Governor to inaugurate AU’s renovated Vizianagram Hall on Thursday
PRAYAGRAJ, March 3 (HS): The renovated historical Vizianagram Hall in Science Faculty of the Allahabad University will be inaugurated by Governor, Anandiben Patel on Thursday noon. Governor arrived here on Wednesday evening on a three day visit. To commemorate the occasion, a postal cover will be released featuring Vizianagram Hall by the Governor. As per the instruction of the Chief Proctor, University of Allahabad, the entry in the Science Faculty will be restricted after 10:00 A.M. in the light of Governor’s visit. Only those persons will be permitted who have been issued the Invitation Card or Gate Pass.
It is worth mentioning that the authorities of Allahabad University had taken a resolve to restore the grandeur of this pristine building after a go-ahead by a specialized three-member committee.
Speaking to HS, Allahabad University registrar, NK Shukla while throwing light on the historical significance of the hall said, “The foundation stone of the building, earlier known as the Muir Central College, was laid by Governor-General of India Lord Northbrook on December 9, 1873. The college was named after Sir William Muir, Lt Governor of United Province. The building was designed by William Emerson, the architect who also designed the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata and Crawford Market in Mumbai in a unique combination of Indo-Saracenic, Egyptian and Gothic styles. The building took 12 years to complete and formally opened on April 8, 1886. A visit to the famous building, the majestic Vizianagram Hall and the colossal tower besides it which has become synonymous to AU, will give one a feel of the condition. Vizianagram Hall in its glorious days not only witnessed several meetings attended by raja’s and was later used as examination centre for various exams conducted at the Science faculty. The life-size marble statue of George Simonds stands majestically at one corner of the grand hall. The statue of Simonds had a book in his left hand. When the dust was cleared, it showed the guide map of Muir College, as the AU was known in its initial stages.”
The University Grants Commission (UGC) sanctioned amount to the AU in its Xth Five Year Plan for restoration of heritage buildings. In 2008-09, AU authorities asked Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to prepare a detailed report for restoring four heritage buildings at the AU including the Vizianagram Hall. But after submission of this report, the varsity remained silent and finally asked RITES to undertake the restoration of the hall. RITES later asked MS Stumbh, a firm specializing in restoring old havelis of Rajasthan, to conduct a three-dimensional detailed survey of the hall before the restoration work kicks off. Later, a three-member committee, having best of the brains in terms of conservation of heritage buildings in the country, was formed by the AU authorities. The members included INTACH convenor (Delhi Chapter) Prof A G K Menon, conservation architect Vikas Vedprakash Dilawari of Mumbai and director of Conservation and World Heritage Janhwij Sharma of Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
