“On a wing and a prayer.”

VICTORIA MEMORIAL HALL a.k.a the “once” NATIONAL ART GALLERY. Government Museum, Egmore, Chennai.

Inside the walls where history sleeps, amidst the green canopy cover, stands a red stone monument which has fallen out of favor with the authorities. The Victoria Memorial Hall, built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, played host to the National Art Gallery during its prime( since 1951). Since then the monument has braved countless rays of blistering Chennai sun and many downpours of retreating monsoon.

A shadow of its former self !

Nevertheless, these corrosive agents alongside the myopic authorities have robbed the monument off its sheen leading to its eventual cordoning off(2001). Even though the red stones has shown signs of discoloring and disintegration, the facade of the building still puts on a brave face and manages to mislead the beholder to an extent. This delusion goes up in smoke in the face of invasive species making its presence felt on the walls and over the domes. The rest of the monument, extending to the rear, is a poignant picture of utter neglect showing the authorities in poor light. Henry Irwin, the architect would be spinning in his grave !

As the memorial, resigned to its fate, survives another day the DESPERADOES will be searching for the elusive gold in EL DORADO. By the time the CMDA or the ASI realize their costly oversight, the monument will be in ruins. They will have to start from the scratch by dismantling the whole structure !!

Tell tale signs of wear and tear !