People power wins the day

BANGALORE: On a gloomy overcast Sunday morning, while most Bangaloreans took a post Diwali break at home, a few civil society activists and heritage lovers hit the streets to save the city’s vanishing heritage. Egged on by a groundswell of support, the activists vowed to broadbase their agitation and resolved to save 700-odd heritage structures in the city that are under the shadow of the axe.They are up in arms against the Karnataka government's arbitrary decision to demolish the 150-year-old Balabrooie state guesthouse to make way for a swanky legislators’ club, for MLAs, MLCs and MPs. Even a formal assurance from chief minister Siddaramaiah that the government wouldn’t raze the building did not deter the heritage lovers from holding what was dubbed a “silent demonstration” to save Bangalore's heritage structures.
“We are glad the government has finally heeded our pressure and decided not to raze the Balabrooie guesthouse, but it seems they are devising a new way to build the club either by axing heritage trees or razing another heritage structure. We have assembled here to give a call to people to remain vigilant and launch a movement, if need be,” declared veteran artist SG Vasudev, who led the demo. “Our movement is no more restricted to Balabrooie but to save about 700 heritage structures in Bangalore that have been facing a threat in the name of development. Only an amendment to the Mysore Ancient & Historical Monuments & Archaeological Sites & Remains Rules, 1965, can save such structures,” Vasudev said, highlighting their future agenda. Later in the day, Siddaramaiah declared the Balabrooie property would be untouched. The protesters included Frenchwoman Dominique Radhakrishnan, Sir CV Raman's daughter-in-law, singer-actor Vasundhara Das, besides several artistes, historians, foreign nationals, college students and schoolchildren.
The hour-long demonstration began at 11am when the sun began to peep through the clouds. The protesters sat under the 200-year old banyan tree at the entrance of the Balabrooie guesthouse on Palace Road. They wielded placards and posters and demonstrated silently, without disturbing the traffic. The demo culminated with activists taking a stroll in and around the guesthouse. “What a marvel this structure is. Why did they think of demolishing it? It should be a museum, not a guesthouse,” said Deepa Kumari, a student of history, as she walked around. Exclaimed S Yukthi, another student: “I didn't know Rabindranath Tagore stayed here in 1919, and the room has been named after him. How can they think of razing such heritage?" Adithi Maniar, a class 5 student of Vidyasagar School, said: “I have no idea of the building’s history. I just want the structure to be saved at any cost because I like it.’’ Later, a delegation of civil society members met speaker Kagodu Thimmappa and urged him to persuade the government to bring in a legislation to save Bangalore’s heritage structures. The activists also decided to take the legal route by filing a public interest litigation. They want to create an inventory of heritage sites in Bangalore. “We have a rich historical background which needs to be saved for future generations. If these structures are neglected now, we may lose them in future.” said Arun Prasad, a historian who was part of the protest.