Secunderabad Clock Tower
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Short description|Clock tower located in the Secunderabad, Hyderabad, India}}
{{Infobox monument
|monument_name = Secunderabad Clock Tower
|native_name = Clock Tower
|image = Clock Tower Secunderabad.jpg
|caption =
|location = Secunderabad, Telangana
|designer =the nizam
|type = victory column
|material =
|length =
|width =
|height = {{convert|120|ft}}{{cite news|title=Clock Tower Park to open, finally|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/27/stories/2006022715620300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418122744/http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/27/stories/2006022715620300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2007|accessdate=7 November 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|date=27 February 2006}}
|begin =
|complete =
|open = {{start date and age|1 February 1897}}
|dedicated_to = British officers posted at the erstwhile Secunderabad Cantonment
|map_image =
|map_caption =
|map_width =
|coordinates = {{coord|17.4408|78.4985|display=inline,title}}
|extra =
}}
Secunderabad Clock Tower is a clock tower located in the Secunderabad region of Hyderabad, India. Constructed in 1860 on {{convert|10|acre}} of land, the structure was inaugurated on 1 February 1897.
History
A firman issued by Nizam Sikandar Jah established the city of Secunderabad after his name in 1806.{{cite news|last=Nanisetti|first=Serish|title=The man, his mite and Secunderabad|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/06/03/stories/2006060303650100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905212053/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/06/03/stories/2006060303650100.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=5 September 2006|accessdate=7 November 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 June 2006}} To honour the progress achieved by the British officers stationed at Secunderabad Cantonment in Hyderabad, the erstwhile British government established {{convert|10|acre}} of land for this purpose in 1860.{{cite news|title=Time stands still at Clock Tower|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/13/stories/2007021321680400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219021701/http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/13/stories/2007021321680400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 February 2007|accessdate=7 November 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|date=13 February 2007}} A 120-ft high clock tower was constructed in a park of {{convert|2.5|acre}} in 1896. The tower was inaugurated by Resident Sir Trevor John Chichele Plowden on 1 February 1897. The clock on the tower was donated by Dewan Bahadur Seth Lachmi Narayan Ramgopal, a businessman.
In 2003, the tower was placed on a demolition list drawn up by the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad to accommodate the increasing traffic. A senior official at this civic agency of the Government of Andhra Pradesh said that they were trying their best not to demolish this structure.{{cite news|title=Secunderabad clock tower on MCH demolition list|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad-times/Secunderabad-clock-tower-on-MCH-demolition-list/articleshow/36705233.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|accessdate=7 November 2010|date=7 February 2003}} In 2006, the park housing the tower was chosen for renovation by the same agency. Carried out at a cost of {{INRConvert|10|m}}, the park's size was reduced to widen the roads. In addition, the tower was renovated, the park was landscaped with lawns and hedges, and a waterfall was installed. The renovation was completed in 2005, and the park was inaugurated by then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in 2006.{{cite news|title=Renovated Clock Tower Park to be opened today|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Renovated-Clock-Tower-Park-to-be-opened-today/articleshow/1429861.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103205322/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-27/hyderabad/27807916_1_geographical-information-system-automatic-vehicle-inauguration|url-status=live|archive-date=3 November 2012|access-date=7 November 2010|newspaper=The Times of India|date=26 February 2006}} A martyr's memorial was also established inside the park in memory of the first police firing in 1969 during a separate Telangana agitation.{{cite news|title=Floral tributes to Telangana martyrs|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/05/stories/2010040557820600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409092238/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/05/stories/2010040557820600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 April 2010|accessdate=7 November 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|date=5 April 2010}} Within a year after this, two of the tower's four clocks experienced technical problems and stopped working.
The tower was declared a heritage structure in the twin cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad. It was as a result of the efforts put by the civic agency at sites like this tower that the proposal to seek UNESCO Heritage status for Hyderabad was revived.{{cite news|last=Khan |first=Mir Ayoob Ali |title=Heritage hope alive |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Heritage-hope-alive/articleshow/1770238.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103205334/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-03-16/hyderabad/27869927_1_world-heritage-city-status-mch-huda |url-status=live |archive-date=3 November 2012 |access-date=7 November 2010 |newspaper=The Times of India |date=16 March 2007 }}
In 2006, the 200-year celebrations of the formation of Secunderabad were organised by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The clock tower was chosen as the subject of the logo, which was designed by a local firm.{{cite news|title=Towering logo for 'splendid' city|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/23/stories/2006052320360300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060701075128/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/23/stories/2006052320360300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 July 2006|accessdate=7 November 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|date=23 May 2006}} The outline of the Clock Tower was first conceived by the students of a city architectural college.{{cite news|last=Vijay Kumar|first=Renuka|title=Students lead the way|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/06/stories/2006090600300100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108091602/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/06/stories/2006090600300100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 November 2012|accessdate=7 November 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|date=6 September 2006}} A short cinema film of 9 minutes, 30 seconds by director Mani Shankar was released as a part of this celebration. The film, which relates the history of the city, features the clock tower in it.{{cite news |last=K. |first=Sangeetha Devi |title=A cinematic ode to Secunderabad |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/06/06/stories/2006060600670200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108091540/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/06/06/stories/2006060600670200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 November 2012 |accessdate=7 November 2010 |newspaper=The Hindu |date=6 June 2006 }}
The park housing the tower also served as a venue for promoting various citizen-centric events such as a children's film festival,{{cite news|last=Yousuf|first=Mohammed |title=Children’s film festival |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/11/11/stories/2009111151311500.htm |accessdate=7 November 2010 |newspaper=The Hindu|date=11 November 2009}} awareness programs among others.{{cite news |title=Campaign held to spread awareness about sanitation |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/26/stories/2006112615870300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220064543/http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/26/stories/2006112615870300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2008 |accessdate=7 November 2010 |newspaper=The Hindu |date=26 November 2006 }}
References
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External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20190824110930/https://dailypicked.com/clock-towers-of-hyderabad/ 13 Historical Clock Towers of Hyderabad]}}
Category:Towers completed in 1897
Category:Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India
Category:Tourist attractions in Telangana