A visit to Viceregal Lodge, Sunmer Hill was a peep into the Partition history of British India turning into India and Pakistan today.
“The Viceregal Lodge was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in the Jacobethanstyle during Lord Dufferin’s tenure as Viceroy. Its construction started in 1880 and was completed in 1888. Lord Dufferin occupied the lodge on 23 July 1888.[1] The final cost of project was around 38 lakh (3,800,000) rupees with the annual upkeep cost being around 1.5 lakh (150,000) rupees in the 1880s. At that time the estate stood on an area of 331 acres (134 ha), but today is reduced to 110 acres (45 ha). The structure draws inspiration from the architectural style of the English Renaissance, and also reflects elements of the castles of the Scottish Highlands. The building is of light blue-grey stone masonry with tiled pitch roofing. The interior of the main building is noted for elaborate woodwork which has stood the test of time. Teak was brought from Burma, and was supplemented by local cedar wood and walnut.”
It is really painful to know how the first draft of partition was discussed between Nehru and Jinah among others here. The two were responsible for the millions of deaths and millions others uprooted for good. Even after six decades I am still waiting to go back and visit my birth place. The table used to discuss the draft of Partition is kept for display.
You may like to look at the mansion constructed in 188
4-88 with lot of wood work in Burmese Teak and Deodar. Even today it has the same concealed wiring with same old switches, the ceiling continue to be supported by sprinklers of yesteryears, same furniture with changed upholstery though. Beautiful unpolished Walnut wood ceiling, still in excellent condition.
The Ball room has been converted into Liabrary which has millions of books for the scholars.
Some rare pictures with naughty Nehru winking at his supposedly Lady love Mountbatten. Same Dutch Grandmother's clock,wound up once in a week, is still functioning showing moon status and the day of the week. There is also a big chair which was once used by the Viceroy.
Since 1965, the building is being used Indian Institute of Advanced Studies.
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