Bengali Club faces uncertain future due to official neglect

| Last updated less than one minute ago

Submit :

News Photos Just In Debate Topic Latest News Articles Local News Blog Posts Pictures Reviews Recipes

Dipayan Mazumdar

04 August, 2010

One of the oldest cultural institutions of Delhi, Bengali Club at Kashmere Gate continues to be in dilapidated condition reportedly due to wrangling between civic agency and Heritage Conservation Cell over the repair work and the lack of funds.

THE TALL claims of Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit about beautifying Delhi and giving it a facelift to revive its glory before the much awaited Commonwealth Games 2010, seem to have bitten the dust as one of the oldest cultural institutions, Bengali Club, at Kashmere Gate continues to be in dilapidated condition, reportedly due to wrangling between civic agency and Heritage Conservation Cell over the repair work and the funds needed for that.

The 1925-built building which was once the epicenter of cultural revolution continues to rot due to reported shortage of fund while siphoning off of funds continues unabated by the organisers of Commonwealth Games. The government seems to have sidestepped the Central Vigilance Commission’s report on corruption and cost overruns in the run up to the Commonwealth Games in name of beautification and infrastructure development. Even today, Enforcement Directorate is trailing an amount of 50 crores paid to two firms by the organisers of Commonwealth Games.

As hard earned tax payers' money continues to change hands during this international sports extravaganza, the common man’s source of keeping himself connected to his roots through clubs has suffered a major setback with the government shying away to spend a penny from its coffers to revive one of the most important cultural seats of the country, the Bengali Club which has been promoting art and culture in its purest form.

The club has played host to the likes of Humayun Kabir, Utpal Dutt, Mahashweta Devi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Nirad C Choudhaury and many other luminaries of Bengali culture and literature. The club also boasts of hosting the prestigious Durga Puja in the City which held its centenary celebration last year. And above all, this is happening right in front of the eyes of MCD commissioner's office, which is barely 10 minutes away from this temple of culture.

The club through its various activities has been trying hard to revive the dying culture alive in this maddening hustle bustle of life. For over 80 years it has been a source of entertainment and enlightenment for its patrons, who used to discuss politics and seek solace in art and literature at the end of a tiring day. But the club, now a dilapidated structure narrates a very sordid tale today as it lies in utter neglect with many events cancelled in the fear of some mishap.

Even the library which housed classics is in a very sorry state and most of these invaluable works of literature have been lost forever thanks to leaking roofs, if nothing is done immediately, it would be a great loss to connoisseurs of art and literature.

The repeated pleas of the office bearers of the Bengali Club for the last three years to carry out the much needed repair and restoration work to revive the glory of this heritage structure seems to be falling on deaf ears as MCD and Heritage Conservation Cell continue to pass the buck and even a letter to the LG not yielding the much desired result.

In this wrangling, the favourite adda of babu maushai’s which was once the hotbed of cultural resurgence in Delhi is now lying in shambles. The structure furthered suffered a major blow after a speeding truck damaged the wrought iron pillar supporting the balcony of the building. Also, the roof of the over 80-year-old building with elaborate wrought iron balustrade has cracked with seepage in the old walls and leakage on the roof.

According to Samarendu Bose, secretary of the club, the building is in shambles, the roof has cracked and the plaster is coming off the walls making the building unsafe for use. Above this there is always a danger of suffering an electric shock due to seepage in old walls.

As a result the club which was once a cultural hub and melting pot of cultures is unable to organise any event as the fear of mishap looms large in the mind of the organisers.

Repeated pleas of the owner to the civic agency have gone unheard and nothing has been done to stop the cultural erosion, he said adding, even the owner of the remaining portion has no expectation from MCD, which has been not carrying out its other responsibilities diligently.

The civic agency is washing its hand off the entire matter saying that this 1925-built building right next to the Kashmere Gate wall is part of the gazette notification listing 746 heritage buildings and structures under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Therefore, any repairs or renovation needs to go through a complicated procedure. The Bengali Club body is one of the tenants and the owner is reportedly not interested in repairs.

According to Deep Mathur, MCD’s Director for Press and Information, the proposal has been recently received and is under process at MCD. After completion it would be sent to Heritage Conservation Cell of the Central government as per rules and further action would depend on the directives of the centre.

“Unfortunately the matter is not in the hands of the tenants, the owner has to approach the civic agency for a solution. If the owner is reluctant to get the work done the MCD should step in and take the entire matter in its hands. Otherwise the onus of any untoward incident should lie on the agency’s head,” AGK Menon, convenor of Delhi Chapter of Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage said.

After a leading news daily brought to light the pathetic condition of Bengali Club,the office of the Lieutenant-Governor swung into action and ordered MCD to carry on repairs for the restoration of the dilapidated structure which is still the favourite adda of babu maushai’s.

A letter to the Lieutenant Governor has not yielded any desired result and it would not come as a surprise to see the entire structure cave in one day.

Despite Ranjan Mukherjee, officer on special duty to LG, publicly acknowledging that the Heritage Notification of February 2010, clearly lists Bengali Club under the protected precincts and buildings.

The entire move seems to be an eyewash as the civic agency has time and again expressed its inability to carry on the repairs due to shortage of funds. The entire matter is going to hang in balance once again. The LG and Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit should come forward and contribute for the restoration of this heritage structure. Can we let our traditional heritage decay because of the lethargy and incompetence of few people.

The government should not shy away from providing the much needed funds to revive the glory of this temple of culture which has been doing its bit to keep the Bengali literature and culture alive.