B’lore a graveyard of stately structures

B’lore a graveyard of stately structures
Tuesday May 6 2008 10:13 IST

Bosky Khanna
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BANGALORE: THE YMCA building on Nrupatunga Road is just the latest on the radar of developers looking at profits, while caring little for Bangalore’s heritage.

Bangalore’s renowned structure — Victoria Hotel — a hotel and knowledge house of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, was demolished to give way to Bangalore Central mall on Residency Road. The hotel reflected colonial architecture and was a heritage property. Churchill, who was in the City during 1898-99 as a young army officer, visited it everyday.

He was posted here to report the daily events of the British Army to higher-ups in England. The serene atmosphere attracted the young officer, where he spent his evenings at its library reading newspapers, research head of ‘Discover Bengaluru’, Arun Prasad, told this paper.

The small, two-storeyed building had a dining hall with a Mangalore-tiled roof and brick and mortar structures. These Victorian style architectures are gradually vanishing courtesy the developer-businessmen- politicians nexus.

Bangalore-based historian and author of India After Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy, Ramachandra Guha, says, ‘‘There remains no evidence to prove Bangalore’s 600-yearold history.’’ He added that Bangalore must consider Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai’s examples where strong measures are in place to preserve their respective heritages.

Another heritage structure, Halsoor Gate, built in 1537 by Kempegowda, which was a part of Kempegowda Fort, remains no more. The gate was destroyed in 1791 by the British during the Third War of Mysore when Tipu Sultan was killed. Remains of Halsoor Gate (which originally led to the Fort in KR Market), was located opposite to BBMP head office and was destroyed two decades ago for constructing Halsoor Gate Police station and a commercial complex.

Historian Suryanath Kamath said the government is to be blamed for destruction of heritage. ‘‘The front portion of Mythic Society on Nrupathunga Road was leased to a private petroleum agency in 1968-69 at a nominal price. After a long tussle with the government, it was bought out. This hampered the beauty of Mythic Society’s European style architecture patronised by Mysore Maharaja,’’ he said.