100-yr-old heritage residence faces neglect again

Mysuru: The century-old bungalow where former President of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan once lived during his tenure as professor of philosophy at the University of Mysore, is once again in a state of neglect, raising concerns among academicians, and those who appreciate heritage sites.

Located opposite the Govt Printing Press in Saraswathipuram, the historic bungalow served as the residence of Radhakrishnan between 1918 and 1921, long before he rose to become the Vice President and later the President of India. Though the building was restored in 2012 with financial support from late educationist Prof Doreswamy, founder of PES Educational Institutions, lack of regular maintenance has once again led to deterioration.

Prof NS Rangaraju, retired professor of ancient history and archaeology at UoM and former member of Mysuru district heritage committee, recalled the rich legacy associated with the bungalow, and said that noted botanist Narayan, who later served as the principal of Yuvaraja’s College, stayed in the house after Radhakrishnan left Mysuru. Rangaraju, a resident of Mysuru, fondly remembered the lush gardens and a well-preserved structure of the bungalow during the 1960-70s.

Gradual neglect over the years has affected several historic buildings across the university campus, he said and added that the university has more than 20 heritage structures and requires a dedicated annual budget for their upkeep and preservation. He pointed out that during the tenure of vice-chancellor SN Hegde, special funds were earmarked every year for restoration and maintenance works.

Speaking to TOI, Savitha MK, registrar of the UoM, said that only a small portion of the bungalow has been damaged due to tree roots and that the overall structure remains stable. She said archaeological department commissioner A Devaraja has assured support for preparing a DPR and initiating repair works at the earliest.

The university plans to raise funds for preserving and strengthening historic sites which remain an important part of Mysuru’s academic and cultural heritage.