Heritage experts unhappy over renaming Chennai Central

CHENNAI: Rechristening the Central Railway Station after late chief minister M G Ramachandran has stirred up a hornet’s nest with archaeologists and heritage enthusiasts raising concerns that the move will lead to renaming of other colonial buildings, which would erase the history associated with the century-old structures.

R Komagan, chairman of Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council, strongly criticised the trend of renaming heritage buildings after modern political leaders.

“For instance, the government can rename Rippon building after any late political leader. Even Fort St. George is vulnerable,” he said. Such developments will end up erasing the history associated with the heritage building.

“We welcome the government’s initiative to rename streets and places as it reflects old Tamil names. But, renaming heritage buildings after modern political leaders is wrong,” he said.

Chennai, which has a host of British era buildings, has not witnessed the name-changing spree, except for a few exceptions, including the Victoria Hall at Government Museum in Egmore that was re-christened as National Art Gallery post Independence.

Sujatha Shankar, architect and convenor of the Chennai chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), said there is a reason why a particular place or building has been named after a person. “It is representation of a moment in history. We cannot erase that by just changing the name,” she said.

According government sources, naming or renaming a heritage building is simple. It can be done through a resolution in the legislative assembly or government orders. “As per the procedure, the respective government departments that owns the buildings will have to take the initiative to start the process,” a senior government official said.

Some heritage enthusiasts have argued that instead of renaming, the focus should be on conservation of these structures. Writer and heritage enthusiast R Venkatesh said that several heritage buildings are in dilapidated state. “A heritage building in the 175-year-old government maternity hospital in Egmore is going to be demolished. Why is there so much thrust on renaming buildings?” he wondered.

Meanwhile, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for renaming Chennai Central Railway Station as “Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M G Ramachandran Central Railway Station”.