One of the oldest houses in Bangalore stands witness to the rich lives of six generations — both inside and outside its walls
If a person lives for 100 years or more he/she is called a centenarian. What do you call a house that’s 115 years old? Simply…House No.253.
The beige coloured house on IIIrd main, Chamarajpet, sits on the quiet lane like a great-grandpa on an easy-chair, watching the world go by with a I-have-seen-it-all gaze. The house has been around much before the people, who walk past it now, became a ‘creation’ in God’s workshop. It has seen horses cantering on the roads; macho Sunbeams and Moris Minors driving past its gate, followed years later, by modest Fiats, Marutis and now the boxy Swifts, like the one parked in front of the house. It has witnessed servitude and freedom; it has seen births, deaths, marriages and separations. For 115 years House No.253 has seen life in its varied hues –both inside and outside its walls.
This 19th century house is one of the oldest properties in Bangalore, owned by the original allotee’s family. Measuring 60 ft by 108 ft it was allotted to Kasturi Rangachar in 1896 by the government for Rs 200. The original house number was 171, which later changed to No. 234, 250 and now No. 253. The oldest document of this property dates back to July 9, 1930 — a tax-paid receipt for Rs 12 and 8 annas, issued by Bangalore municipality, signed by a Shanbhog.
It’s a classic
The solitary stone bench at the entrance is typical of houses of a bygone era; windows on either side of the five-door entrance, high roof, signature rose wood doors, black kadapa kallu flooring, spacious rooms sandwiched between thick walls, long verandahs, the attic-cum first floor with a mini-wooden ladder attached to it and the sweet-water well in the backyard amid coconut and mango trees… it is reminiscent of a simpler time when home was the axis of one’s life.
The house is now occupied by Rangachar’s sixth generation family: matriarch 84 year old P Kamalamma lives here with her sons and daughters-in-law. She has six grand children and eight great grand children, some live with her. The spacious four-bedroom house has hosted around 30 family weddings.
The III main road where the house is located was initially 80-feet wide and called Iyengar Street as majority of the residents were from the Iyengar community. “It’s probably the oldest property on this street that is still retained by the original allottees’ family,” says D Vijaykumar, 61, the youngest son of Kamalamma. “Over the years, the family grew, but not once did we think of dividing the property.” Barring a few minor repairs and painting, the house has not been altered at all. The sheen on the kadapa kallu flooring shimmers —even after 115 years!
Only after the death of Kamalamma’s husband, a few years back, a hunt for the property papers began since the sons wanted to change the title ownership to their mother’s name. Kamalamma’s two daughters-in-law, Ramamani and Sumathi, were entrusted with the job. They laid their hands on the 1930 tax-receipt and traced the property entry in the records in the revenue office. Subsequently, the urban land survey office issued them a certificate of ownership.
In 1992, as the family grew the existing space shrunk. The brothers decided to build three-apartment units in the large backyard. “We didn’t want to make any alterations to the old house,” says Vijaykumar. “But, we also wanted to be in the same compound. Our parents allowed us to construct the flats without dividing the property.” While two brothers shifted to the newly built apartment, Vijayakumar and his wife continued living in the old house with his mother.
Barring some old age related ailments and a recent hip bone fracture, the octogenarian Kamalamma is agile. She crossed the threshold of the house as a new bride in 1944. Pointing to an old black and white picture of the older generations, Kamalamma says, “Many died of epidemic diseases that were common those days.’’
The 6,480 sq ft space purchased for Rs 200 in 1896, is worth around Rs 10 crore now. Several TV serial directors approached the family to let the house on rent for shooting. But the family refused.
A few days ago, House No.253 welcomed the sixth-generation’s youngest grand daughter-in-law, Sahana. Now, the 115-year-old house is getting ready to welcome the ninth great-grand child of the family; gurgles and giggles will once again fill the ancient rooms and the kadapa kallu will gleam under tiny baby feet. Yet another chapter of life will begin under the roof of House No.253.
source: http://www.BangaloreMirror.com / Bangalore / Home> Sunday Read> Special / Sunday, February 16th, 2012