Quetta: Women’s 100-year-old ‘Purda Club’

It was the year 1921 when United India was ruled by the British Empire and Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, was home to many British families.

Among these Englishmen were three women, whose names were Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Stewart, and Mrs. Cordozar.

These women decided to create a place for women in Quetta, after which they inaugurated the club at Mrs. Cordozo’s house.

This place was then located on this road, where the first fruit market and now Baldia Plaza building is located.

At the end of 1921 Sir Armin Dave was appointed Agent to Governor General (AGG) of Balochistan and his wife took over the presidency of the club and organized the institution.

At that time it was a bungalow which was bought by a contractor Rai Bahadur Karamchand for 36 thousand and presented to Lady Arman Deo for women.

So this club was named Lady Deo Parda Club and this series is still going on.

The objectives of this club were constructive and recreational as at that time women were confined to the confines of the home and social interaction was limited due to rituals.

After the establishment of this club, women of different tribes, religions and schools of thought had an opportunity to meet. While the devastating earthquake of 1935 completely destroyed Quetta, the Parda Club building could not be protected from this earthquake.

The land chosen by the government of that time to build the Sandeman Hospital was falling short and the government requested the President Parda Club that if the land of the Parda Club was given to the hospital, the hospital could be built on a larger area. And in return the club would be given an alternative site, upon which the club members agreed to the proposal and thus the current curtain-raised club was moved to an alternative site on Inscombe Road which still stands.

The general secretary of the club, Mrs. Bushra Kamal, says that the reason why this club has been established for a hundred years is that it does not involve any kind of politics. All the women who come here are like they belong to a family.’

‘The second reason is that we carry everyone along,’ she says. This institution does not do any program itself, but we also include women related institutions in it.’

Bushra says that ‘for all the programs that are held in this club, the members themselves give money generously. We have not been given any fund by any organization or government till date. All this is going on with your help.’

According to the general secretary of the club, Mrs. Bushra Kamal, all the women who come here are like they belong to a family (Hazar Khan Baloch).

Mrs. Soraya Ullah Deen, who has been the general secretary of this club three times, writes in the booklet published about this club that in 1965, the wife of Faridullah Shah Commissioner Quetta laid the foundation stone of this club building as the president. And this building was constructed with the cooperation of Faridullah Shah.

A hall, kitchen and store were built in this building. The then Administrator Municipal Committee AR Siddiqui supervised the work and thus the club functions were shifted from the Guide House to its own building.’

Sorayaullah Deen writes that ‘Ladies’ Purdah Club has 90 members as per 1992 records. Each member pays an annual contribution of one hundred rupees. A separate donation is collected for the monthly tea party.’

She further writes that ‘club events include fancy dress shows, fashion shows, flower decoration competitions, cooking competitions, annual picnics, music concerts, iftar parties, Eid Milan parties, Independence Day celebrations, annual Milad celebrations. Apart from this, a conference on Holy Qur’an and Sirat is held.

Purda Club’s brochure stated that ‘This club was formally registered as a non-governmental organization by the Department of Social Welfare in 1978. This club gave rise to many welfare and social organizations. Among them are Apwa Balochistan, Helpers Association, Qalam Qiba, Children’s Academy, Balochistan Women’s Hockey Association and Lions Club.