It is with great sadness that I inform you that our beloved and historic Kurupam Market gateway towers have been demolished by GVMC last week. The market was donated by Raja Vyricherla Veerabhadra Raju of Kurupam to the then Vizagapatam Municipality on September 1, 1914, to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII.
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| As it was |
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| Going |
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| Gone |
I am told that a new building is planned there. Only two weeks ago INTACH had offered to provide expertise to restore the iconic clock tower arch way but it appears to have fallen on deaf ears. It is very unfortunate that this monument was brought down without public consultation. Our uncouth city administration has driven another dagger into our city's rich heritage. No doubt a monstrosity will come up at the spot. It will be typical of Vizag's public buildings, no dignity, no class. No doubt that our heritage will die a little more.
One wonders who these ruthless, insensitive and heartless people are who are entrusted with looking after our beautiful city. It is like the fence eating the crops, like a palace guard plundering the kings treasury. I hope that all the original roofing wood, the sign board and the clock have been saved. They must be moved to our Museum to be safe.
Vizagites must rise up to get rid of those who pretend to protect the city but ruin it in the process. These officials who do not understand the difference between old buildings and heritage buildings must not administer our city. After all these officials come and go in quick succession, they have no empathy with the city, they have not walked the streets of old Vizag in their childhood and they simply do not care! If we let these officials take decisions for us only we will be to blame because we were the apathetic generation who were busy doing other things as our heritage was relentlessly being destroyed piece by piece.
We must all hang our heads in shame and sorrow!
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naren
It is really sad to know that this Kurupam Market is demolished and I really felt, 1000 daggers pierced in to my Heart.
I really do not know the need for this demolition, as it would not gain anything except ruining the beauty of Vizag and losing a Heitage monument.
Also I am surprised how people around kept quite and silent after hearing the sound of the first stroke of the demolition hammer.
As some one commented really mnany people of the Vizag administration, do not know either the meaning or value of a Heritage.
I really wonder how the conscious of these people agreed to carry out such cruel act.
Even crooked mind thinks thrice and give up to do such cruel thing.
There are many more Heritage site in Vizag, like Registrar office, Queen Mary Girls School, St. Alloysis Convent, St. Allosis Girls Convent, Turners Choultry, Reading Room, etc and as some one alerted, be careful about these and many other heritage site from coming under the hammer in the name of it IT Industries.
Hope a committee will form by the Vizagites to protect the Vizag Heritage taking as an important and vital responsibility.
God save Vizag Heritage.
Thanks for sharing a valuable artice.
Regards and blessings
Uma Maheswar
Feeling really ashamed of the narrow vision displayed by the administration of Vizag. Such kind of Heritage monuments are so well preserved across the globe, and we find ways to demolish a prolific structure like it.
I am amazed that the locals also did not stand up to the occasion and come out with any resistance. Such kind of structures need to be funded by the govt and should be developed as places of tourist attraction.