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| Gokhale Hall, Chennai in the shambles . newindianexpress.com |
A public hall on the Armenian Street close to the Armenian church, Georgetown, Chennai was built in 1915 by Annie Besant (1 Oct. 1847 – 20 September 1933), a multi-faceted personality whose contribution to India was vast. She wanted to have a public space for the people to express their view freely and frankly without any inhibition or restriction against the foreign rule. Hence, this hall was Anne Besant's brain child and she bore the cost of construction. The foundation stone of the building was laid by one Jinarajadasa, a theosophist. This town hall served as the the headquarters of the Young Men's Indian Association (YMCA) which Ms. Besant started in 1915. In 1916 she announced the formation of Home rule League and in the same year the hall was renamed as the Gokhale Hall in honor of an Indian national leader, social reformer and patriot Gopal Krishna Gokhale, after his death in 1915. He was the founder of the Servants of India Society and a reputed educationist.
That as it has happened to many historical monuments and heritage sites across India, this once a popular venue of political meetings, cultural and musical events in Chennai is in a dilapidated state is a blot on the Chennai city and its rich cultural heritage. This hall steeped in the city's as well as our country's political history looks closer to ramshackle. I understand hardly people in the neighborhood know about Gokhale hall and let alone its cultural history. Further, the structure looks so shabby any passerby on the street will turn his face to the other side. It looks like a haunted house as one will see in the fairy tale. This is not the way to express our gratitude to a dynamic Irish woman who was actively involved in India's freedom struggle and who daringly supported both Irish and Indian self-rule.
Being an educationist, she was one of the founders of the Banaras Hindu University (earlier Central Hindu College of Benares). Apart, she was an avowed Theosophist and was the President of the Theosophical Society in Adyar in 1907. Armed with experience in the Scout Movement, Ms. Besant set aside a part of the hall to house the Young Men's Indian Association (YMCA). The purpose was ''to equip the youth with a strong body, an informed mind and a noble character” so that they could be well trained to lead the young nation and take care of their lives as well. Provided with a gymnasium, library and a canteen, it served as a home to numerous young students from other places outside of Madras city. YMCA's founding members included stalwarts like legal luminary Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar (Diwan of Travancore state), Dynamic former Diwan of Mysore V.P. Madhawa Rao (native of Thanjavur), G.A. Natesan and a host other distinguished people.
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| Dilapidated Chennai's Gokhale hall .tripadvisor.in |
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| Chennai's Gokhale hall in ruins. citizenmatters.in |
Once a fine building with a dome, well planned balconies and a comfortable airy auditorium with good acoustics, it was the epi-center of India's active freedom movements in Chennai. In the past the hall reverberated the spell-binding and fiery oration of great people like Anne Besant, Nehru, Kamarajar, Gandhiji, Tagore and others. After independence, it also served as a coveted venue for well-known artists in Music - both Tamil and Carnatic and other cultural activities. The popular artists never failed to enthrall the audience. After the death of Anne Besant many eminent personalities of Madras managed the YMCA association and it served as a cultural center and a political platform. For Kalakshetra, it had been a tradition to conduct its dance performances in the Gokhale Hall particularly on the birthday of Dr. Annie Besant.
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| Statue of Annie Besant, Chennai andrewwhitehead.net |
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| The Gokhale Hall, Armenian St. Chennai. indianexpress.com |
Above image: In those days prior to 1947 the early meetings were oratory in nature, but if they turned out to be mainly political and often inflammatory, then they would get the attention of the British police officers. In October 1964, when the YMIA and the Hall celebrated their Golden Jubilee brief revival took place under the guidance of Sir. C.P. The then Vice-President of India Dr. Zakir Hussain and the Governor of Madras, Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. participated in the festivities. .............
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| quotlr.com |
In 2008, the structure would have been pulled down but for the High Court' restraining orders. A part of the structure including the wooden stage made of Burma teak was torn apart Devoid of urgent repair works, way back in the past, parts of the building were damaged. YMAC had a proposal to build a commercial complex in that place after pulling down the structure and in 2012 the Madras High Court in response to a PIL filed by a resident of Sowcarpet. Had the court not intervened at the right time, the place would have become a flat ground with no traces of the vintage structure. Now, the case is pending before the Supreme Court. According to the INTACH team, the old building can still be be repaired and restored without demolition and once it is done it can be used safely without any fear. But it all depends on the supreme Court's early verdict on the once famous hall. Countless heritage lovers and historians expressed their apathy in this regard.
https://www.andrewwhitehead.net/blog/4-chennai-annie-besant-and-gokhale-hall
https://sriramv.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/gokhale-halls-glorious-past/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gokhale_Ha
