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The Rashtrapati Niwas, formerly know as Viceregal Lodge in Shimla, housing the prestigious Indian Institute of Advanced Study is undergoing a face lift. Had the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) not taken any timely action, then some parts of this magnificent and imposing grey-stone structure would have “crumbled” to the dismay of many of its admirers.
The ASI is now-a-days doing its best to fill up the yawning cracks which occurred due to harsh weather in this more than a hundred years old colonial structure with the help of Swiss made Carbon Lamination Technique to give it a new lease of life.
Besides, seepage of water has taken its toll on the Western part of the building housing the Library and the Council Chamber, due to which cracks had occurred in the stonewalls. The Swiss technique does not alter the beauty and originality of the structure in any manner. The ASI has adopted this new technique, for the first time in the country to preserve any heritage building.
Shri I.D. Dwivedi, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, mini circle, Shimla, explains that “Carbon laminated strips are pasted on the cracks with the help of a special kind of adhesive, which gets concealed under new plastering and paint on the walls. It also maintains the aesthetic value of the monument.” He said that no nails are being used to fix these strips, which have tremendous load bearing capacity.
Besides this Swiss technique, stones in the damaged walls of the building, resulting in lowering of arches of some portions of the building, have been stitched with steel pins.
Shri R.M. Kandwal, Conservation Officer, ASI and incharge of the restoration work of the building said these arches had left their place and had come down. Now they have been pushed up and stitched with steel pins. Shri Kandwal is working with a team of three other archaeologists and conservationists on the guidelines of Shri R.S. Jamwal, Superintending Archaeologist Engineer and Engineering–in-Chief of the Rashtrapati Niwas Project.
What the ASI has actually done to stitch the arches with the main wall is that it has used a diamond head hydraulic machine, which minimizes the abrasion effect, for drilling holes in the stones. After drilling, steel pins have been inserted in a criss-cross manner in the holes and holes are injected with a chemical, which bonds them together.
The ASI is also giving chemical treatment to parts of the building to save this palatial structure from moisture and blackishness.
Among other works which are in progress to prevent the Rashtrapati Niwas from further damage include, revision of rain water harvesting system to prevent leakage from roofs, systematic restoration of backside area by providing drainage system and replacement and repair of stone railing of the main building.
“Till June end, this year, approximately Rs. 1.20 crore have been spent for the face lifting out of Rs. 4 (Four) crore deposited with the Ministry of Human Resource Development on the directives of the Supreme Court, when it was declared to be protected as historical monument in 1997. Earlier, it was maintained by the CPWD”, says Shri Dwivedi.
The Viceregal Lodge was designed by a British architect Henry Irwin and was built in the Elizabethan Style during the regime of Lord Earl Dufferin. Its construction started in 1880 and was completed in 1888. Lord Dufferin occupied the lodge on July 23, 1888.
As the official summer residence of the Viceroys and Governor Generals of India, the lodge came to be associated with many important events and personages of Indian Subcontinent. The Punjab Alienation of Land Act, which proved in some ways to be the most important piece of agrarian legislation of British India and many other important acts, were also passed here.
Three historical meetings (Simla Conferences) in June-July 1945, March 1946 and 1947, between colonial administration and Indian leaders took place over here. Unfortunately, even the India’s partition policy was also finalized at this place.
After independence, the Viceregal Lodge came under the possession of Indian Govt. It was renamed as the Rashtrapati Niwas and was declared the Summer residence of the President of India. However, on the initiative of Shri S. Radhakrishanan, the then President of India, it was decided that the Niwas should be put to an academic use and accordingly it was handed over to the Indian Institute of Advanced Study in 1964.
The Rashtrapati Niwas, deserves to be included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List because of its monumental and historical value.
Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla
Rashtrapati Niwas, Shimla
**Information Assistant, PIB, Jalandhar
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