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Heritage Matters

Preserving the past for the future

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.

~ UNESCO
Heritage Matters
Less than 1 minute Reading Time min
The 1,100 year old Bengaluru inscription at Panchalingeshwara temple in Begur, installed on pedestal by INTACH
The 1,100 year old Bengaluru inscription at Panchalingeshwara temple in Begur, installed on pedestal by INTACH

In 1982, it was truly an Indian Summer in England with an eight-month long Festival of India held between March and November. As the festival was winding up, noted Indian cultural activist Pupul Jaykar met members of the National Trust in London, with the objective of starting a similar organisation in India. Thus, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was born and registered on January 27, 1984 with Indira Gandhi as patron and Rajiv Gandhi as its chairman.1

While Archaeological Society of India was founded by General Alexander Cunningham in 1861, INTACH also has a British connection as it was partly funded by a British industrialist, Charles Wallace (see below).

Over the last four decades, INTACH has grown to become one of the largest volunteer-driven non-governmental bodies with over 210 chapters in India and funds exceeding ₹176 crores on its balance sheet.2 Today, INTACH is also supported by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs and funds from international donors such as The Helen Hamlyn Trust, London and National Museum, Denmark. 3

In Bengaluru, heritage has been in the news ever since an attempt was made to demolish the Attara Kacheri in 1982 and INTACH has been at the forefront of the conservation battle. Ironically, the Bengaluru Development Authority Act was passed much earlier in 1976 and the Urban Art Commission was set up according to Section 51 of the act. The commission identified 140 historic buildings and 55 of these were marked as important. However, there was no law to prevent demolition of a historic building if the owner decided to do so and effective enforcement of any restrictions depended on political will. 

Fast forward to 2022 and we are still fighting to preserve our heritage. In a belated but welcome step, a heritage survey was conducted as part of the overall 2031 Bengaluru Master plan in 2015, three decades after the previous attempt by the Bengaluru Urban Art Commission. The Master Plan acknowledges that heritage and preservation play an important role in the growth of the city and is therefore an integral part of urban development. It strongly recommends a separate Heritage Master Plan that covers natural, cultural and built heritage. Interestingly, the survey classified 97% under the built category comprising sites, buildings and monuments. 4,5 It is another matter that there is a big gap between words and action. For example, the 2015 Revised Master Plan had proposed to renovate 300 heritage buildings in the city by spending ₹15 lakhs each 6 and it is safe to conclude this was never achieved. 

Bengaluru.com spoke to Meera Iyer, convenor of INTACH Bengaluru chapter to understand more about issues impacting heritage conservation and the chapter’s goals and projects.

Meera Iyer: The Bengaluru chapter was also started around the same time as the parent organisation in 1984. There were two main initiatives. The first was a survey of iconic heritage buildings in Bengaluru for the now defunct Bengaluru Urban Arts Commission. The idea was that at some point of time, these would be protected. Also, at that time there was a move to demolish the Attara Kacheri and there was a lot of resistance to this idea. Naomi Meadows, who was the Convener at the time, got Sir Bernard Fielden, a world-renowned and well-respected conservation architect from England, to inspect the building. He conducted a press conference where he affirmed that the building was perfectly safe and the building would last for another hundred years. All this had an impact and a Public Interest Litigation was filed by M Bhaktavatsala and others to stop the demolition.

When was INTACH Bengaluru chapter started?

