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| the Senate House,Chennai..agefotostock.com |
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| Side view, the Senate House, Chennai. en.wikipedia.org |
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| Senate House, Madras -(1911) en.wikipedia.org |
Robert Chisholm was a 19th-century British architect of great repute and is considered as one of the pioneers of Indo-Saracenic architecture in India rightly mixing Indian elements with European style. A new name came into being called Renaissance and Gothic styles of architecture. Chisholm's other wonderful creation is the Chepauk Palace built in 1871 for the Nawab of Arcot who wanted to move his residence to Madras (Chennai) close to Fort St. George, then the main center of the English company's trading post. In the place where the Senate House stands, it is mentioned, a saluting battery was present then.
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| The central tower of the Senate House, Chennai. en.wikipedia.org |
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| Senate House, Chennai, Marina beach andrewwhitehead.net/blog |
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| Senate House, Madras Univ. Chennai, thenewsminute.com |
Until the the Senate House came up, the university convocations were held in the Banqueting Hall (now known as Rajaji Hall). It was during 14 July – 21 December 1937 the legislature of the Madras Presidency met at the senate house to carry on the deliberations. The most note-worthy feature of this structure is the subtle inclusion of many elements of the Byzantine style that add zest to this already wonderful building. Mainly bricks and lime mortar went into construction. A striking part of the building is the great hall of the Senate House that is supported by six mammoth pillars. There are domes on each corner of Senate House which are intricately designed and colored. The Senate hall was specifically designed with immense height and proportions and is marked as one the finest of its kind in India. Senate House has two entrances, which are located on the northern and southern sides of the building. It spreads over 1.5 acres on the Chaupak campus and the other heritage structure on this campus need immediate attention to get them back on their past glory.
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| Senate_House_(University_of_Madras), Chennai. thenewsminute.com |
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| the Senate House,Chennaitimesofindia.indiatimes.com |
Presently, the Senate House presents sad picture due to lack of adequate funds and sheer negligence on the part of officials concerned. It is said the University of Madras does not have funds to take care of the restoration work and the state government recently granted Rs. 5 crores and much of the fund was spent on the senate clock tower alone. The façade may be in good shape, but inside it is in a dilapidated state where one could see rodents, snakes and other creatures; the paint has peeled off and, when it rains heavily, the water seeps in through the grilled windows. In 2004 and 2007, renovation was done but the work proved to be a failure owing to poor management of funds R.6 crore allotted for the work. The government and heritage lovers should act soon on this wonderful vintage structure before it becomes too late for its
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_House_(University_of_Madras)
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, Chennai - an amazing colonial building needs urgent conservation and restoration ){kind=link}