UDUPI
Artists, through Bhaasa Gallery and Studio, in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, have launched a campaign to save the heritage structures of the city. Â Artists organised a sketching and documenting event at the old taluk office and old jail premises, recently.
Artist Janardhan Havanje, who is also a life member of INTACH, told that the process of documenting the premises is on. The site documentation was completed recently and a dedicated team from INTACH Mangaluru is working on the digital documentation of the building which is architecturally interesting. Sketching at the premises was organised after it was brought to our notice that the administration is all set to demolish this 117-year-old heritage structure and replace it with a modern commercial building. The heritage structure served as the old jail and it is believed many freedom fighters languished behind bars, especially during the Quit India Movement that began in 1942 and the Salt Satyagraha in 1930, he said.
It is understood that the building was built in 1906. It may have been under the Madras Presidency. The building flaunts the traditional Madras roofing technique and the walls have been built with laterite stone and lime plastering. If protected, it will last for a minimum of another two centuries, unlike modern concrete structures. The magistrate’s office also functioned here in the past. Since 2015, the building has not been used. In a few places, there is leakage from the tile roofing due to poor maintenance, he said.
There are only a few heritage buildings left and if this building is destroyed, only the Board School building will remain, said Janardhan. Those who have visited the building were surprised to see its architecture, he said.
