Clocks show different times at Nalgonda clocktower, people allege neglect

The confusion caused to passersby, as each side of the tower displays a different time, has renewed criticism of the decision to dismantle the eight-decade-old clock tower in 2022. The original structure was one of 10 such towers established across the Hyderabad State by Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan, to mark the silver jubilee of his rule in 1937.

Crafted with brass components, the clock was built to ensure synchronised timing on all four sides and included an internal lamp for night visibility — a technological feat at the time. Ironically, despite modern advances, the current tower fails to replicate that accuracy.

Municipal authorities had argued that frequent repairs of the original clock justified its removal and replacement. However, the decision sparked widespread backlash among locals, who saw the tower not just as a timekeeper but as a symbol of Nalgonda’s heritage and civic identity.

Following the protests, the original 25-foot-high pillar was relocated near the Gundagoni Maisaiah statue, just 200 metres from the original junction. However, the iconic clock itself was never restored, and its current whereabouts remain unknown — raising concerns about the loss of a potential antique.

Noted writer Aelikatte Shankar Rao emphasised the emotional connection people have with the clock tower, recalling its role as a central venue during protests from the anti-Nizam movements to the Telangana agitation. “Authorities must restore the clocks and preserve the history they represent,” he said.

Social activist Bhongir Devender also criticised the municipal officials for ignoring public appeals to reinstall the clock in front of the Archaeology Museum at Panagal. He urged the government to reinstall the original clock atop the relocated pillar and restore its former glory.