Metro Plus Bangalore Chennai Coimbatore Delhi Hyderabad Kochi Madurai Mangalore Pondicherry Tiruchirapalli Thiruvananthapuram Vijayawada Visakhapatnam
 
A century of
magnificent existence
SHANKAR VANAVARAYAR
| The buildings in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
stand as a reminder of the Indo-Sarcenic style of architecture
|
PHOTOS: K. ANANTHAN & UNIVERSITY
COLLECTION
It originated as a model farm in 1865 in Saidapet,
a part of the then Chengalpet district. Eleven years later, a school
of agriculture was established to carry out practical experiments.
It was in 1906 that the Agricultural College and Research Institute
(now Tamil Nadu Agricultural University) was set up. Three years
later, in 1909, it was shifted under the instructions of the
far-sighted Lord Curzon, to a more favourable location — Coimbatore.
Today, the Institute is celebrating a century of
existence.
Lord Curzon will always be remembered for this
contribution to our city.
Why
Coimbatore?
The Institute's presence in Coimbatore has helped
improve agricultural practices and produce. There must have been
some reasons as to why it was shifted here. It is worth pondering
over them.
The then British Madras Presidency was a large
area, which included parts of Kerala, Andhra, Karnataka and most of
Tamil Nadu. So, the Institute could have either been set up in the
fertile Cauvery delta or in the Malabar region. Why Coimbatore?
Because, this city and its environs have a unique mix of soils
ranging from rich red loam to black cotton to sandy or agglomerated
soils.
The region also benefits from both the North-East
and South-West monsoons, which provide rains at two seasons of the
year. Irrigation from the Noyyal and its tanks made it possible to
raise many crops through the year. The climate was considered one of
the most favourable in the Province and this too could have been a
reason for the shift.
Geographically, the central location of Coimbatore
in the Province made travelling from here to other parts convenient.
The Podanur railway lines only made this easier.
A combination of reasons, including those mentioned
above and the educational levels of the region, could have
influenced the British to locate the prestigious institution in
Coimbatore. Another possible reason could be its proximity to Ooty —
the British loved The Nilgiris.
The new magnificent building of the Institute was
inaugurated in 1909 by Sir Arthur Lawley. This explains the
existence of the Lawley Road.
The institute was to specialise in chemistry,
botany — divided into plant breeding and general agricultural
botany, agriculture, mycology, and entomology.
The new campus had all facilities, including 450
acres of farmland, library, lecture rooms and laboratories. The
institute was to be the premier one in the South of India.
The
architect
G.S.T. Harris, consulting architect to the
Government of Madras, built the main building of the institute,
which we see till date, its grandeur intact. The building,
constructed in Indo-Sarcenic style, can easily be termed as one of
the best buildings of its kind in the nation today.
The Indo-Sarcenic style of architecture was
encouraged by Lord Napier, who felt British India needed a new style
in architecture. The new style, followed in many buildings built in
the Madras Presidency, was a blend of European, Hindu and Islamic
style and design.
Structures similar to our Agricultural institute
are the Board of Revenue office (1871) and the High Court buildings
(1888-92) in Chennai.
The `H' shaped building was built using
locally-produced bricks and granite quarried in neighbouring hills.
The 96-year-old structure, which is now all spruced up for the
celebrations, is truly one of our city's treasures. The cost of the
completed building was said to be Rs. 4,70,000.
The length of the building is more than 300 ft, and
the width of each block is 50 ft, which allows for a 25 ft. room
with a 12 ft. veranda on either side, making the building elegant
and spacious.
In the book, `Southern India' by Somerset Playne,
it is stated: "The central portion (above which is the library)
being left open below to form a magnificent hall, flanked by
monolithic granite pillars. The whole of the first floor of the
central area is occupied by the library - the handsomest room in the
building, being well fitted and well lighted, and the numerous local
and foreign journals on its tables are evidence of the attempt which
is being made to keep abreast of the times".
This narration clearly explains the pride of the
British in building such a structure and its unique architecture.
In a year when the Institute is in a mood of
celebration and achievement, we residents should join in knowing
more about one of the treasures of our city.
The University needs to be praised for its efforts
in maintaining the structures and serene environs impeccably.
It is important that citizens, city planners and
the University become aware of the history and heritage of the great
institution and also study ways to preserve the only such structure
in Coimbatore for posterity.
(Send in your feedback to cbemetro@thehindu.co.in
with heritage in the subject line.)
Printer friendly page
Send this
article to Friends by E-Mail
Metro
Plus Bangalore Chennai Coimbatore Delhi Hyderabad Kochi Madurai Mangalore Pondicherry Tiruchirapalli Thiruvananthapuram Vijayawada Visakhapatnam
| 