Bangalore’s Bowring Institute, the club of the elite which in the bygone days came alive to the tunes of old waltzes, an Englishman’s whiskey-infused banters and a game of bridge, is still its charming old self, despite almost a century and half having gone by.
It’s however not unnatural for this grand and imposing structure, tucked away in the heart of Bangalore, to have suffered some wear and tear, especially after having withstood the test of time for 145 years.
Bowring Institute, founded in 1868 as Bangalore Literary and Scientific Institute, is in need of an overhaul.
And since it has been listed alongside 746 other State Protected Monuments in Karnataka – for its historical and architectural importance, and also because it is more than hundred years old – the management of the Institute has sought the expertise of the State Archaeology department. It is also one among the only six protected monuments in Bangalore, besides Venkataramaneswami temple, the four Kempe Gowda Watch Towers, Gangadhareshwara temple, Basaveshwara temple, Mallikarjuna temple and the boulder inscription. Stuart Clarke, treasurer of Bowring Institute, told Deccan Herald that the building built on a 10-odd acre expanse, has added many new structures over the years.
In nascent stage
“However, the building is in need of care. The plastering, roofing, ceiling, pillars and flooring, are all in need of restoration. Since it is a heritage monument, we need technical expertise to restore it to its glory days. In this regard, we have approached the State Archaeology department. Though talks are in the nascent stage, we want to take up the restoration work as soon as possible,” he added.
R Gopal, Director of State Archaeology, said the department was keen on taking up the restoration work. “Though the building is being maintained by private parties, it comes under the purview of the department. We have asked them to prepare a final estimate, out of which the department will bear 50 per cent of the share. We are planning to divert the money from the department’s savings for this purpose,” he said.
The club, which has hosted prestigious events like the Davis Cup, is also the place where poster boy of Indian badminton, Prakash Padukone, started his practise. The badminton court building was in fact inaugurated by former chief minister S Nijalingappa in 1965.
Enviable collection
In addition to the tennis and the badminton courts, the club also has the much sought-after squash court, health club, swimming pool and gymnasium. It also has an enviable collection of close 25,000 books ranging from art, romance and travel to science.