Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: London’s India Club, a historic establishment that served as a meeting place for Indians in the United Kingdom during the independence movement got permanently closed.
- The club, located in the Strand Continental Hotel, offered Indian cuisine and served as a hub for individuals associated with India in the UK. It had a rich history, with interiors that remained largely unchanged over the years.
About London’s India Club:
- Founded in 1951 by the India League, an organization initially advocating for Indian independence and later promoting Indo-British friendship post-independence, the India Club played a crucial role in the lives of the Asian diaspora communities in Britain.
- It hosted various groups and activities, including the Indian Journalist Association, Indian Workers Association, and Indian Socialist Group of Britain.
- Throughout its existence, the India Club attracted prominent visitors, including Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of independent India, Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dadabhai Naoroji, Bertrand Russell, and MF Hussain, among others. VK Krishna Menon, a diplomat and former Indian Defence Minister, was one of the secretaries of the India Club.
