Aheritage building and that also housing academicians and students for nearly 105 years to teach and learn respectively in a row, bagging prestigious International Award for cultural heritage conservation is a matter of pride especially for those who have been its alumni. Amar Singh College situated in Gogji Bagh Srinagar has been awarded the famous and covetous UNESCO AsiaPacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This College, the second most prestigious after the oldest institute of higher education in Kashmir – Sri Pratap College, with a touch of nostalgia it may be clarified, was first established in 1913 as Amar Singh Technical Institute primarily for purposes to impart coaching and training both – in art, culture, masonry and carpentry opened by the noble, visionary and arts crafts and knowledge lover Maharaja Pratap Singh. It was only in 1942 that the institute was converted into Amar Singh College through bifurcation of the only prestigious Degree College – Sri Pratap College by Maharaja Hari Singh. If even a brief mention of the alumni of this College is given, it would not be an easy task. The heritage building standing tall even now with all its peculiar glory is a demonstration of the finest Anglo-Indian architecture, the glimpses of which can even now be found in many parts of the country especially in the city of Mumbai. The educational institutions built in late thirties in particular, had their peculiar architecture and an ambiance to make them distinguishable from other buildings even bigger than those. A cursory look at the main old building of Sri Pratap College Srinagar too depicts the same pattern. However, with the whacks of time and human neglect, heritage symbols like the one under reference, gradually lose their original splendid sheen and peculiarity but even if proverbial ‘better late than never’ operates and operates successfully in restoration process, it is praiseworthy. Earthquake of 2005 and devastating floods of 2014 caused considerable damage to the heritage college building but thanks to the quality of work undertaken in respect of its restoration work that has resulted in bringing back to its original glory this prized building. In other words, requisite high level of technical proficiency and expert supervision have ensured that its original design was not tampered with or altered . Not only that, it is learnt and observed by the jury consisting of nine international conservation experts that the materials involved and the original brick and stone masonry resulted in the restoration process to be so precise and accurate. It is noteworthy that the two hallways of the heritage building still have faint glimpses of mural paintings which used to be the super taste of decorating interiors of such important buildings and were skill intensive. These murals influenced by the Ladakhi art need to be fully restored wherever they have got obliterated. While we talk of heritage buildings, a mention about the few ones which were splendid both in terms of their location, architecture and the material used like Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) facing the famous Polo Ground and in the back the Shankracharya hill and the Kashmir Arts Emporium quite near to the TRC got destroyed in mysterious fires . It may be noted that Government Arts Emporium was used during Maharajas’ rule as the British Residency and had its inner ceilings built of tasteful Kashmiri wood designs which got completely gutted but the meticulous work undertaken by INTACH has resulted in its rebuild almost on the same pattern. It is observed that INTACH, J&K Chapter having secured partnership of UNESCO for restoration of Kashmiri heritage like the one under reference, is generating hopes that heritage buildings and symbols can be restored and preserved, at least prevented from going in dilapidated conditions.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel