With the need for a common meeting ground, Ootacamund Club came into being in October 1841.
The founder of the Club was Captain Douglas who, together with the 7 other officers of the Madras and Bombay Armies, formed the first committee with Lt. Col. C. D. Dun as the first President. Captain Douglas at first undertook the office of Secretary until the establishment was firmly opened and then handed over this office to Dr. R. Baikie, MD MMS who devoted most of his time and attention to it.
Extracts of a circular dated January 1st, 1842, addressed to the European residents in India, by Dr. Baikie, reads: “To the Zeal, energy and perseverance of Capt. Douglas – the founder – the Club is indebted for having overcome these difficulties, and having succeeded in founding and opening the Ootacamund Club, now for 3 months in full operation.”
The concluding paragraph of his circular reads: “Much of it will be seen, has already been done, and with, but, limited means. It depends on an enlightened 7 liberal public to assist in carrying out what yet remains to be done, and the committee of management is now appealing to the whole Indian Community for their assistance and support, do so with the more confidence that their object is not only the limited one of adding to the comfort and convenience of a few, but the far higher one of smoothing the pillows and raising the languishing head of sickness and sorrow – of affording so far as may be, to the numerous sufferers from the effects of a tropical climate, a substitute for those comforts and conveniences otherwise only procurable in their native land, which they are forbidden by distance, want of time, and means, to partake of at their source.”
This circular tells us how and why Clubs in India came into being.
A link to Frederick Prices, narration on the formation of the Ooty Club, its prevailing Meal charges and invitation to Membership along with the list of members and their contribution can be viewed here.
Stepping into the Club today, one is transported back into time and into a world of panelled walls, parquet flooring, highly polished rosewood furniture and gleaming brass fittings.
Circling the walls of the Mixed Bar are lists of past master of the Ootacamund Hunt from 1845 onwards, as also lists of winners of the Ladies Point to Point races, and of the Peter Pan Cup – presented to the Ootacamund Hunt by the planters of South India.
Rules as in force in 1856 may be viewed here.
As membership increased over the years, expansion, including a line of bedrooms, and alterations were made in 1863.
The large Ballroom is adorned with well-preserved hunting trophies - such as the skin and heads of tiger, leopard, bear, bison, and Sambar deer – donated obviously by members. To the right of the Mixed Bar is a second bar dedicated to the memory of Col. Jago who, as a Captain in the Army, introduced jackal hunting in Ooty in 1872. An imposing painting of him, with his original riding crop encased below, adorns one of the walls in this room.
The home of the Ootacamund club has many claims to fame. Apart from being the residence of the first Governor General of India, it was home to several governors - though, it was deprived of the honour of housing His Majesty King Edward VII, when his visit to Ooty in 1875 (then, he was the Prince of Wales) was abandoned due to an outbreak of cholera in the plains.
The game Snooker, though first thought up in an officer’s Mess in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, around 1875, took serious root in the Ooty club, where Sir Neville Chamberlain first posted its rules. History was created, and is preserved with reverence, in the Billiards room.
The Club was incorporated in 1889 as a Company under the Indian Companies Act.
New chambers were constructed in 1898.
In 1904, an annex for women was constructed.
Today, the Club boasts of around 900 members from all major cities in India. Heritage and tradition are firmly entrenched within its walls, and have been zealously guarded and upheld by generations of members. The Club has grown from strength to strength over the years and can proudly, without doubt, rank as one of the finest Clubs in the country. The rules regulating personal conduct, dress and discipline within its surroundings, are the club's strength - for, culture sustains rules and adherence to rules propagates culture.
A link to Fredrick Prices, narration on the formation of the Ooty Club, its prevailing Meal charges and invitation to membership,list of members and their contribution maybe viewed here.
