Can Shimla care for its “heritage buildings”?

A large number of people, including the majority of Indians even, are not aware of the proud and colonial legacy of Shimla – the small hill town, also known as the “Queen of the Hills”, in the national and international arena. It was the courteous summer capital of British India and was also the Raj’s favorite retreat from the heat and dust of the Indian summer. Well, it was the heyday of the British Raj and the hill town owing to its elegance and beauty was able to win the favor of the governance.

The greatest specimen of this kinship is the lofty, grand buildings scattered through the length and breadth of the town. Wherever you go, you will definitely come across Raj-era edifices and these still speak of the chic of British style, culture and its regal stances. These include Shimla’s Tudor-beamed General Post Office, Christ Church, which has one the finest stained glass windows in India, and other Victorian buildings along its Ridge.

Nevertheless, it was the early 1970s when Shimla started to witness its gradual decline from a well-mannered and “disciplined” town to the present scenario, the rule of morons. The existing or the pertinent government authority comprises persons of low caliber, zero proficiency and hence they have hardly any interest to espouse the town’s rich past and refurbish it in the best manner. Hence, the hill town is the greatest casualty finally.

Is a wind of change blowing for the moment? It seems so and as per Shimla’s Municipal Commissioner, A.N. Sharma, there is a need to change. He has lofty plans as well.

It has been learnt that his ambition is to reinstate the resort’s “heritage buildings” to their original grandeur with help from the Asian Development Bank and the town made a start by renovating the Gaiety Theatre, which was formally reopened earlier in the summer. The Victorian theatre, complete with wood-panelled ceiling and upper circle, had been threatened by damp-rot and ill-thought additions which had made it unstable.

It’ also true that the conditions of majority of these buildings (with regal past) are appalling and close to collapse. The task is gigantic and troublesome, hence. However, if the dream ever turns into a reality, we will be happiest.