The World Monuments Fund, on Thursday, returned the restored Residency building to Osmania University authorities after a 20-year conservation effort.
Minister for Tourism Srinivas Goud, who was present at the event, expressed happiness at the way the building has been restored. Sitting on a chair on the right side of the Darbar Hall, the Minister was surprised to learn that the flooring and the ceiling of the particular section had collapsed in 2015.
“Ensure that this building which is part of Hyderabad’s glory becomes accessible to people and they learn about the history of the region,” said Mr. Goud after the MoU signing ceremony. The building now, has an interpretation centre on the first floor that gives its historical context.
“For me, it has been a roller-coaster experience of 20 years as we struggled to get funds for the restoration,” said Amita Baig, the regional representative of World Monuments Fund.
The Residency building was put on the World Monuments Watch list due to its state of preservation. The focus returned to the building after the publication of ‘White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple. The historical narrative saw a surge in interest over the building but money remained an issue. “We would get funding and carry out one part of the repair and the funds would dry up. It was the tin roofing which we managed to put helped stave of decay,” said Ms. Baig.
“The 2015 collapse was a disaster and I thought we should give up. But luckily we persevered and it has been restored,” she added. The building is expected to be a ticketed affair.
