After heritage OK, Jinnah House awaits MEA nod for renovation; many ‘internal aesthetic changes’ likely

MUMBAI: South Court, the elegant ground-plus-one storey villa that Mohammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, built for himself in 1936 on Malabar Hill, is set to undergo renovation and restoration and is awaiting final clearance from the external affairs ministry (MEA), TOI has learnt. MEA wants to convert the 2.5-acre bungalow property nestled amid thick foliage into a diplomatic enclave.

The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) gave its approval in Aug 2023 for restoration of this Grade II A heritage site. MEA has assigned the task to the central public works dept (CPWD), which has appointed the Sir JJ College of Architecture as consultant to the project. Interestingly, Jinnah's Art Deco house was designed by Claude Batley, who was then head of architecture at the JJ School of Arts.

In 2018, the Prime Minister's Office had notified that the property, more famously known as Jinnah House, would be transferred to MEA from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). In 2017, then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, in a letter to Malabar Hill MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha said her ministry would refurbish the bungalow on the lines of Hyderabad House in Delhi.

Many ‘internal aesthetic changes’ likely to be made to Jinnah House

Documents made available to TOI show the proposal submitted to MHCC sought change of use and additions/alterations and restoration of the 39,000 sq ft (built-up area) bungalow. "The proposal contemplates a change of activity from residential to office space with necessary alterations and restoration along with landscaping work," it said.

Documents made available to TOI about the proposal to the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) for renovating South Court, which is listed under the name ‘Jinnah House' as a Grade II A heritage site, include removal of vegetation, plastering and painting, repair and refurbishment of doors, windows and ventilators.

There will also be major structural repairs, mason work, reconstructing the linear staircase along the front facade, removal of internal walls on the first floor to create larger spaces by putting in new beams and columns and providing a new RCC retaining wall. Landscaping will be done without affecting the existing heritage fabric.

During a site visit in mid-2023, the heritage committee recommended that original furniture, fittings, chandeliers and accessories be restored and reused. It also suggested that the existing compound wall be repaired/reconstructed in stone to match the original design. "Although all permissions and plans are in place, we are now waiting for the final nod from the Centre to start work," said people connected with the project.

Documents show that the ministry of external affairs or MEA has not made any changes to any part of the building nor is asking for more construction rights. "But there will be a lot of internal aesthetical changes which may be carried out to portray our nation's identity, history and culture," it said.

Dina Wadia, Jinnah's only daughter and Nusli Wadia's late mother, had moved the Bombay high court in 2007 to regain control of the estate. After her death, Nusli Wadia was allowed to step in as petitioner by Bombay high court.

Jinnah House is defined as "evacuee property" -- property of a person who left India after March 1, 1947 to stay in Pakistan.

On Oct 5, 2017, Malabar Hill MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha had written to then foreign minister Sushma Swaraj requesting that Jinnah House be made a cultural centre. "Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has instructed us to renovate and refurbish Jinnah House to develop it on the pattern of facilities available in Hyderabad House in Delhi. Accordingly, approval of the PMO was sought for transfer of the property from ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) to our ministry. PMO has now accorded necessary approvals," Swaraj had said in her reply.

After Partition, Jinnah wanted the property to be used only by a "small European family or a refined Indian prince." In his memoirs, Sri Prakasa, India's first high commissioner to Pakistan, recounted his meeting with Jinnah: "He (Nehru) wanted me to see Mr Jinnah and find out his wishes, and the rent that he would like to have... I gave him the prime minister's message. He was taken aback and almost pleadingly told me: "Sri Prakasa, don't break my heart. Tell Jawaharlal not to break my heart. I have built it brick by brick. Who can live in a house like that? What fine verandahs. It is a small house fit only for a small European family or a refined Indian prince. You do not know how I love Bombay. I still look forward to going back there."

In 1949, Jinnah House, then requisitioned by the Bombay govt, was allotted to the deputy high commissioner of UK.

The bungalow, with its pointed arches and impressive columns, is currently in a dilapidated state.

The ground floor of the bungalow property has a large verandah, six rooms, with a kitchen, store room and garage and toilets; plus, it has five servant rooms. The first floor has eight rooms with attached toilets.

Italian stonemasons were employed for the construction of the place, with Jinnah supervising the construction "brick by brick".

The report related to the structure's fabric status, façade conservation, structural repairs, waterproofing, interior refurbishment and landscape design has been part of the conservation work approved by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee.

The Sir JJ School of Architecture has been advisors for the project to be executed by the Central public works department, Mumbai.