Senate House (University of Madras)

{{Short description|Administrative centre of the University of Madras, India}}

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| location = Wallajah Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

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| groundbreaking_date = 1874

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| completion_date = 1879

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| architect = Robert Chisholm

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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,Srinivasachari, p 341 the Senate building is considered to be one of the best and oldest examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture in India.Srinivasachari, Introduction, p xxxi

History

Robert Chisholm was a 19th-century British architect who is considered to be one of the pioneers of Indo-Saracenic architecture.{{cite book|title=The Rough Guide to South India|page=421|first1=David|last1=Abram|first2=Nick|last2=Edwards|publisher=Rough Guides|year=2003|isbn=1843531038|id=}}{{cite web|title=Indo-Saracenic Architecture in Chennai|first=George J.|last=Jeyaraj|url=http://www.cmdachennai.gov.in/pdfs/seminar_heritage_buildings/Indo_Saracenic_Architecture_in_Chennai.pdf|publisher=Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority}} Initially designing buildings using the Renaissance and Gothic styles of architecture,{{cite book|title=Macmillan encyclopedia of architects, Volume 1|page=415|first=Adolf|last=K. Placzek|publisher=Free Press|year=1982|isbn=0029250005|id=}} Chisholm switched over to Indo-Saracenic with the construction of the PWD buildings of the Chepauk Palace in 1871.{{cite book|title=A Joint Enterprise: Indian Elites and the Making of British Bombay|page=44|year=2011|first=Preeti|last=Chopra|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0816670376|id=}}{{cite book|title=British provincial civic design and the building of late-Victorian and Edwardian cities, 1880-1914|first=Ian|last=Morley|publisher=Edwin Mellen Press|year=2008|page=278}}

In 1864, the Madras government gave an advertisement inviting designs for the Senate House building.Srinivasachari, Introduction, p 262 Chisholm's design was eventually approved and the building was constructed between April 1874 and 1879.Srinivasachari, Introduction, p xxxivSrinivasachari, Introduction, p xxvii A saluting battery was present at the site prior to the construction of the Senate House.Srinivasachari, Introduction, p 244 Prior to the construction of the Senate House, university convocations were held at Banqueting Hall (now Rajaji Hall).Srinivasachari, Introduction, p 327 The first annual conference of the Madras Music Season was held in the Senate House in the year 1929.{{Cite web |title=Madras Musings - We care for Madras that is Chennai |url=https://madrasmusings.com/Vol%2024%20No%2018/the-season-75-years-ago.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=madrasmusings.com}} During 14 July – 21 December 1937 the legislature of the Madras Presidency met at the Senate House.{{cite news|last=Ramakrishnan|first=T|title=Another milestone in Tamil Nadu's legislative history|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article243990.ece|access-date=29 November 2011|newspaper=The Hindu|date=13 March 2010}}

Architecture

The Senate built in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, incorporates many elements of the Byzantine style. 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.

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.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Senate-House-shows-signs-of-decay/articleshow/6216411.cms|title = Senate House shows signs of decay | Chennai News - Times of India|website = The Times of India}} In September 2006, the Senate House was re-opened to the public by then president of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.{{Cite web |last=says |first=R. K. Natarajan |date=2017-06-06 |title=A thought for Senate House, please, dear VC « Madras Musings {{!}} We Care for Madras that is Chennai |url=https://www.madrasmusings.com/vol-27-no-4/a-thought-for-senate-house-please-dear-vc/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=www.madrasmusings.com}}{{Cite journal |date=2014-05-23 |title=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 |url=http://164.100.166.38:80//handle/123456789/1867}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-attends-first-national-handloom-day-celebrations|title = PM attends first National Handloom Day celebrations}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://chennaiphotobiennale.com/2019/venues/2 |title=Chennai Photo Biennale |website=chennaiphotobiennale.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605015228/https://chennaiphotobiennale.com/2019/venues/2 |archive-date=2020-06-05}}{{cite news| url = https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/heres-your-guide-for-the-chennai-photo-biennale-2019/article26320688.ece| title = Here's your guide for the Chennai Photo Biennale 2019 - The Hindu| newspaper = The Hindu| date = 20 February 2019| last1 = S| first1 = Gowri}}

Image gallery

File:Senate House, Madras - Tucks Oileete (1911).jpg|Senate House, Madras - Tucks Oileete (1911){{cite web|title=Madras, Series A: Senate House|url=http://www.tuckdb.org/postcards/87891|website=TucksDB.org|access-date=24 January 2015|date=1911}}

File:Senate Hall, Chepauk.jpg|The Senate House

File:Senate House Interior.jpg|Stained-glass windows inside the Senate House

File:SenateHouseMadras.jpg|Interior view of the Senate House

File:National Handloom Day 2015.jpg|Narendra Modi at the inaugural National Handloom Day

File:4 Madras University.JPG|Front view of the Senate House

File:2 Madras University.JPG|Decorative pillars of the Senate House

File:Madras University Senate House.jpg|Garden outside the Senate House

File:Madras clocktower.jpg|Clock Tower at the Chepauk Campus