Gandhi’s alma mater in Rajkot is falling apart while the government turns a blind eye

As you walk through the building — constructed in 1853 — history hits you. Literally. Century-old wooden planks from the ceiling in the Chemistry laboratory fell on students almost six months back when they were conducting experiments.

In other sections, the edifice looks as if it could crumble at any moment. The roof of the library has been “hanging” for long, forcing authorities to keep it under locks. The Science Club has also been closed due to the “suspect” ceiling. So bad is the situation that Mumtazben Theba, a clerk, says she is in constant fear of the ceiling “falling down.” Walls have developed cracks and bricks have fallen out at many places. In some sections, shrubs and wild plants are growing out of cracks.

According to the management, classrooms were whitewashed after they “pressured” the Public Works Department (PWD). But work was left mid-way as the “grant sanctioned was exhausted.” Principal C S Kishori said the Government had allotted Rs 2 lakh for repairs and the PWD “withdrew staff, leaving work incomplete, after the grant was spent.” The management has since then written to the Government several times, but there has been no result, he added.

The Gandhi Memorial Hall, which houses a statue, rare photographs and school documents of the Mahatma, is now being used as the District Education Department office. During the SSC and HSC examinations, the hall is turned into a control room for officials — sometimes even the Bharti mela and Badli mela for Government employees are organised here.

What really got people thinking was an incident that occurred almost two years ago. A visiting Japanese couple prostrated in front of the Mahatma’s statue — contrast this with Government employees who splash the pedestal with spit. Noted American writer John B Severance, whose book Gandhi, The Great Soul is part of curriculum in US schools, was moved to tears when he visited the city two-and-half years ago.

School officials have thrown up their hands, saying they cannot do anything “as it belongs to the Education Department.”

Says District Education Officer C T Arwadia: “We have written about the problems to the Government many times and hope that some solution will be found.” An estimate of the cost of repairs has also been made and sent, he added. If that is the state of affairs inside the building, things outside aren’t very different. Vandals have stolen compound wall grills and residents of nearby localities dump garbage in the school grounds which is used by squatters as a latrine. The principal said he has “picked up quarrels” with shop owners on several occasions over dumped garbage.

A neighbouring nursery has also encroached on school grounds. The owner was, 20 years back, given a small plot to sell saplings. Neither the State Government nor the school has taken any action. However, the DEO said he was aware of the encroachments and added that the case was in court.

Head of the Rajkot branch of State Archaeological Department Y M Chitalwal said he had visited the building. He admitted it was “badly maintained,” but his department could not undertake maintenance as they lacked “adequate funds.”

Veteran Gandhian Devendra Desai said the Government is “not worried at all” about the building, whose repair will cost between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh. Jayaben Shah of Saurashtra Rachnatmak Samiti said nothing has been done about the building despite the Government “being urged many a times.” It had also not responded to offers of help extended by the samiti, she said.

District Collector A K Rakesh said the building is a “common pool building between District Education Office and District Collectorate.” The problem would be looked into soon, he said. Till then, however, no one seems willing to maintain the Mahatma’s legacy, which awaits a quiet death.