Heritage Watch: A Farewell to Kuralagam?

Last fortnight’s article on the proposed 21-storey building to be constructed at Broadway Bus Stand apparently ruffled a few feathers for we got a brusque message on social media that the structure will now be only eight floors which in our view is still bad enough. We hope that whatever is planned, and whatever be its height, will reflect the surrounding architecture.

It is in this context that we feature here Kuralagam, slated for demolition as part of the above construction. We draw attention to how its recessed entrance reflects that of the Law College building just opposite, though a century separates the two. And its height was planned so that it did not overshadow the offices around and in fact blended with them. Can we hope for similar sensitivity?

For the record, Kuralagam, planned as the headquarters of the Khadi and Village Industries Board owed much to the energy of Soundram Ramachandran the Gandhian who was also head of the KVIB for a while before she went on to become Union Minister. The foundation stone was laid in 1962 and the construction was by the PWD. It was inaugurated on January 14,1968 by the then Chief Minister, C.N. Annadurai. The plaque however reads that it was his successor and then PWD Minister, M. Karunanidhi who did the honours. Madras Information, the official organ, in its January 1968 issue however has a photograph of Anna doing the honours.

We feature pics of the building as it is now, and those of its inaugural plaque. Pics by Ramanujar Moulana.

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