The story of the Senate House has been repeated often in this blog. This Indo-Saracenic dream, created by RF Chisholm in the 1870s, had been much neglected in recent years. A magnificent restoration exercise in 2007 came to nought when the building was closed once again, and left to go back to seed. Thanks to the Chennai Photo Biennale, the building was made a venue for pictures. That enabled many to go into the place and take pictures. The interest it generated was a clear indicator if its tourism potential, manifest to everyone except the University authorities that is. The edifice has been locked up once again. Here are some photos I took –
Ground floor verandah, Senate House
View of Madras Terrace grid, staircase court, University Senate House
MGR Memorial, as seen from University Senate House
Rose windows, smaller lecture hall, Senate House
Main Hall, University Senate House
Convocation Hall, as seen from grand staircase, University Senate House
View of Canvas Panels, University Senate House
Rose windows above arched entrances, University Senate House
Smaller Lecture Room, University Senate House
Arches, first floor verandah, University Senate House
View of Jubilee Buildings from Senate House
Bricks piled up in first floor verandah, University Senate House
Canvas Ceiling Panel, University Senate House
Another View of Ceiling Panels, University Senate House
Canvas Panels torn and left uncared for, University Senate House
The photos are seductive, probably your love for the city came through more strongly than the reality itself! I recently saw it…. there are portions of Sgrafitti murals which are damaged, the Madras Chunam plaster is withering. Books and maintenance material are carelessly strewn about. The verandahs are full of sleeping policemen (I don’t blame them, they are put on duty to “protect” some VIP who may randomly pass via Beach road at an unspecified time during the day). If this is the state of the University which supposed to be the guardian of our intellectual wealth, I shudder to think of other heritage sites named by the honourable HC. Dear Chisholm, please forgive us, hopefully this too shall pass.