95-year-old college building cries for attention
2 min read
Lohit Hanumanthappa
Mysuru: In another five years, it will be completing its centenary year. But, will it stand the test of time till then?
This question will surely strike your mind, once you take a look at the sorry state of affairs at Government Boys PU College building at Nanjangud town.
It was started in the year 1925 as a multipurpose high school, becoming taluk’s first such school. It was later converted into a PU College.
In nine decades of its existence, the college has the credit of producing talented students, who may have made a career of their own. But, the dilapidated state of the building seen to have been ignored by blind eyes and deaf ears.
Like any other buildings of yore which are most known as heritage buildings, this building is a lime and mortar structure, with country made tiles- Mangalore tiles that were the pride of many bungalows then, covering the roof. It is spread on a vast expanse of several acres of land at the entrance of Nanjangud- Gundlupet road that is also a national highway- 212.
Over the years, it has been reduced to a pathetic state with rickety walls, flaked out paint and bricks edging out hinting at its precarious condition. The weeds have also made through the porous walls.
Owing to lack of maintenance, the bird droppings and unkempt surroundings make it a nauseating experience for the students.
Still, it’s the only choice for the students from SC, ST and other backward classes in and around the villages. At times, due to the fear of crumbling walls, the lecturers conduct classes in the open.
Strangely, the temple town attracts pilgrims and tourists alike, and the college with the history of nearing its century could have been turned into yet another tourist attraction. But, the lack of interest seems to have outdone it.
It comes under the assembly constituency by the same name and is currently represented by BJP MLA B Harshavardhan in the assembly.
Barring a brief stint of six months, when Kalale Keshavamurthy of Congress was the MLA, it was earlier represented for close to a decade by senior leader V Sreenivas Prasad also the father-in-law of Harshavardhan. Prasad is currently a BJP MP from Chamarajanagar LS constituency. Nanjangud assembly constituency comes under the same LS seat.
If the in-law duo make their mind, this heritage structure will surely get its due. Hope, it will live to celebrate its 100th birthday.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
