Mahatma Ayyankali memorial Hall (formerly Queen Victoria Town Hall) of Thiruvananthapuram, an architectural grandeur in Gothic style


VJT hall or (Queen Victoria Hall)Thiruvananthapuram,
thehindu.com

Above image:  Now renamed Mahatma Ayyankali memorial Hall, it is just across the University College, at Palayam Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala state, The Town Hall is a declared heritage site.

VJT Hall or Victoria Town hall Thiruvananthapuram,
victorianweb.org

VJT Hall or Victoria Town hall  Thiruvananthapuram,
 yappe.in

VJT Hall or Victoria Town hall  Gothic arch yappe.in

Above images: The Victoria Jubilee Town Hall (VJT HallI in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The images exhibit Gothic style of design elements. renamed Mahatma Ayyankali memorial Hall a few years ago after the social reformer Sri Ayyankali............

The impressive Victoria Jubilee Town Hall (VJT Hall) opened to public on January 25, 1896, now renamed as  Mahatma Ayyankali Hall, is one of Thiruvananthapuram's  most significant colonial-era structures. The Town Hall was a gift from the British Empire to the ruler  to Sri Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, the then Maharajah of Travancore who was an  alley of the British Raj. The stunning structure at Palayam came up, coinciding with the Golden Jubilee celebrations  of  Queen Victoria. The nation-wide commemoration - marking  the 50th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Victoria, in 1896 (since she officially began her reign). Part of the contribution to build the structure came from  a  generous grant from the Maharajah of Travancore  and through public contribution.The  Golden Jubilee celebrations began  across India on Jubilee Day, 16 February, orchestrated by the Viceroy, Lord Lytton,but the many local rulers  ignored it. Likewise some Princely State rulers joined the Celebration in London and  not all.

The Town hall building is  highly ornamental both exterior and interiors parts with tall  pointed entrance arches and widows. The carefully designed exterior ornamentation and well spaced windows  and  ventilators both on the ground and upper floors along with slanting tiled roofs, a series of gables make the  structure exude in architectural brilliance. The design features primarily  colonial Gothic style that was common in European countries in the late 18h and 19th centuries.. The local elements are restricted to the minimum.

The central hall with intricate  details  was designed to accommodate large gatherings and  has a permanent stage with  theatrical scenery, and other performance equipment. The grandeur of the interior parts,  particularly the main hall is well accentuated by richly  polished wooden ceiling with ornately rich rafters made from quality wood. The Town hall being a public institution, it originally housed a library and reading room so that they would be useful to the public; hence it was an important public institution in the city, a region high in literacy.  Over the years,  the Town hall has hosted numerous cultural events, public meetings, and theatrical performances, making it a landmark structure in the city's cultural and social life.

Unfortunately, no records are available to know the name of the architect who designed such an awe-inspiring structure or the engineers who were likely associated with it.  But for its predominant gothic architectural  features, its design closely resembles that of Napier Museum building (1880; named after Gov. Madras Presidency Governor Lord Napier ) in Thiruvananthapuram  that was designed by the British architect Robert fellowes Chisholm, who popularized Indo -Saracenic architecture in cities like  Chennai (Madras) and Vadodara (Baroda) of Gujarat. Chisholm was in India and had not yet returned to England until 1900. Gov.Napier  appointed Chisholm as the consultant architect (who was then with the Calcutta Presidency before) for the Madras Presidency to build the  Senate Building (on the Marina Beach road) similar to the one at the university of  Bombay (Mumbai). There is a possibility that the builders of Victoria Town Hall might have approached him for his advice on design  and structural elements for look and durability. 

https://victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/trivandrum/2.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Ayyankali_Hall