La Martiniere for Boys alumni involves KMC in row over historic stairs revamp

Kolkata: A team from Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), led by officials from its heritage committee, visited La Martiniere School for Boys on Wednesday evening to inspect changes made to the historic steps on the southern side of the school. These steps had names of former students engraved on them. Nearly all buildings on the campus are listed as Grade I heritage structures on the KMC list and require the civic body's approval before any renovation."We received a complaint from the Association of La Martiniere Alumni (ALMA) and carried out an inspection. The team submitted a report, and action will be taken based on it," a senior civic official said on Wednesday.School secretary Supriyo Dhar said he was not aware that the building where steps were "repaired" was a heritage structure.On Oct 23, ALMA wrote to the school authorities and expressed concern over the decision to replace the original steps with marble slabs. What appears to have prompted ALMA to move the KMC was the school's action against associate teacher Susmita Chakraborty, who merely posted an emoji in support of the ex-students. Extremely popular among students, she was suspended by the school on disciplinary grounds.In a letter to KMC, ALMA president Vishal Jhajharia wrote: "With deep concern and disappointment, we bring to your immediate attention certain unauthorised construction activities being undertaken by the school, a Grade I Heritage building under the KMC heritage list." The letter also stated that in the name of "development", the institution was conducting "large-scale" construction and renovation, including defacing original heritage stones on the southern steps, engraved with the names of alumni and members of the institution, which directly violated the protection given to Grade I heritage buildings under KMC regulation.The letter further stated, "It is alarming that such extensive work is reportedly being executed without the necessary permissions and clearances from KMC."On the KMC team's visit, Dhar said: "We told them this is not any construction but a repair work. Safety of children is our first priority, and we will regularise other formalities that are required. We don't have any notification of declaring this building as heritage Grade I. If it is so, whatever is required, we will get it done. That is not a problem."Dhar claimed parts of the old steps of black stones were broken and posed a risk to 6,000 students. "After receiving some reported cases of injury due to the broken parts of the stone steps, it was decided to get them repaired. Some other parts in the bathroom and old constructions need to be repaired, and that is underway."Jhajharia countered: "These steps are living history and have emotional significance for generations of students and alumni. Many of these steps are engraved with the names of students who passed through the hallowed halls of the school, leaving behind a permanent mark of their connection to this institution. These engravings are not mere defacement but are symbols of the tradition and spirit of La Martiniere, a testament to the pride and identity that its students carried for decades. Replacing these steps with marble erases a part of the school's living history and disconnects future students from the legacy that shaped so many lives."
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.