Meera Iyer: The Bengaluru chapter was also started around the same time as the parent organisation in 1984. There were two main initiatives. The first was a survey of iconic heritage buildings in Bengaluru for the now defunct Bengaluru Urban Arts Commission. The idea was that at some point of time, these would be protected. Also, at that time there was a move to demolish the Attara Kacheri and there was a lot of resistance to this idea. Naomi Meadows, who was the Convener at the time, got Sir Bernard Fielden, a world-renowned and well-respected conservation architect from England, to inspect the building. He conducted a press conference where he affirmed that the building was perfectly safe and the building would last for another hundred years. All this had an impact and a Public Interest Litigation was filed by M Bhaktavatsala and others to stop the demolition.
Meera Iyer: We do a lot of Outreach programs to spread the word about heritage because we believe our heritage is really important for the people and for the city. When you know and understand the city’s deep history and rich heritage, you appreciate it so much more, and when you appreciate and understand the city, you end up becoming a better citizen! Building awareness is a big part of what we do. Our books such as Discovering Bengaluru or Eleven Stops To The Present are also part of this initiative. Our Heritage Walks were started about 14 years ago. These walks are targeted towards people who live in the city and not just for tourists. Many people tell us that they had been living in the city all their lives but they were unaware of historical or heritage facts. We’ve also tried to reach different audiences by conducting these walks in Kannada and introducing walks for school children. We also conduct exhibitions and conferences. Recently we had exhibitions about the history, architecture, culture and cuisine of Richards Town, Fraser Town and Cooke Town as well as Ulsoor. Other initiatives include workshops on archaeology, medieval temples in the city, textiles, the making and use of lime mortar, and so on. Of course, the most visible are the restoration of buildings and in many of these projects we were fortunate to get private funding to support us.

What are some of the chapter’s main activities?

Meera Iyer: We do a lot of Outreach programs to spread the word about heritage because we believe our heritage is really important for the people and for the city. When you know and understand the city’s deep history and rich heritage, you appreciate it so much more, and when you appreciate and understand the city, you end up becoming a better citizen! Building awareness is a big part of what we do. Our books such as Discovering Bengaluru or Eleven Stops To The Present are also part of this initiative. Our Heritage Walks were started about 14 years ago. These walks are targeted towards people who live in the city and not just for tourists. Many people tell us that they had been living in the city all their lives but they were unaware of historical or heritage facts. We’ve also tried to reach different audiences by conducting these walks in Kannada and introducing walks for school children. We also conduct exhibitions and conferences. Recently we had exhibitions about the history, architecture, culture and cuisine of Richards Town, Fraser Town and Cooke Town as well as Ulsoor. Other initiatives include workshops on archaeology, medieval temples in the city, textiles, the making and use of lime mortar, and so on. Of course, the most visible are the restoration of buildings and in many of these projects we were fortunate to get private funding to support us.
Meera Iyer: We are always pursuing the Government to get some heritage regulations in place. It may be hard to believe but the Attara Kacheri is not a protected monument nor is Mayo Hall. We do have some heritage regulations in place now (passed in April 2020) after several years of discussions. We were thrilled but there were some issues. These regulations are meant for the entire state of Karnataka and they specify that for Bengaluru, they are to be enforced by Bengaluru Urban Art Commission which as I mentioned does not exist (it was disbanded in 2002). So unless it is revived, the regulations can be implemented.

What about working with the government as they are key to any heritage conservation?

Meera Iyer: We are always pursuing the Government to get some heritage regulations in place. It may be hard to believe but the Attara Kacheri is not a protected monument nor is Mayo Hall. We do have some heritage regulations in place now (passed in April 2020) after several years of discussions. We were thrilled but there were some issues. These regulations are meant for the entire state of Karnataka and they specify that for Bengaluru, they are to be enforced by Bengaluru Urban Art Commission which as I mentioned does not exist (it was disbanded in 2002). So unless it is revived, the regulations can be implemented.
Meera Iyer: Think of the most modern city in the world - perhaps New York. How many buildings do you think are protected in the city, those that cannot be demolished? It is about 37,600. London has about 19,000 in its protected list. How many do we have in Bengaluru? Hard to believe but it is 9. Anyone will know that we definitely have more than 9 buildings that need to be protected. Yes, we have such a long way to go in heritage conservation. In 2017, there was a Revised Master Plan (RMP) developed by BDA. This had a list of heritage buildings in the city but even that was not exhaustive. There are so many others that were not recognised even in that list. Are all of them worth protecting? What do we mean by protecting? Does it mean we cannot do anything with the building, cannot touch them? Not really. For many buildings, especially residential structures, do what you need to do on the inside but preserve its facade. The character of the city partly depends on these buildings, so it would be good if more buildings were protected. Even government buildings are not safe as seen in the example of Janatha Bazaar on KG Road where a 14-storey building is supposed to replace it. The government is supposed to protect our heritage so let’s at least start there, with the public buildings.

One independent study reported that about 65% of heritage buildings in the world don't have maintenance or funding. What about Bengaluru?

Meera Iyer: Think of the most modern city in the world – perhaps New York. How many buildings do you think are protected in the city, those that cannot be demolished? It is about 37,600. London has about 19,000 in its protected list. How many do we have in Bengaluru? Hard to believe but it is 9. Anyone will know that we definitely have more than 9 buildings that need to be protected. Yes, we have such a long way to go in heritage conservation. In 2017, there was a Revised Master Plan (RMP) developed by BDA. This had a list of heritage buildings in the city but even that was not exhaustive. There are so many others that were not recognised even in that list. Are all of them worth protecting? What do we mean by protecting? Does it mean we cannot do anything with the building, cannot touch them? Not really. For many buildings, especially residential structures, do what you need to do on the inside but preserve its facade. The character of the city partly depends on these buildings, so it would be good if more buildings were protected. Even government buildings are not safe as seen in the example of Janatha Bazaar on KG Road where a 14-storey building is supposed to replace it. The government is supposed to protect our heritage so let’s at least start there, with the public buildings.

INTACH Restoration Project – Fort High School

Fort High School (Before)

Fort High School (Before)

Fort High School (After)

Fort High School (After)

Meera Iyer: Actually, INTACH had proposed that government buildings over 100 years old should be declared as heritage buildings but we were told that such a law is not required right now. I realise that there are many issues with private buildings being classified but at least we should be able to start with government buildings. I should add that the age of the building is not the only criterion for a building to be considered heritage. For example, Vidhana Soudha is not 100 years old but everyone would agree it is a heritage building.

INTACH had proposed that buildings over 100 years old must be designated as heritage buildings but it was not accepted. Your comments?

Meera Iyer: Actually, INTACH had proposed that government buildings over 100 years old should be declared as heritage buildings but we were told that such a law is not required right now. I realise that there are many issues with private buildings being classified but at least we should be able to start with government buildings. I should add that the age of the building is not the only criterion for a building to be considered heritage. For example, Vidhana Soudha is not 100 years old but everyone would agree it is a heritage building.
Meera Iyer: That is true. There was a survey done on iconic buildings by Prof. Iyengar who was a professor of architecture, around 1984 or 85. He had surveyed listed about 823 such buildings in the city. We decided to look at the same 823 buildings in 2015 to see what had happened to them. We found that only 354 were left about 30 years later, which is around 40% of them. I will attempt to answer what should be done in a different way. We restored a 120-year-old building in Mysore for a chocolate company owned by a citizen of South Africa. He says he intentionally chose that building as he wants to translate the history, heritage and aesthetics associated with it into economic value. Other countries including neighbouring Sri Lanka have also done this effectively. We need to recognize that heritage has a value that goes beyond just land value. You don't have to erase the past to build your future. Both can co-exist.

Most heritage buildings disappeared in the last 20 or 30 years before the regulations came out in 2020. What should be done about this?

Meera Iyer: That is true. There was a survey done on iconic buildings by Prof. Iyengar who was a professor of architecture, around 1984 or 85. He had surveyed listed about 823 such buildings in the city. We decided to look at the same 823 buildings in 2015 to see what had happened to them. We found that only 354 were left about 30 years later, which is around 40% of them. I will attempt to answer what should be done in a different way. We restored a 120-year-old building in Mysore for a chocolate company owned by a citizen of South Africa. He says he intentionally chose that building as he wants to translate the history, heritage and aesthetics associated with it into economic value. Other countries including neighbouring Sri Lanka have also done this effectively. We need to recognize that heritage has a value that goes beyond just land value. You don’t have to erase the past to build your future. Both can co-exist.
Meera Iyer: It can happen in different ways. In some cases, we are asked to take up restoration work. For example, in the Octroi post restoration project, Bhaskar Rao, then Commissioner of Bengaluru City Police asked us to take it up. In the case of the railway stations at Doddajala, Devanahalli, Nandi Stop and Avathihalli, we approached South Western Railways. The Fort High School project was sparked by the knowledge that it had been one of most prestigious schools in the city, made possible by the investment and foresight of the Wodeyars. There were so many strands of history associated with the school.

How do you identify a project for restoration?

Meera Iyer: It can happen in different ways. In some cases, we are asked to take up restoration work. For example, in the Octroi post restoration project, Bhaskar Rao, then Commissioner of Bengaluru City Police asked us to take it up. In the case of the railway stations at Doddajala, Devanahalli, Nandi Stop and Avathihalli, we approached South Western Railways. The Fort High School project was sparked by the knowledge that it had been one of most prestigious schools in the city, made possible by the investment and foresight of the Wodeyars. There were so many strands of history associated with the school.
Devanahalli Railway Station after restoration

Devanahalli Railway Station after restoration

Meera Iyer: Each project comes with its own challenges. Funding is always a problem. In the Fort High School project, it took about ten years from conception to completion. During this time getting required permissions was not easy. Once the work started, school was in progress throughout the project, so we had to work according to the school calendar and classes in session. We had to ensure the safety and security of school children on the premises. Sourcing of materials was sometimes an issue. There was one particular beam in the roof that was very long. We could not get a replacement beam that long and our carpenters had to come up with alternative options. Getting skilled carpenters and masons can be an issue. We work with people who are experienced in heritage projects. There are not many of them, so at times when we want them, they may be working on a different project in another part of the country.

What are the challenges that you face in restoration projects?

Meera Iyer: Each project comes with its own challenges. Funding is always a problem. In the Fort High School project, it took about ten years from conception to completion. During this time getting required permissions was not easy. Once the work started, school was in progress throughout the project, so we had to work according to the school calendar and classes in session. We had to ensure the safety and security of school children on the premises. Sourcing of materials was sometimes an issue. There was one particular beam in the roof that was very long. We could not get a replacement beam that long and our carpenters had to come up with alternative options. Getting skilled carpenters and masons can be an issue. We work with people who are experienced in heritage projects. There are not many of them, so at times when we want them, they may be working on a different project in another part of the country.
Meera Iyer: There has been a huge increase in interest about the city’s history and heritage. We see that people are far more aware when they come on our heritage walks. Our walks get sold out very quickly nowadays, and there are always many more people than we can accommodate. There are also a lot of social media groups and handles that talk about the city’s past. Some are nostalgia based and while nostalgia is not heritage, there is certainly a link between them. These are a few indications of the interest in the city’s past.

Do you feel that there is an increased awareness about history and heritage in our society?

Meera Iyer: There has been a huge increase in interest about the city’s history and heritage. We see that people are far more aware when they come on our heritage walks. Our walks get sold out very quickly nowadays, and there are always many more people than we can accommodate. There are also a lot of social media groups and handles that talk about the city’s past. Some are nostalgia based and while nostalgia is not heritage, there is certainly a link between them. These are a few indications of the interest in the city’s past.
Meera Iyer: It took about four years though I was never working solely on the book at any time. The idea was brewing in my mind for much longer. When we started our heritage walks, many people suggested that we should bring out a book with the walks. Some years ago, we also had an heritage walk app that people could use to walk around Cubbon Park and the Fort/Palace area. The response to that was good; people could do the walks at their own pace. Even the other authors in the book – Krupa Rajangam, Hita Unnikrishnan, S Karthikeyan and others – readily agreed to work on the book. The book was made possible with the generous support of some individuals and companies based in Bengaluru. The second edition was made possible thanks to a Bengalurean who now stays in Seattle, USA.

What triggered the idea of writing Discovering Bengaluru? How long did it take?

Meera Iyer: It took about four years though I was never working solely on the book at any time. The idea was brewing in my mind for much longer. When we started our heritage walks, many people suggested that we should bring out a book with the walks. Some years ago, we also had an heritage walk app that people could use to walk around Cubbon Park and the Fort/Palace area. The response to that was good; people could do the walks at their own pace. Even the other authors in the book – Krupa Rajangam, Hita Unnikrishnan, S Karthikeyan and others – readily agreed to work on the book. The book was made possible with the generous support of some individuals and companies based in Bengaluru. The second edition was made possible thanks to a Bengalurean who now stays in Seattle, USA.

INTACH Restoration Project – Octroi Post

Meera Iyer: We hope to restore a few more buildings including perhaps a couple of more schools. We are also working on an exhibition that will focus on what it was like during independence in Bengaluru. We have spoken to people who were young at that time, to capture their memories and paint a picture for the current generation. Another of our current projects that we hope to continue with is Nammoora Kathe, where we teach local history to students in government and low-fee private schools. We have a 6-week module through which children get to learn about the city’s history and some of the important milestones along its growth and evolution. The other project is around the Someshwara Temple in Ulsoor. It is one of the most beautiful temples in the city but many people have not seen it. Even those who have, they hardly know about its history, architecture, sculptures. With some CSR funding, we have undertaken detailed documentation of the temple including its architectural plans, elevation etc. They have also helped us create an interactive website about the temple. So both visitors to the temple and those living elsewhere can know more about its art, architecture and history. This website is almost ready and should be launched soon.

What are some of the future projects of INTACH Bengaluru?

Meera Iyer: We hope to restore a few more buildings including perhaps a couple of more schools. We are also working on an exhibition that will focus on what it was like during independence in Bengaluru. We have spoken to people who were young at that time, to capture their memories and paint a picture for the current generation. Another of our current projects that we hope to continue with is Nammoora Kathe, where we teach local history to students in government and low-fee private schools. We have a 6-week module through which children get to learn about the city’s history and some of the important milestones along its growth and evolution. The other project is around the Someshwara Temple in Ulsoor. It is one of the most beautiful temples in the city but many people have not seen it. Even those who have, they hardly know about its history, architecture, sculptures. With some CSR funding, we have undertaken detailed documentation of the temple including its architectural plans, elevation etc. They have also helped us create an interactive website about the temple. So both visitors to the temple and those living elsewhere can know more about its art, architecture and history. This website is almost ready and should be launched soon.

Charles William Wallace

Charles Wallace was born in Calcutta to an East India company agent Alexander Wallace and his wife Helen in 1855. He studied in Framlingham College, Suffolk, England and then became an oil businessman. He was also a partner in Shaw Wallace & Co, founded in 1886. When he died in 1916, he was a wealthy man and he had willed part of the fortune to go to his children and the rest to the treasuries of Britain and India. By doing this he said he wanted to return the money he made from the people back to them. The Charles Wallace Trust was formed in 1981 under the joint agreement of British and Indian Governments and the money bequeathed was used to establish INTACH.

Image Courtesy Charles Wallace India Trust
Image Courtesy Charles Wallace India Trust
Image Courtesy Charles Wallace India Trust
Image Courtesy Charles Wallace India Trust

Charles William Wallace

Charles Wallace was born in Calcutta to an East India company agent Alexander Wallace and his wife Helen in 1855. He studied in Framlingham College, Suffolk, England and then became an oil businessman. He was also a partner in Shaw Wallace & Co, founded in 1886. When he died in 1916, he was a wealthy man and he had willed part of the fortune to go to his children and the rest to the treasuries of Britain and India. By doing this he said he wanted to return the money he made from the people back to them. The Charles Wallace Trust was formed in 1981 under the joint agreement of British and Indian Governments and the money bequeathed was used to establish INTACH.

Credits

Main Image: Fort High School before and after restoration

Images © INTACH, Bengaluru

Video of Octroi Post restoration © MINDIA Films

The images may not be copied or used without the prior written permission of the copyright holders.

References

  1. Indira Gandhi, A biography by Pupul Jaykar
  2. INTACH Annual Report 2021, page 198
  3. http://www.intach.org/partners-fcra-2018-19.php accessed on November 11, 2022
  4. Revised Master Plan for Bengaluru-2031 Volume 3 – Master Plan Document, page 19
  5. Final Report Revised of Structure Plan-2031 Bengaluru Metropolitan Region
  6. https://bdabangalore.org/uploads/files/TPM_Documents/BangaloreMasterPlan2015_VisionDocument.pdf  page 62, accessed on November 24, 2022

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