The demolition of a nearly century-old colonial-era building at BCU has been condemned

The university said the over 90-year-old building was in a state of considerable disrepair and was demolished based on expert opinion. | Photo credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University (DMSBCU) demolished the two-storey Victorian building that housed the office of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), just a few years short of completing a century.

The university said the over 90-year-old building was in a state of considerable disrepair and was demolished based on expert opinion.

However, members of voluntary organisations, including Heritage Beku and INTACH Bengaluru, protested against the move.

History of the building

The said building was modeled on the University Union building of Mysore University, built in 1920. Ten years later, in 1930, an almost identical Central College University Union building was inaugurated in Bengaluru.

Located at the junction of Palace Road and Kempe Gowda Road, the building had a reading room and library as well as facilities for table tennis, drafts and chess. It also housed a debate hall.

Since 1998, the Southern Regional Center of the ICHR has been operating in this building. Apart from this, Prasaranga of Hampi University and Forum of Former Vice Chancellors of Karnataka (FVCK) also functioned here.

“Based on expert opinion”

Speaking to The Hindu, Ramesh B., Vice-Chancellor, DMBCU, clarified that the demolished structure is not a heritage building. “We did not demolish any heritage building. The demolished structure was in a very dilapidated condition and was on the verge of collapse. Experts from the Department of Civil Engineering, Visvesvaraya University College of Engineering (UVCE) thoroughly examined the building and submitted a report that it was not suitable for further use. Based on this report, we proceeded with the demolition,” he said.

“There is another building of the same architectural style in the neighborhood of the demolished building, which previously housed the Faculty of Law. This building is in good condition, which is why it was decided to reconstruct and preserve it,” added Prof. Ramesh.

Against

However, preservation groups in the city do not accept the university’s argument and oppose the demolition.

Priya Chetty Rajagopal, founder of Heritage Beku, condemned the demolition of the building. “It was a really beautiful building. When we met with the vice-chancellor of the university before, we offered the necessary help to preserve these structures, but this offer was not accepted. It is the duty of all of us to protect the old historical buildings of the city, which have excellent architectural qualities. In this regard, we will immediately submit an online petition to the Minister of Higher Education, urging that the heritage buildings remain intact under any circumstances.”

Meera Iyer, Convener, INTACH-Bengaluru, said the building was not declared or notified as a heritage building. “But it was included in the list of buildings to be protected in the draft spatial plan, which was not finally approved. These buildings need to be preserved and conserved,” she said.

Published – 12 Nov 2026 22:20 IST