A landmark is no more

Landmark vanishes in time’s abyss
deccan Herald

A nearly 100-year-old building has bit the dust in Bangalore. On Monday when Cash Pharmacy was pulled down, another of the City’s landmarks got obliterated.

A nearly 100-year-old building has bit the dust in Bangalore. On Monday when Cash Pharmacy was pulled down, another of the City’s landmarks got obliterated.

Cash Pharmacy catered mainly to the people of Cantonment area. But it was also one place looked up to by all Bangaloreans who were in search of medicines and life-saving drugs unavailable elsewhere in the City.

Located at the junction of St Mark’s Road and Residency Road, the building a few years ago had a first floor with monkey tops, typical of the colonial era buildings. Its unusual elevation made it stand out from the regular tiled-roof buildings around and a wooden facia and trellis ran around the first floor verandah.


The pharmacy outlet was set up by a British gentleman named Cash in 1908. It was later managed by Dr M N Mahadevan. G Rajendra Prasad, the present managing partner, says: “We are running the business from 1954. Originally from Kuppam, we are three brothers, and my eldest brother Nagendra Prasad was the one who started and built the business. Today my brother’s daughter Vandana and I handle the business along with my daughter Sumathi.”

The impending end was confirmed when the 12-year legal battle between the developer and the owner of the 20,000 sq ft land ended about six months ago. A plan for a three-storey building came in place with the ground floor to house Cash Pharmacy.

M A Parthasarathy of the Urban Arts Commission and heritage lovers had raised objection to the demolition of the building. The owner of the land in one of the most visible spots of Bangalore, had sought government intervention.

Irfan Razack, Chairman and Managing Director, Prestige Group, says “The new building will have characteristics similar to the old one.” With basement and parking arrangements around, the building is likely to be completed in 18 months. Along with Cash Pharmacy, one or two of the older tenants also will be accommodated in the new building, he adds.

While Cash Pharmacy will be back in a new incarnation, the old one will linger on in memory or as a picture in T P Issar’s book, The City Beautiful.