The No.1 Ladies club

The Queen Mother Kempa Nanjammani set up the 95-year-old club to provide opportunities for the women of

Mysuru

to engage in cultural activities, recreation, and encourage them to socialize.

The Vani Vilasa Ladies Club in Mysuru stands yet another testament to the fact that the Mysuru royals and administrators were progressive and way ahead of their times.

In 1922, Kempa Nanjammani, fondly called Vani Vilasa, the Queen Mother of Mysuru, proposed the idea of a club, exclusively for women. At a time when most women were expected to stay at home, possibly no one but the redoubtable Queen Mother could have made this happen.

The Maharani was 57 at the time. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar's reign was stable, and Mysuru was in the middle of its golden period. The Queen Mother was able to turn her attention to causes that were dear to her - women's education and rights. And one of the results of her efforts was the Vani Vilasa Ladies Club.

The club was set up to provide opportunities for the women of Mysuru to engage in cultural activities, provide recreation, and encourage them to socialize. The socializing had another effect. The club soon became the rallying point for feminists, advocating women’s rights in the first half of the last century.

The club was inaugurated by Maharani Vani Vilasa on November 29, 1922, and was housed at the Karanji Mansion originally. It later moved to its new premises at ‘Fair Lawn’ in Nazarbad, the tiled roof single storey heritage structure that evokes images of the bygone era.

Initially, it was only affluent women who could become club members. However, this changed when Maharani Tripura Sundarammani took over as the president of the club in 1971, who did away with the ballot system of the club for new members in a bid to encourage ladies from middle class families to become members.

Around 15 to 20 ladies made up the club’s first members with Maharani Vani Vilasa as the Chief Patroness and her friend Miss McGann as its first vice president. Lakshmivilasa Pratapa Kumari, wife of Mysore Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, later on became the vice president of the club.

The club has a tradition of having the Maharani of Mysore as its president and the Yuvrani as its vice president. Presently, the club has 101 members with Pramoda Devi Wadiyar as its president and patron.

Septuagenarian Usha Maheshwari Urs has been associated with the club for the past four decades. Reminiscing over her association with the institution, she said “The club was always way ahead of its times. I remember women from different strata of the society playing games such as tennis, table tennis, chess, bridge, and cards.” She said even to this day the club is active and regularly organizes tea parties, coffee parties and game tournaments.

Citing that the number of youngsters being inducted as members of the club has been dwindling she says, “We do not have many young women members. Only elderly women who have been visiting the club are actively coming to the club. We need the active participation of young women to carry forward the rich traditions of the club.”

Carrying the legacy of the club forward is essential says former secretary of the club, Banashankari Devi. “The club was founded by Vani Vilasa who belongs to the Urs community. I have been visiting the club since my childhood I have made my daughters members of the club to ensure the bond continues. The club has a rich legacy and it has to continue.”

Pointing out that the club has been conducting activities to revive ancient games such as Pagade and Chouka Baara she said, “We conducted a Pagade and Chouka Baara tournament which received a huge response. Our intent is to save the traditional games and revive them. When younger generations involve themselves in such tournaments the games will be passed on from one generation to another. The tournaments held at the club were open to women including non-members.”

Crediting Pramoda Devi Wadiyar for taking active interest in the club and its activities Banashankari Devi adds, “As the patron of the club she has been keenly involved in all the activities and has been a guiding force. She is actively involved with the club and its decision making.”

“My grandmother and mother are members of the club and I have been a guest to the club since childhood. I used to take part in games such and lemon and spoon, gunny bag race that were held as part of various celebrations at the club. Now, I regularly take part in games such as four corners and housie,” says Aishwarya Tripura Sundari Devi.

“I became a member of the club this year and have transitioned from a guest to a member which makes me feel privileged to be associated with the esteemed club founded by my foremother. Being a part of the rich legacy of the club makes me proud,” she adds.

Club made waves on Akashvani

Lakshmivilasa Pratapa Kumari Ammani, The Dowager Maharani’s keen interest in music resulted in the club forming its own orchestra. Performances were organized at the club and at the Mysuru Palace and some of these performances were also broadcasted on All India Radio/ Akashvani.

The rich legacy of the club

Lady Wellington, Maharani of Gondal, Maharani of Baroda, Lady Ratan Tata, Lady Agha Khan, Lady Marshall, Maharani Sethu Parvathi Bai of Travancore, Maharani of Bhava Nagar, The Queen of Afghanistan and Mrs. W P Barton have all been guests of the esteemed club.

PROMINENT MEMBERS

Former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa’s grandmother, K D Rukminiamma who was the principal of Maharani’s college also served as the secretary of the club. Former Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, K S Nagarathanamma was a member of the club.

Celebrated novelist R K Narayan’s mother Gnanambal was a regular to the Vani Vilasa Ladies Club. Gnanambal played tennis or sat down for a game of chess and bridge at the Club. Her partner was the Maharani of Mysore, to whom she lost on many occasions. This close patronage with the Maharani resulted in her being invited to play at the palace or for a high tea at the Mysuru Palace.

The beginning: The club was inaugurated on November 29, 1922

Founder president: Maharani Vani Vilasa

Traditional games: Tournaments for Pagade and Chouka Baara still organized

—Shivendra Urs


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