Buildings of the American College here will soon be tagged with heritage status under a new scheme of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for conservation of history-rich buildings in colleges and universities.
Redbrick buildings on the sprawling campus, which are over a century-old, are set for national attention in view of their history, heritage and influential role in higher education. The UGC has come out with a special plan to extend funding support for preserving over 100-year-old buildings in higher education institutions. It will provide Rs.5 crore to every college which meets the criteria of heritage structure status.
H. Devaraj, UGC Vice-Chairman, during his visit to Madurai recently, said that the process of identifying heritage buildings in colleges and universities was now underway.
“It is a wonderful initiative by the UGC to preserve heritage structures. When everywhere buildings are being demolished, here is a scheme that helps colleges such as ours to relive history. We will submit a proposal to avail ourselves of the fund in a couple of days,” M. Davamani Christober, Principal, told The Hindu on Wednesday.
Stating that buildings in the American College stand testimony to history, he said that particulars of each building and its significance were being collected. Started in 1881 with G. T. Washburn as Principal, the American College celebrated its 133rd college day in April.
The redbrick buildings constructed in Saracenic architecture have the pride of being host to Rabindranath Tagore in 1919 when he delivered a series of lectures on the campus. The three buildings that will get attention are Main Hall (1905), Washburn Hall (1909) and James Hall (1913). “Plinth area of these buildings is over one lakh square feet and the architecture is a marvel in Madurai,” the Principal said.
G. C. Abraham, Vice-Principal, said that buildings were constructed with a long-term vision.
“Our college was an influential institution in the pre-Independence period. The cherished buildings certainly deserve the heritage status and we are applying for grant,” he added.
