Senate House (University of Madras)

The Senate House is the administrative centre of the University of Madras in Chennai, India. It is situated in Wallajah Road, along Marina Beach. Constructed by Robert Chisholm between 1874 and 1879,[1] the Senate building is considered to be one of the best and oldest examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture in India.[2]

Senate House
General information
LocationWallajah Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Groundbreaking1874
Completed1879
Design and construction
Architect(s)Robert Chisholm

History

Robert Chisholm was a 19th-century British architect who is considered to be one of the pioneers of Indo-Saracenic architecture.[3][4] Initially designing buildings using the Renaissance and Gothic styles of architecture,[5] Chisholm switched over to Indo-Saracenic with the construction of the PWD buildings of the Chepauk Palace in 1871.[6][7]

In 1864, the Madras government gave an advertisement inviting designs for the Senate House building.[8] Chisholm's design was eventually approved and the building was constructed between April 1874 and 1879.[8][9][10] A saluting battery was present at the site prior to the construction of the Senate House.[11] Prior to the construction of the Senate House, university convocations were held at Banqueting Hall (now Rajaji Hall).[12] The first annual conference of the Madras Music Season was held in the Senate House in the year 1929.[13] During 14 July – 21 December 1937 the legislature of the Madras Presidency met at the Senate House.[14]

Architecture

The Senate built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, incorporates many elements of the Byzantine style.[8] The great hall of the Senate House is of immense height and proportions and considered to be the finest of its kind in India. The unique interior of the building includes, stained-glass windows, rare fresco paintings, intricate murals and painted panels.[8][9]

Renovation and events

The restoration of the Senate House was completed in 2006 to coincide with sesqui-centenary (150th year) celebration of the Madras University. Experts from INTACH and Archaeological Survey of India were consulted to restore the various features of this historic building.[15] In September 2006, the Senate House was re-opened to the public by then president of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[16][17] Although, it remained largely unused for nearly a decade, until August 2015 when the prime minister of India Narendra Modi, inaugurated the India's first National Handloom Day at the Senate House building.[18] Recently, it was the venue of a month-long exhibition of the second edition of Chennai Photo Biennale, a first-of-its kind photography conference in India during February–March 2019.[19][20]

  • Senate House, Madras - Tucks Oileete (1911)
    Senate House, Madras - Tucks Oileete (1911)[21]
  • The Senate House
    The Senate House
  • Stained-glass windows inside the Senate House
    Stained-glass windows inside the Senate House
  • Interior view of the Senate House
    Interior view of the Senate House
  • Narendra Modi at the inaugural National Handloom Day
    Narendra Modi at the inaugural National Handloom Day
  • Front view of the Senate House
    Front view of the Senate House
  • Decorative pillars of the Senate House
    Decorative pillars of the Senate House
  • Garden outside the Senate House
    Garden outside the Senate House

See also

References
  1. Srinivasachari, p 341
  2. Srinivasachari, Introduction, p xxxi
  3. Abram, David; Edwards, Nick (2003). The Rough Guide to South India. Rough Guides. p. 421. ISBN 1843531038.
  4. Jeyaraj, George J. "Indo-Saracenic Architecture in Chennai" (PDF). Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
  5. K. Placzek, Adolf (1982). Macmillan encyclopedia of architects, Volume 1. Free Press. p. 415. ISBN 0029250005.
  6. Chopra, Preeti (2011). A Joint Enterprise: Indian Elites and the Making of British Bombay. University of Minnesota Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0816670376.
  7. Morley, Ian (2008). British provincial civic design and the building of late-Victorian and Edwardian cities, 1880-1914. Edwin Mellen Press. p. 278.
  8. Srinivasachari, Introduction, p 262
  9. Srinivasachari, Introduction, p xxxiv
  10. Srinivasachari, Introduction, p xxvii
  11. Srinivasachari, Introduction, p 244
  12. Srinivasachari, Introduction, p 327
  13. "Madras Musings - We care for Madras that is Chennai". madrasmusings.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  14. Ramakrishnan, T (13 March 2010). "Another milestone in Tamil Nadu's legislative history". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  15. "Senate House shows signs of decay | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  16. says, R. K. Natarajan (6 June 2017). "A thought for Senate House, please, dear VC « Madras Musings | We Care for Madras that is Chennai". www.madrasmusings.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  17. "The President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam inaugurating the Senate House at the inauguration of 150th Year Celebrations of the University of Madras at Chennai in Tamil Nadu on Sep 04, 2006". 23 May 2014. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. "PM attends first National Handloom Day celebrations".
  19. "Chennai Photo Biennale". chennaiphotobiennale.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020.
  20. S, Gowri (20 February 2019). "Here's your guide for the Chennai Photo Biennale 2019 - The Hindu". The Hindu.
  21. "Madras, Series A: Senate House". TucksDB.org. 1911. Retrieved 24 January 2015.

Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Senate House (University of Madras).
  • Srinivasachari, C. S. (1939). History of the city of Madras written for the Tercentenary Celebration Committee. Madras: P. Varadachary & Co.

13.065082°N 80.282909°E / 13.065082; 80.282909

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