in commemoration of Lady Amina Hydari, wife of Sir Akbar Hydari, President of the Nizam’s Executive Council, 1938-42. It was used by both elite Indian and British women and The Hyderabad Ladies’ Association Club which was founded in 1901. In 1952 there was a conference of social workers at the club. One of the speakers was Eleanor Roosevelt. The Club The building was designed by Zain Yar Jung. It featured a special entrance which allowed veiled women (zenana) to be delivered by car and enter without being seen. The large entrance foyer opened out onto rooms and halls. Women could play Tambola, cards or badminton or take lessons in cooking or needlework. The club use to organize an annual tennis tournament for women. The club was at one time the fashionable location for weddings. The club once ran a school for the poor of the area