Campus Conserved

With its brown hard-bound cover,Maxims of La Rochefoucauld,The Western Classics,first published in 1817,sits in an old rack at the Sir Parashurambhau College (S P College) library. Placed neatly on it is a placard that reads – Rare Books. The library houses more than 1500 such rare books,all ready to be digitised for preservation. The college itself signifies this transition from the old to the new. A grade II heritage structure,the S P College complex is a positive example of a middle path between conservation and upgradation. For the last 96 years,the college has stood at Tilak Road as a major landmark for the street. It’s large central buildings and allied structures were listed in the grade II heritage structure category in the year 1998. Today,as one walks into the premises of the college,a refreshing mix of the old and new greets one.

The central building was formally inaugurated on June 14,1916 at the hands of H E Lord Willingdon,the then Governor of Bombay. For the next 12 years,it was known as the New Poona College. In 1928,after receiving a donation of close to Rs 2 lakhs,the college was renamed as Sir Parashurambhau College after the donor Shankar Rao Patwardhan’s father.” The land first came after Lokmanya Tilak won a case. He was asked for a suitable prize and he asked for a donation to Shikshan Prasarak Mandal,the governing body of the college,” explains Professor Dr Vaijayanti Belsare,head of department,Philosophy,S P College. Belsare pours over the old college magazine that has a detailed account of the important events. Several pictures from the first few years – black and white shots of college corridors,arches and paintings that adorned the wall,emerge.

Now,the corridors of the college bustle with activity. The interiors look quite similar to the old pictures. A wooden staircase,intricately carved window arches,large doors and yellow woodwork give the structure the characteristics of a mixed Mughal and British architecture. In his office,principal Dilip Sheth presides over a meeting. The NAAC team had visited the college a few days ago and have awarded it a Grade A for its overall coverage of academics and extra-curricular activities.

A few metres away from the main building is the 80-year-old auditorium,Lady Rama Bhai Hall. The hall forms a part of the heritage complex and is in its initial stages of renovation. “Since it was a heritage structure,we needed permission to renovate it. We got it last year and the work is underway,” says Belsare. A wooden balcony and stage stand today as if caught in a time-wrap. “Even with new development,we have strived to preserve the heritage that the building embodies,” adds Sheth.