The Hindu : New Delhi News : History takes a beating at Delhi Assembly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 18, 2006
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

History takes a beating at Delhi Assembly

Mandira Nayar

Original furniture has been replaced

NEW DELHI: These were chairs and tables where the forefathers of modern India sat and debated, but the inheritors of free India seem to have no respect for their history.

With the original furniture from the Delhi Assembly ripped out to be replaced with swanky new models and changes made to the building, conservationists in the city are outraged at what they see as a criminal loss to history.

"It is very sad that a Government building should be treated in this insensitive manner. It shows that there is no regard for history. It is criminal to have got rid of the furniture. It is like selling family heirlooms for the price of wood," fumes senior conservationist A.G.K. Menon.

The sentimental and historic dimensions of the furniture apart, its physical replacement has also raised questions about the ad hoc manner in which the building has been given a facelift. While levels of awareness about heritage and conservation have increased over the years -- the Rajasthan Government, for instance, has empanelled conservation architects for its historic buildings -- the blatant disregard for established principles of conservation in Delhi is shocking, say experts, adding that to keep up with the changing times in the world of history the Archaeological Survey of India has also started roping in conservation architects on projects.

Interestingly, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was approached to make a presentation on restoration of Old Secretariat; its suggestions for making changes sensitively were totally ignored.

"On the one hand the Delhi Government has passed a legislation on heritage, but on the other it has shown a lack of understanding in the House. It is a PWD engineering solution for a heritage building. It shows up the callous nature of the people at the helm of affairs. I believe that the oil paintings in the Assembly have been replaced by digital ones! Where have the original ones gone," asks O.P. Jain, convenor of INTACH Delhi Chapter.

The historic Old Secretariat building was designed by E. Montague Thomas.

Apart from housing the Central Legislative Secretariat of British India, it also housed the Legislative Assembly when the national Capital shifted to Delhi. It was an important building during the freedom movement as this is where Pandit Motilal Nehru, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and other luminaries sat for hours debating. And now, apart from the written history, there is little else in the building reflecting that era.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi