NEW ANNEXE BUILDING IN THE COUNCIL HALL PREMISES
Built in the high Victorian Period of the 1870’s as a Council Hall this landmark brick building was built to seat about 200 people. Mubarak Ansari writes1 “Engineer Colonel Melliss drew up the plans for this majestic Venetian Gothic structure. The land cost was Rs.50,875. And the construction cost was Rs.1,22,940! This was the happening venue in Pune especially for cultural programmes like balls! In 1886, a fancy dress competition and ball were organized in honour of Queen Victoria's son! Even today, life like portraits of many personalities of those times leaves visitors simply awe struck by the magnificence of the place”. Today there are no portraits of the worthies.
The place was then set up as the office of the Divisional Commissioner, in charge of five districts including Pune. The Hall is about 80’ long, 40’ wide and 40’high. The District Gazetter makes a mention of the hall being painted in white and gold. Today the gold has disappeared under a PWD whitewash but the rose window of stained glass on the northern wall still retains the original colours, the crown of the queen of England and a dictum that says ‘Heavens Light our Guide’. Local flora such as palm leaves and lotus flowers are motifs used in the artistry of the glass that has withstood the test of the times despite few breaks and cracks.
“Pune's Council Hall assumes significance because it was here that the first session of the then Bombay legislative assembly was held on July 19, 1937. Importantly, the first session of the Bombay legislative assembly, after India achieved Independence, was also held at the Council Hall on September 10, 1947. At a special session held on October 6, 1949, the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, addressed the legislators at the Council Hall. It was for the first time in the country that a Prime Minister had addressed legislators. As per records, a total of 14 sessions of the state legislative council were held at the Council Hall till 1955. Besides, 13 sessions of the State Assembly were held here till 1955. The sessions of the bilingual Bombay legislative council were held between 1957 and 1960. Later, after the formation of the state on May 1, 1960, the first session of the Maharashtra legislative council was held from July 6, 1960 to August 25, 1960.”2
Typically the space around such buildings built during the Raj was large. This was subsequently littered with insignificant badly built, poorly lit, clumsy little buildings which ultimately made the original landmark look shabby surrounded by ugly neighbours. Resultantly the efficiency of the systems that worked in such premises was affected as also the impressions of those who came to get their work done. The Council Hall premises are no exception to this unwritten rule.
In May 2009 the Ministers from the Pune region together with the top brass of the bureaucracy decided to reverse this trend and demolish all the unworthy neighbours around and provide a new clean, green, heritage friendly building that will house the 11 departments that assist the Divisional Commissioner and the Ministers under one roof. A new building was conceived that would not only be three times in size of the old landmark but also pay its respects to the elderly neighbor. A massive banyan tree masks the building from the street (opposite INOX cinema) which folds on itself to make it L shaped where one end of the building can be seen from the other. The new building as conceived by the architects was to show good manners to the heritage building while asserting its times and ideals. Government buildings of the Raj had corridors and verandahs that were often dark and bred intrigue. The verandahs were used as a buffer against the harsh weather, dust, noise and natives! The verandah-like corridors of the new building are open to public view, light and ventilation. The new building makes a grand gesture in the form of a 3 storeyed Chattri in steel and toughened glass that welcomes visitors and becomes a meeting place. It also brings in and cools the air that flows through the building. The green building makes use of calcium silicate bricks that use up fly ash (a waste product from thermal power plants) and gives a brick texture that blends easily with the existing building. Large windows that are easy to operate bring in plenty of light obviating the need to light up the building during daytime. 40 windscoops that bring in cool air to the insides of the building are a special feature of the building that are being used for the first time in Pune. Convection currents are set up due to the temperature difference that exists between the top and bottom of the windscoop that runs over the 12 metre height of the building. Air conditioning is not necessary in such a building that reduces the demand for energy. Glass mosaics in simple patterns of black and white were employed as bands on each floor on the exterior as well as the twin columns of the porch.
The old building itself is in need for conservation which has been duly recognized by the Deputy Chief Minister and the Divisional Commissioner. Measured drawings and condition-mapping of the site were coupled with historical research. This revealed that the building was never commissioned as a new building. Little additions here and there have resulted in what looks like a building designed for the location. This is indeed a remarkable feat or a happy coincidence. The research also reveals the series of little estimates prepared and sanctioned including a note by the secretary of a Governor who conveys the appreciation of his Lordship to the team who did the work but is a little shy of letting the press know about this appreciation! There are extensive notes on the recommendations of the Executive Engineer Major Melliss and his Superintending Engineer Col. Finch asking for introducing heavy stone cornices to alter the effect of the proportions. Many of these recommendations were never carried out as is evidenced from the present shape of the building. Compared to other important building built during this period like the Government House or the Lord Reay Markets, this is a relatively cheaper building that uses a local brick instead of stone. Porbundar stone being the only one used sparingly at the porch or around few arches. The 'belvedere' is nevertheless the most striking feature of the building which is marked with a curious design that looks African in origin. The conservation issues of the building relate to the brickwork that has been painted over with an acrylic based cement paint, so much so that even the stonework has been painted over! The flooring as seen inside the building is of several types, the one in the Hall being the one altered recently with disastrous effect that needs to be replaced. In several places the original wooden flooring remains in relatively good condition and needs to be retained. The roof is simple and devoid of the typical nightmare that one comes across in other Victorian buildings in Pune. As a result the timber trusses below the Mangalore tiles and corrugated iron sheets have stayed good. It is only in places where the rainwater has not found a way to get to the ground easily that one finds problems of seepage and termites. A whole bookshelf in the Divisional Commissioner’s office was eaten up by termites. A new staircase was added sometime in the 1940’s. It is around this time in 1949 that the new Prime Minister of Independent India addressed a gathering of Legislators on October 6 late at 10-30 in the night. “In that historic speech, Nehru had warned that however important a state's independence and development may be, it should never overshadow India's unity. He had asked the people of Maharashtra to develop a modern approach. He had asked his countrymen to alter themselves and walk in line with the ever-changing and developing world.”4
During the recent inauguration of the building on 25 11 2011 the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Prithviraj Chauhan was briefed about the above details and he reiterated the need to celebrate the 75th Anniversary year of the Maharashtra Legislature with events and programmes that would reassert the importance of the place and the events that have made it so.
ences: 1 Mubarak Ansari in www, Punelifestyle.com; 2 Times of India archives;3 PWD Volume 561 1869-1889; 4 Times of India archives
Built in the high Victorian Period of the 1870’s as a Council Hall this landmark brick building was built to seat about 200 people. Mubarak Ansari writes1 “Engineer Colonel Melliss drew up the plans for this majestic Venetian Gothic structure. The land cost was Rs.50,875. And the construction cost was Rs.1,22,940! This was the happening venue in Pune especially for cultural programmes like balls! In 1886, a fancy dress competition and ball were organized in honour of Queen Victoria's son! Even today, life like portraits of many personalities of those times leaves visitors simply awe struck by the magnificence of the place”. Today there are no portraits of the worthies.
The place was then set up as the office of the Divisional Commissioner, in charge of five districts including Pune. The Hall is about 80’ long, 40’ wide and 40’high. The District Gazetter makes a mention of the hall being painted in white and gold. Today the gold has disappeared under a PWD whitewash but the rose window of stained glass on the northern wall still retains the original colours, the crown of the queen of England and a dictum that says ‘Heavens Light our Guide’. Local flora such as palm leaves and lotus flowers are motifs used in the artistry of the glass that has withstood the test of the times despite few breaks and cracks.
“Pune's Council Hall assumes significance because it was here that the first session of the then Bombay legislative assembly was held on July 19, 1937. Importantly, the first session of the Bombay legislative assembly, after India achieved Independence, was also held at the Council Hall on September 10, 1947. At a special session held on October 6, 1949, the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, addressed the legislators at the Council Hall. It was for the first time in the country that a Prime Minister had addressed legislators. As per records, a total of 14 sessions of the state legislative council were held at the Council Hall till 1955. Besides, 13 sessions of the State Assembly were held here till 1955. The sessions of the bilingual Bombay legislative council were held between 1957 and 1960. Later, after the formation of the state on May 1, 1960, the first session of the Maharashtra legislative council was held from July 6, 1960 to August 25, 1960.”2
Typically the space around such buildings built during the Raj was large. This was subsequently littered with insignificant badly built, poorly lit, clumsy little buildings which ultimately made the original landmark look shabby surrounded by ugly neighbours. Resultantly the efficiency of the systems that worked in such premises was affected as also the impressions of those who came to get their work done. The Council Hall premises are no exception to this unwritten rule.
In May 2009 the Ministers from the Pune region together with the top brass of the bureaucracy decided to reverse this trend and demolish all the unworthy neighbours around and provide a new clean, green, heritage friendly building that will house the 11 departments that assist the Divisional Commissioner and the Ministers under one roof. A new building was conceived that would not only be three times in size of the old landmark but also pay its respects to the elderly neighbor. A massive banyan tree masks the building from the street (opposite INOX cinema) which folds on itself to make it L shaped where one end of the building can be seen from the other. The new building as conceived by the architects was to show good manners to the heritage building while asserting its times and ideals. Government buildings of the Raj had corridors and verandahs that were often dark and bred intrigue. The verandahs were used as a buffer against the harsh weather, dust, noise and natives! The verandah-like corridors of the new building are open to public view, light and ventilation. The new building makes a grand gesture in the form of a 3 storeyed Chattri in steel and toughened glass that welcomes visitors and becomes a meeting place. It also brings in and cools the air that flows through the building. The green building makes use of calcium silicate bricks that use up fly ash (a waste product from thermal power plants) and gives a brick texture that blends easily with the existing building. Large windows that are easy to operate bring in plenty of light obviating the need to light up the building during daytime. 40 windscoops that bring in cool air to the insides of the building are a special feature of the building that are being used for the first time in Pune. Convection currents are set up due to the temperature difference that exists between the top and bottom of the windscoop that runs over the 12 metre height of the building. Air conditioning is not necessary in such a building that reduces the demand for energy. Glass mosaics in simple patterns of black and white were employed as bands on each floor on the exterior as well as the twin columns of the porch.
The old building itself is in need for conservation which has been duly recognized by the Deputy Chief Minister and the Divisional Commissioner. Measured drawings and condition-mapping of the site were coupled with historical research. This revealed that the building was never commissioned as a new building. Little additions here and there have resulted in what looks like a building designed for the location. This is indeed a remarkable feat or a happy coincidence. The research also reveals the series of little estimates prepared and sanctioned including a note by the secretary of a Governor who conveys the appreciation of his Lordship to the team who did the work but is a little shy of letting the press know about this appreciation! There are extensive notes on the recommendations of the Executive Engineer Major Melliss and his Superintending Engineer Col. Finch asking for introducing heavy stone cornices to alter the effect of the proportions. Many of these recommendations were never carried out as is evidenced from the present shape of the building. Compared to other important building built during this period like the Government House or the Lord Reay Markets, this is a relatively cheaper building that uses a local brick instead of stone. Porbundar stone being the only one used sparingly at the porch or around few arches. The 'belvedere' is nevertheless the most striking feature of the building which is marked with a curious design that looks African in origin. The conservation issues of the building relate to the brickwork that has been painted over with an acrylic based cement paint, so much so that even the stonework has been painted over! The flooring as seen inside the building is of several types, the one in the Hall being the one altered recently with disastrous effect that needs to be replaced. In several places the original wooden flooring remains in relatively good condition and needs to be retained. The roof is simple and devoid of the typical nightmare that one comes across in other Victorian buildings in Pune. As a result the timber trusses below the Mangalore tiles and corrugated iron sheets have stayed good. It is only in places where the rainwater has not found a way to get to the ground easily that one finds problems of seepage and termites. A whole bookshelf in the Divisional Commissioner’s office was eaten up by termites. A new staircase was added sometime in the 1940’s. It is around this time in 1949 that the new Prime Minister of Independent India addressed a gathering of Legislators on October 6 late at 10-30 in the night. “In that historic speech, Nehru had warned that however important a state's independence and development may be, it should never overshadow India's unity. He had asked the people of Maharashtra to develop a modern approach. He had asked his countrymen to alter themselves and walk in line with the ever-changing and developing world.”4
During the recent inauguration of the building on 25 11 2011 the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Prithviraj Chauhan was briefed about the above details and he reiterated the need to celebrate the 75th Anniversary year of the Maharashtra Legislature with events and programmes that would reassert the importance of the place and the events that have made it so.
ences: 1 Mubarak Ansari in www, Punelifestyle.com; 2 Times of India archives;3 PWD Volume 561 1869-1889; 4 Times of India archives