Demolition of nearly century-old colonial-era building at BCU decried
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The university has stated that the building, which was over 90 years old, was in a severely dilapidated condition and was demolished based on an expert report. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University (DMSBCU) has demolished a two-storey building with Victorian architecture that housed the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) office and was only a few years short of completing a century.
The university stated that the building, which was over 90 years old, was in a severely dilapidated condition and was demolished based on an expert report.
However, members of voluntary organisations, including Heritage Beku and INTACH Bengaluru, have objected to the move.
The building in question was modelled on the University Union Building at Mysore University, built in 1920. Ten years later, in 1930, an almost identical building, the University Union of Central College, was inaugurated in Bengaluru.
Located at the intersection of Palace Road and Kempe Gowda Road, the building had a reading room and library as well as facilities for table tennis, draughts and chess. It also housed a debating hall.
The South Regional Centre of the ICHR had been operating in this building since 1998. In addition, the Prasaranga of Hampi University and Forum of Former Vice-Chancellors of Karnataka (FVCK) were also functioning there.
Speaking to The Hindu, Ramesh B., Vice-Chancellor, DMBCU, clarified that the demolished structure was not a heritage building. “We have not demolished any heritage building. The structure that was pulled down was in a severely dilapidated state and was on the verge of collapse. Experts from the Civil Engineering Department of the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) thoroughly examined the building and submitted a report stating that it was unfit for continued use. Based on this report, we proceeded with the demolition,” he said.
“Adjacent to the demolished structure stands another building of the same architectural style, which previously housed the law college. This building is in good condition; therefore, a decision has been made to renovate and preserve it,” Prof. Ramesh added.
However, heritage conservation groups in the city do not accept the university’s argument and have opposed the demolition.
Priya Chetty Rajagopal, founder of Heritage Beku, condemned the demolition of the building. “It was a truly beautiful building. When we previously met the Vice-Chancellor of the university, we offered the necessary assistance to preserve these structures, but that offer was not taken up. It is the duty of us all to protect the city’s old heritage buildings, which possess fine architectural qualities. In this regard, we will immediately submit an online petition to the Minister for Higher Education, urging that heritage buildings remain untouched under any circumstances.”
Meera Iyer, convenor, INTACH-Bengaluru, said the building was not declared or notified as a heritage building. “But it was included in a list of buildings to be protected in a draft master plan that was not finally approved. These buildings need to be preserved and conserved,” she said.
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