Date:23/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/23/stories/2006082317890300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Madras varsity Senate House restoration almost over

Staff Reporter

Minarets yet to be renovated; Vice-Chancellor appeals for contributions

BACK IN SPLENDOUR: Madras University Vice-Chancellor S. P. Thyagarajan addresses a gathering at the first meeting in the renovated Senate House on Tuesday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

Chennai : The stately Senate House in the University of Madras exuded a quiet radiance on Tuesday as a small audience gathered under its newly painted ceilings.

Donors, representatives of corporate organisations and others who put in long hours for its renovation participated in the first-ever meeting to be held in the newly-restored heritage building. However, there is still work left, especially on two minarets.

President APJ Abdul Kalam will inaugurate the renovated Senate House, 143 years old, on September 4, the eve of the 150th year anniversary of the university's foundation day. And when that is done, the historic hall with its stained glass windows, intricate murals, painted panels, patterned balcony railings and walls smoothened by plaster will open its doors to the public.

The past two years and a half have been challenging for conservation architect K. Kalpana and her team. Kalpana, a member of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), said that the team had tried its best to conserve the original structure or make exact replicas when the existing work could not be saved.

"We discovered that behind the coats of paint, there was the tinted Madras plaster, also called Chettinad plaster now. To get the exact texture and tint, we needed earth oxides," said Kalpana. Getting the material proved to be near impossible, but the renovation team finally stumbled upon important information. A timber dealer in Madurai said that red and yellow stone was available in a quarry nearby.

The discovery proved worth the wait and the earthy tones of yellow ochre, terracotta, brick red and brown were replicated. "The walls required seven coats of paint, including one coat with a mixture of frothy egg white and whey water from curdled milk," said Kalpana. An expert from Bangalore was called to restore the stained glass windows.

Madras University Vice-Chancellor S.P. Thyagarajan said that Rs. 4.39 crore had come from contributions by donors, corporate groups and the public. The Ministry of Human Resource Development had given Rs. 1 crore and a matching grant is expected from the Tamil Nadu government.

"We still require about Rs. 1.5 crore more. I appeal to donors to contribute," Prof. Thyagarajan said. He commended Larsen and Toubro's work in the restoration.

Members of the Senate House Trust, S. Muthiah (Chennai Heritage Trust) and M. Subbiah (Chennai Willingdon Corporate Foundation), said that the historic building would be put to regular use and funds earned would be employed for its maintenance.

Tara Murali of INTACH said the Senate House still hid several mysteries of architecture that one could only wonder and marvel at.