Restoration and Upkeep of Lok Bhavan, Kolkata

During the two hundred years of its existence, Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, has experienced additions and alterations in its internal decorations, lighting, furniture and fixtures, landscaping of the lawns and gardens as well as alterations to the suites to make the stay of the guests comfortable. Although no significant alteration to the structure of the main building has ever been attempted, continuous civil maintenance of the entire structure, carried out by the Lok Bhavan wing of the Public Works Department of the State Government, has helped in retaining the grandeur of this heritage building.

Extensive renovation and restoration of the Lok Bhavan was carried out over the last few years during the incumbency of Shri Viren J. Shah.

While executing the repairs and renovation works, visual and functional aesthetics, in line with the heritage structure, were essentially kept in mind. Today, the Kolkata Lok Bhavan can draw satisfaction in being not only the largest Lok Bhavan in the country but one of the most carefully maintained ones.

Two other Lok Bhavan edifices of equal architectural and heritage value, viz., the Flagstaff House in Barrackpore and the Lok Bhavan in Darjeeling, are also benefiting from extensive renovation and repair works as well as restoration of their priceless artifacts, initiated recently.

Facility to accommodate visiting dignitaries at the Kolkata Lok Bhavan was augmented in 2009 by converting a ground-floor wing into a Suite, thus increasing the number of Suites to 5.

A roof-top rainwater harvesting facility has been installed in the Lok Bhavan at Darjeeling in 2005 and in the Lok Bhavan, Kolkata in 2006 to recharge groundwater.

A Medicinal Herbal Garden was also set up in Lok Bhavan, Kolkata and at the Flagstaff House in Barrackpore.

Restoration of some of the priceless statues on the grounds of the Flagstaff House, Barrackpore, has been carried out by INTACH.

Three oil paintings in Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, have been restored with assistance from Victoria Memorial Hall. The paintings include that of Rabindranath Tagore by Shri Atul Bose, which is displayed in the Governor's Study and the paintings of Marques of Hastings and Queen Alexandra in the Ballroom of Lok Bhavan, which were received back from the Victoria Memorial Hall on 10.12.2009.

In the Ball Room, exquisite specimens of Kantha stitch paintings, executed by rural women have been displayed. The Blue Drawing Room and some other suites have recently been equipped with specimens of docra art and silk weaving in the Baluchari style.

New portrait paintings were commissioned of Sri Aurobindo, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sarojini Naidu and Satish Chandra Dasgupta by Professor Isha Mohammad. A new painting of Bahadur Shah Zafar by Wasim Kapoor has been installed.

A Solar PV Power Project along with LED installation under the Special Area Development Scheme of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Special Area Development Scheme has been inaugurated in the Lok Bhavan in December, 2009.

Maintenance of heritage properties of this magnitude requires ceaseless and untiring work, imagination and creativity. During 2009, Lok Bhavan saw a thorough lime-plast restoration of its exterior as different from contemporary use of cement. This was carried out by the engineers of the Lok Bhavan with the advice of the West Bengal Heritage Commission during the course of action.

It is the endeavour of the Lok Bhavan authorities to maintain these edifices of national importance.