The house of R.K. Narayan at Yadavgiri here will become a memorial to the celebrated writer. If everything goes as planned by the city corporation, which saved the house from demolition four years ago and acquired it now, the memorial will be gradually developed on the lines of Shakespeare’s house in Stratford-on-Avon in England.
The creator of Malgudi lived in this house for nearly two decades before moving to Chennai in the early 1990s, where he lived until his death in 2001.
Repair work“The restoration and repairs of the partially demolished portion of the structure will be taken up on a priority basis, and the process of developing it on the lines of Shakespeare’s residence as envisaged will come later,” Corporation Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath told The Hindu on Friday.
The restoration will cost Rs. 24.1 lakh and landscaping Rs. 10.4 lakh.
The civic body plans to exhibit memorabilia and the literary works of the writer. “The family members in possession of the memorabilia have promised to gift some of them once the museum is developed,” Mr. Betsurmath said.
In 2011, the writer’s family sought permission to demolish the house and build a new structure.
A builder was going ahead with removing the sunshade and the ceiling of the room where Narayan conjured up many of his works when the corporation stepped in to stop the work.
The State government endorsed the civic body’s action and announced that the house would be developed into a memorial.
Heritage structureThe house has been declared a heritage structure, but the process of acquiring the property delayed the restoration.
Mr. Betsurmath said the title of the property had been changed and transferred to the corporation. “Based on the prevailing guideline value and negotiations with the family members, the property has changed hands for Rs. 2.4 crore,” he said.
The corporation received the funds from the State Finance Commission after the government’s nod to complete the legal formalities to acquire the property.
