BENGALURU: The Seshadri Iyer Memorial Hall is a wholesome sight in the heart of a city in a rush. It stands proudly in Cubbon Park, representative of the way Bengaluru once was and in some respects would like to remain. Cognisant of change but connected to the past.
Restoration architect Pankaj Modi speaks with warmth about the building and says, “There are many heartening things about the Seshadri Memorial Hall. It has a classic location, a semi circular hall that breaks away from the monotony of squarish public buildings. It has lots of natural light, a capacious verandah and distinctive Greco-Roman features. It has a sense of space and a character that instantly takes you back in time.”
But Modi, who has been working in the field of restoration for over 14 years and volunteers with INTACH, explains that heritage is not just a string of old buildings but areas too. And lesser known structures as well. He says, “Recently, I was part of a process that restored a stone building in the NIMHANS campus. And why look at just buildings alone? Areas like the Pettah, the sprawls of Chickpet and Shivajinagar date back to over 400 years and represent the city’s character like nothing else can. We have diverse culturescapes in the inner circle of Whitefield, the Cantonment, Basavanagudi and all of them need to be recognised as much as specific landmarks.” He points out that while buildings contribute to a cityscape, they alone do not represent a city.
The point being that heritage is not just churches, temples, museums and colonial bungalows. Heritage is not just what you build but how communities function, live, earn livelihoods. He has also, in association with INTACH, helped locate the heritage features in the Ulsoor and documented them. The compilation that emerged is now on display at the Ulsoor Metro Station.
Photographer Shalini Sehgal says, “Seshadri Memorial Hall’s beautiful red colour stands out and it has a stunning foyer area with Corinthian columns, a certain texture and detailing that is intact.”
She recalls shooting the structure and says, “I was there one afternoon and the column’s long shadows made it seem grander, somehow emphasising the idea of institutional architecture which one doesn’t find in the newer buildings. She adds, “Too bad, I couldn’t see the interiors and was trying to peep through to see the scale inside...and once I finished taking the pictures, I sat on the bench nearby to soak in some more of the past in the present.”
About the building
The hall was built as a homage to Sir K Seshadri Iyer, the Dewan of Mysore. The building also houses the State Central Library that was set up in 1915. Lord Nathaniel Curzon, once the Viceroy of India and the force behind Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial, contributed substantially to this structure. The library housed here has a vast collection of over 2.65 lakh books. You can visit the hall from 8.30 am to 6 pm every day. The hall remains closed on public holidays and on Mondays.