NEW DELHI, May 31:
Restoration of the over 120-year- old building of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Shimla may soon become a reality if Himachal Pradesh Government accepts an INTACH proposal for preserving the colonial structure.
The Himachal Pradesh and Shimla chapters of the Delhi- headquartered Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) are seeking preservation of the stone building, which is perhaps the “only known” colonial structure in the country built in a Norman-Baronial architectural style.
“Yes, we have already proposed to the Himachal Government and sent the letter of intent seeking restoration of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, as it is a priceless heritage of our city,” INTACH Shimla Convener Raja Bhasin said.
“We have already worked on the Gaiety Theatre and this would be the perfect extension in our efforts to save Shimla’s legacy. Built with stone in a Norman-Baronial style, it is perhaps the only structure of its kind in the country,” he said.
Incidentally, the DC building is over 120 years old, but the office is 200 years old, and on May 28, Himachal Pradesh Government observed celebrations to mark its bicentennial.
A book titled ‘The Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Two Centuries of an Institution’ containing text and a combination of 100 old and new pictures was also released by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. It also has sketches done by well-known artist B S Malhans.
The Chief Minister also released a stamp and cover to cherish the moment and unveiled the DC office’s plaque.
Bhasin said the work on the Gaiety Theatre is almost complete and within next two weeks, “we should hopefully see” its formal opening.
“The Gaiety Theatre has two parts, a cultural complex which is owned by the State Government and an Amateur Dramatic Club (ADC) which is owned by the army. Besides, the building, we have on restoration of three large photographic albums (1895-1903), containing images of performances, some of them by legendary personalities,” he said.
Located on the famous Mall Road, the theatre was built in 1887 and is one of the iconic landmarks in the city, that once served as the summer capital of the British Raj.
The restoration bid for the iconic theatre, where author Rudyard Kipling is said to have performed, began in the 80s with actor Shashi Kapoor, Prithvi Theatre and the INTACH joining hands to reclaim its colonial-era charm, said Bhasin, also author of ‘Simla: The Summer Capital of British India’.
INTACH Himachal Pradesh Chapter Convener Maalvika Pathania said the heritage body is also engaged in other restoration projects in the State.
“We are restoring a temple in the area of Paonta Sahib. It is spread over an area of 2,400 bighas and called Devi Sahab’s Temple. The civil work is almost over and so now the actual restoration work will begin,” she said.
“Also, we have another project ongoing in Kila Bediyan. The work is being done by Indian Conservation Institute, housed in the INTACH headquarters in Delhi,” said Pathania, also a member of the INTACH’s Governing Council.
Bhasin said that the state chapter of INTACH was also working on creating a fresh “district-wise” listing of heritage buildings in Himachal Pradesh.
“In Shimla, the current list is of about over 200 buildings,” he added. Besides Gaiety Theatre, the restoration of Municipal Corporation building (Town Hall) is also in progress. (PTI)
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