Agreed Mr. Vijendra, on that occasion (Tipu's palace it is said but is this confirmed?) the fat lady perhaps did not sing and neither were the people of Mysore paying any attention to it. Am I right in saying that there was no heritage committee at that time? Nothing proposed by the State Government to revive heritage buildings at that time. What happens here is a different ball game. The issue has been highlighted by the various NGO's, has appeared in SOM frequently and, most impoetantly, the heritage committee has recommended restoration. It is my understanding that the MCC cannot overrule the heritage committe recommendation as per current law.
I'm afraid the fat lady will sing, come this monsoon and thats what the MCC is waiting for. That gives them the perfect opportunity to condemn the structure as unfit for use. If the condition of the structure by then is indeed dangerous, the heritage committee will be forced to alter its opinion at that time. If citizens act now, they can shut the fat lady's mouth and perhaps deport her to somewhere else! Thats what we are aiming for. I am always optimistic (and smiling )
In reply to Capt. Murthy's previous post.. I think that's where the committee has gone wrong. A detailed proposal would mean a brief objective, methodology, time frame, estimates, feasibility, revenue model and conclusions.
Well the committee member has made sure the MCC knows the cost.. and MCC too might have done their homework.. When you say empowered to make certain things known to the MCC and at the Ministry level. They might & will also have the powers to compare the other reports that the MCC claim to have. Right?
The Heritage committee can never and should never force anybody, but they can work along to get the results by interacting with the authorities.
Devaraja Market forum too has to be like the MCF, the MCF has handled massive funds over the past one year and have gathered enough momentum to finish the constructions within a year.. and hats off to them!!
Devaraja Market issue is been dragged out of proportions.. and yet there is not solution!!
Mr. Yerapathi, the committee has only done what it has the mandate to do. They have no such directive to make a project report as such. Thats for the MCC to make. The heritage Comm is not going to have a revenue model, return on investment and so on. They have been constitued for a different reason and that is only to identify and make recommendations for conservation. The rev model, ROI, feasibility and so on is not their business and therefore I disagree that the committee has made an error or has gone wrong. The committee is not empowered (in my understanding) to compare non heritage conservation plans that the MCC may have received. I think that you have a misconception on what the committee is mandated to do and what the rest of us should be doing. If the market gets into the hands of the heritage committee, it can then make a project report that can be used for raising funds and organizing the works as per plan. The MCC is not willing to give away anything to anybody.
All kudos to the MCF but again no one made that happen except themselves. Devaraja Market is blown out of proportion as you put it, but that is so because no one has made any attempt to keep it from deteriorating. MCF came together for a humanitairan reason. MGP and ACICM have stoppped making any noise about the Market and they were the ones jumping up and down some time back. Here is the difference.
If the questions that you are asking on this forum to the MCC and the heritage task Force committee is can be sent to Star of Mysore and Andolana for publication, perhaps some heat can be generated and maybe we can get the MCC and the heritage committee to answer those questions. No harm in trying.
Why don't we all sit together and work something out?
I entirely agree with Capt. Murthy on the proposal for like minded INDIVIDUALS to get together and form an action plan to bring the MCC to its senses in the proposals for restoring not only the Devaraja Market, but also the other buildings identified by the Heritage committee.
I would like to ask one direct question to all the persons who are even at the back of their minds in favour of demolition and reconstruction by even the smallest percentage. Are they willing to pull down their own ancestral properties which may have gained some level of popularity and standing in the local area and build a new, modern looking multilevel building?
Heritage is not just a word for buildings. Anything that we in'herit' from our ancestors be it buildings, property, jewellery artefacts over a period of time become heritage (may have been coined probably by combining the words inherit and over the ages).
It is therefore OUR responsibility as citizens of Mysore that we protect and preserve what our beloved city has inherited over the ages (120 years if I quote the data provided by Dinakar).
We need to take action as a group of individuals rather that go under any established banner. My strong opinion is that these organisations jump on to the band wagon only when it suits them. Let us leave such organisations out and show that when we are UNITED DEVARAJA MARKET STANDS - DIVIDED IT FALLS
An old book mentions about a lovely mosque (and) with a beautiful garden opposite this Tipu's building. I am not getting those names attached to the mosque or the building, now. As we all know this mosque is where the Malnad Motor Training School also is.
Good that Dinu brought this topic to the top again. Maybe we can start a new D Market related topic. I am in the US and today the 1st of May is the 75th anniversary of the Empire State Building. Could be considered heritage building. It took $40 million dollars in 1929 to build it and it took only 410 days to build! Can anyone imagine something like this being built in India at this speed? Even in the 21st century! Millions of visitors have been to the observation deck of the Empire State building, as I have done a few times in the past. The way the Americans maintain their heritage buildings is incredible.
The question of the day: Is the new Mayor and the MCC waiting for the monsoon season and the rains to bring down another portion of the D Market? And then they can condemn the building? Is the rest of Mysore asleep? Not surprised if they are. No one can help those who can't help themselves or don't have the will to do something and can only crib all the time about how the system is bad, how daily life is a chore etc etc.