Chisholm's wonderful creation
NIMI KURIAN
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Built in 1873, the Senate House was recently restored to its former glory.
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Ideally situated, this architectural marvel occupies pride of place on Chennai's Marina beachfront.
SENATE HOUSE: Harmonious blend of Indo-Saracenic style with Byzantine and European architectural features. PHOTO: T.A. HAFEEZ
It was once the site of the Nawab of Carnatic's artillery park and it was from here that salvoes were fired to welcome visiting dignitaries. Ideally situated, this architectural marvel occupies pride of place on Chennai's Marina beachfront. The Senate House, in the University of Madras campus, has a long history.
The University of Madras was established in 1857. At that time its only member was the Presidency College, and the University's offices were housed there. However, soon it was obvious that more space was required for the expanding university. So the government advertised an all India competition for the design of the Presidency College and the University. It so happened that around this time a young architect had just arrived in Calcutta. He submitted his designs and was declared the winner. It is the design of Robert Fellowes Chisholm that we see today in all its grandeur at the Senate House.
Restoration
It is "a harmonious blend of Indo-Saracenic style with Byzantine and European architectural features". Chisholm began work in May 1869 and completed it by 1873. While the main hall was used for convocations, portions were also used for meetings of the senate, the syndicate and academic departments of the university. Convocations held in the hall were supposed to have been grand affairs with "cluster lamps and fans on pedestals".
Even as late as 1965 convocations were held in this stately building. But since then it had fallen into disrepair and as the years passed it seemed as if it had really fallen on bad times.
However, thanks to the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and others committed to restoration, this magnificent piece of architecture got a new lease of life and has been restored to its former glory. On September 4, this year, the President of India re-dedicated the newly renovated building to coincide with the University's 150th anniversary.
Elaborate plan
The central hall on the ground floor is 130 feet long, 58 feet broad and 54 feet high. Six stone pillars on either side support the corridors. The four towers at the corners of the building are surmounted by exquisitely shaped domes painted in different colours. The main entrance at the north, leads to the convocation hall, while the entrance in the south leads to the rooms in the southern wing. Besides these, there are two entrances on the eastern wing of the convocation hall and two on the west. Elegantly constructed porticos adorn the frontage of all these entrances. A parapet surrounds each of these porticos, at the corner of which appears a decorated dome of a miniature size.
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