Progress for Gokhale Hall
The built heritage of Chennai has never had it so good. It was only a few months ago that we in Madras Musings had reported on how Bharat Insurance (Kardyl) Buildings is soon to be restored, with the Life Insurance Corporation of India, the owners of the heritage structure, moving ahead at long last with the task. Now, we are happy to report that yet another cause celebre may soon come to a satisfactory conclusion. And that is historic Gokhale Hall on Armenian Street. As per a letter received from IIT Madras, which is published in page 3 of our latest issue, there has been considerable progress on paper at least, in the process of restoration of the heritage structure.
The disturbing trend of Heritage demolition
Both Bharat Insurance Building and Gokhale Hall were catalysts in moving forward the battle to secure the built heritage of the city. In the first decades of the present millennium, it was the practice to dismiss all structures constructed during the colonial era as vestiges of an unwanted past. The Government actively encouraged demolition of such buildings and put up very poorly designed modern high rise in their place. The trend had begun even in the 1980s but it was only from the 1990s onwards that real estate within the city became serious business and every inch was viewed only from the commercial angle. The list of Government-owned heritage buildings that have vanished is long.
When the Heritage Act was born
It was in 2010 that the tide turned. The High Court had already dealt with several litigations against demolition of heritage structures and had in most instances cited rightfully that it could do nothing in the absence of an Act to protect historic buildings. In 2010, cases pertaining to both Bharat Insurance Building and Gokhale Hall came up for judgement. The court not only ordered their preservation but also went ahead in presenting the Government with a list of heritage structures in the city and suggested that a Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) be formed to protect them. It also asked the Government to come up with a Heritage Act. This judgement remains very important in the journey of preserving heritage in the city.
A space for fair review and consideration
The subsequent history of the HCC and the progress of the Heritage Act have not exactly been edifying. But what is undeniable is that the mere constitution of an HCC meant that there was a review mechanism in place when it came to dealing with heritage. It was possible for instance to ensure that Chennai Metrorail designed stations in keeping with the skyline in historic areas. This was in sharp contrast to the monstrosities that the MRTS put up. Many of the Government-owned heritage buildings received a fresh lease of life. This of course cannot be attributed to the HCC but the Government itself, post the judgement, had a change of heart on heritage. A conservation cell was created within the Public Works Department with trained engineers, and it has been doing good work.
Our need for the Heritage Act to be pervasive
That all of this is in place even without bringing into force the Heritage Act of 2012 is commendable. However, it is essential that there is progress on the Act itself. Without it, heritage depends on the whims of those in power. And private heritage continues to remain at risk. In fact in the absence of the Act it is privately-owned heritage structures that have suffered the most with most having vanished. In the meanwhile, let us celebrate the news of the proposed restoration of Gokhale Hall and may the edifice soon gain its rightful place as an intellectual and cultural centre as envisioned by Annie Besant, its founder.
(LETTER FROM IIT MADRAS) :
Dear Sriram,
Trust this mail finds you in the best of health and cheer.
I am writing this mail in connection with the article on Heritage Watch in the 16-31 March 2024 edition of Madras Musings (Vol. XXXIII, No. 23) on the status of the Heritage Act 2012. Non-implementation of the provisions of the Heritage Act of 2012 by the TN Government is a serious omission.
However, with reference to the case example that the article cites (i.e., Gokhale Hall), the information in the article is not factually correct. Young Men’s Indian Association (YMIA), established by Dr. Annie Besant in 1914, which owns Gokhale Hall, was signatory to a tripartite MoU with IIT Madras’ National Centre for Safety of heritage Structures (NCSHS) and National Council for Science Museums (NCSM), Kolkata under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India in September 2022 for a project aimed at adapting the heritage structure into a Museum of the Freedom Struggle, with emphasis on freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu. After a thorough study spanning over 8 months, NCSHS submitted a feasibility report for use of the heritage building for the said purpose, and a detailed project report with the necessary structural restoration interventions and ancillary facilities to cater to such an activity in the building.
The Museum layout has been designed by NCSM. While there are segments of the building with severely dilapidated floors, the central domed hall (from which the building gets its name) and the front facade and spaces adjoining these are in fairly good condition. “Roofless for 14 years now and hanging by a thread” as the article sums up the status of the building is not representative.
We have successfully obtained permission from the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) of CMDA last week, after due process of submission of proposed restoration details, discussions and design alterations extending over the period, July 2023 to March 2024. NCSM will now proceed with tendering to rehabilitate the building and put in place the proposed museum, with funds from the Ministry of Culture (GoI). The intent was to start this work in the 75th year celebrations of Indian Independence under the Aazadi ka Amrut Mahotsav scheme.
Thank you for your kind attention and with warm regards.
Arun Menon
Professor (Structural Engineering)
Department of Civil Engineering
IIT Madras, Chennai – 600 036, TN
and Coordinator
National Centre for Safety of Heritage Structures (NCSHS)
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras.