MYSORE: By stopping the demolition of the house of writer R K Narayan on Monday, the Mysore City Corporation has saved the government from an embarrassment. For the government is yet to issue a gazette notification on protection of structures with heritage value.

In 2005, the heritage commissionerate in co-ordination with MCC listed 222 properties with heritage value, including the house of RKN. As the process needed formulation of a policy, the commissionerate framed the rules under the Town and Country Planning Act and sent them to the government. According to sources, though the government approved the amended rules and guidelines formulated by the heritage commissionerate, it failed to come out with an order and a gazette notification on the issue. It was said that the rules were finalized and approved in 2006 but the government is yet to issue an order.

Heritage commissioner Neelam Manjunath refused to say anything on government’s delay in approving the rules framed by the heritage commissionerate under the Town and Country Planning Act. He said the government will protect the house and take necessary steps to convert the building into a protected house.

GOVT TO ACQUIRE IT
The MCC has written to the heritage commissioner and secretary of Kannada and culture department to expedite the process to declare RKN’s house as a protected building.

Meanwhile, MCC commissioner Raykar said the government is serious to protect the house and will not allow its demolition. “I have already asked the heritage commissioner and Kannada and culture secretary to initiate steps to acquire the building.” Even if RKN’s relatives oppose it, government will not allow them to raze the building which has historic value, he added.

“When the UK government can protect houses of writers like William Wordsworth, including the couch on which he penned the famous poem Daffodils, it is unfortunate that the Indian government has failed to protect RKN’s house”

K C Belliappa, former VC of the University of North Eastern States.

The houses of writers and historians act as inspiration to the next generation. Mysoreans should protest and force the government to restore and preserve the building.
C P Krishnakumar, Kannada writer