For an astronomy lab that is one of the oldest in India and a rarity pre-independence, the 100-year-old Nizamiah Observatory is not even a shadow of its former self today. In fact, it has now become a storeroom for cement bags, old furniture, discarded cardboard boxes, and even empty beer bottles!
Situated on the premises of the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) and owned by Osmania University, the observatory’s present condition would infuriate any heritage lover. Neither the OU nor the CESS seem to be bothered about its upkeep.
The two astronomy labs that housed the eight-inch Cooke Astograph and the 15-inch Grubb refractor telescopes decades go are now not strong enough as the wooden stairs leading to the observation rooms are in a shambles.
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Set up in 1908, the observatory was located in Ameerpet. A year later, it became a part of an international programme called ‘Cart-Du-‘Ciel’, and recorded 4,63,542 observations of stars, which varsity officials say, are used by astronomers even today.
After the OU was established in 1918 by the seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, the astronomy lab was handed over to the varsity. Once the city began expanding, and Ameerpet became crowded, its use declined. Moreover, the OU administration had set up a new observatory at an isolated location in Rangapur, 55 kilometres away.
“We have plans for maintenance and repairs of the place,” CESS Director S. Ghalab said, even while stating that the old observatory belonged to the OU.
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Academics say old observatories cannot be used due to unclear skies in the city, but they can be turned into astronomy centres for children and for promoting the field.
“We had plans but we were told that any changes to the structure can’t be done easily as they are heritage buildings,” said Hassan S. N., head of the university’s Astronomy Department. When contacted, Vice-Chancellor C.S. Satyanarayana assured to clean up the place.