Hawa Bangla in Dhar in need of restoration

INDORE: Dhar, the city of Raja Bhoj, has always been an epicentre of arts and culture, and has made commendable efforts for the conservation of city’s monuments in the past. But Hawa Bangla, a monument which has played an important role in the history of the city, greets visitors in the form of partially dismantled ruins today. Although many local groups have made constant efforts for its restoration, the progress is not very encouraging.
The clock is ticking even faster for the building after its partial demolition two years ago. Its fragile structure has to bear harsh weather and encroachment as well.
This ship-styled architectural marvel spread across a sprawling thousand square metres, was built during the reign of Udayji Rao Pawar (1898-1910). This hundred-year-old monument was built to serve as a boarding school for children from royal families, and also functioned as a guesthouse for colonial officials. After the country’s independence in 1947, it became property of the government, who used it as an arts college and residential quarters till 2004.
Deependra Sharma, whose NGO has been working for the cause of its restoration, said, “After its abandonment, Hawa Bangla has been endured lack of maintenance, encroachment, and has been robbed of its teakwood furnishings by thieves. Its forceful demolition by Public Works Department in 2012 was stopped on the orders of the Collector, who then decided to take action for its restoration.”
He said that the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH) has decided to provide funding of Rs 8 lakh for its restoration along with free technical assistance, but not much help has been extended by the administration.
According to reports from architects and structural engineers, basic structure of the building is in good shape and it is suitable for restoration work. Karan Singh Pawar, ex-MLA from Dhar, said, “Hawa Bangla is a reputed place which once served as an educational institution for children. Also, it is not structurally very robust; lots of resources won’t be drained if restoration is done in time. The agency that will look after the monument and proposed activities both should be defined, so that a logical management to restore it will be put in place. It all depends on what new context and environment we provide to the monument.”
Anup Shrivastav, an artist from Dhar, said, “Hawa Bangla is an ideal place for the construction of an art museum. As a member of the art fraternity hailing from Dhar, it would make me really proud. If an art gallery or a museum is commenced inside the Hawa Bangla, it will not only give Dhar a new identity, but also a chance to people to have close interaction with art and culture”.