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The Senate House as symbol and spectacle
The Senate House of the University of Madras, in 1890.
The magnificent Senate House on the Chepauk campus of the University of Madras lends a certain character and colour to the history of the university. The restoration of the landmark building built largely in the Indo-Saracenic style brought smiles to the faces of not only the alumni of the university but also the contemporary student who could proudly proclaim her connections with the masterly structure.
The physical history of the Senate House, designed by architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm, dates back to May 1869 when its construction began. It was completed and occupied in 1873. Often described an “architectural marvel,” it blends the Indo-Saracenic style with Byzantine and European architectural features.
The building has been put to multiple uses over the years, including meetings of the Senate, the Syndicate and academic departments of the university. The main hall was used to hold the convocation for over a hundred years. The hall housed the administrative offices of the university.
Many public exhibitions, academic seminars and conferences, government functions and other institutional functions have also been held in the big hall.
Down the years, its significance began to fade — as did the sheen on its brick walls. Thankfully, before it was too late a decision on the restoration of the building was taken.
But the restoration of the old glory of the structure has not come about easily. Donations poured in from all sides. But handling a structure that had such a glorious past was a big challenge.
With a new test of their skill and ingenuity cropping up each day, the team involved in the restoration has had to carefully retain the remains of past. Simultaneously, it has had to provide support and architectural inputs that match its history and significance.
During the final leg of the restoration work, P.T. Krishnan, convener of INTACH, or the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Tamil Nadu, wrote in The Hindu PropertyPlus in September 2006: “We are now down to the last leg and probably the most physically draining part of the work that is — restoration of the four domes.”
The work till then was no easy task, either. In the article, titled ‘Senate House: lessons in restoration,’ the author said: “The northwest portico had serious structural cracks on its arches and the Madras Terrace roof was sagging dangerously. We managed to re-build the arch without removing the superstructure. Another lesson in preservation had been learnt. The alarmingly huge cracks in the arches at the northern end of the Great Hall turned out to be a red herring and were easily sorted out.”
But the effort has certainly paid off. Today, the Senate House is back with its charming might, smiling to the warm rays of the sun and the pleasant breeze from the Marina beach.
And for students who frequent the university, it is more than a landmark. “Once, a group of visiting students asked me to take a photograph of them against the Senate House. When I viewed the building through the camera lens, I was awe-struck,” says M. Ramesh, a post-graduate student.
K. Arti, another student, agrees: “Even if I am from an affiliated college, I take great pride in belonging to the University of Madras. I attended a fair at the Senate House once and was awe-struck by its beauty. It is indeed a work of art. Chennai’s pride, I must say.”
Meera Srinivasan
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