By Mrs. Rashida Shahid Jan
I was shocked to see that this once magnificent colonial building has been demolished and replaced with a hideously congested concrete cell that is completely devoid of any taste.
The original building was over 100 years old. Its colonial architecture was not only aesthetically pleasing, but was also serving the public needs well. It was made with a view to last long and it was practical even from modern day standards. Timber and rock were used in its construction. An elegant staircase led one into the main reading room. It had an adjacent room, which served as an office, and one other room at the front in case readers desired more privacy. There was a long series of windowpanes on the back that offered a beautiful panoramic view of the valley below, and also invited plenty of air and sunshine. In short, it was a lovely place where one could spend a few hours in the most enjoyable manner.
One fails to understand why was it demolished when it could have been preserved in its original form with a little effort. Nobody seems to value places of historic interest in our country. The new monstrosity paints a sad picture devoid of any warmth. The once elegant wooden floors and ceiling have been torn down and replaced with white marble. The ceiling has been painted an ugly mustard color with crescentic designs that induce nausea. More astonishingly, old windows that added to the place�s beauty have been sealed and the view has been walled off completely. Whoever carried this out certainly had no love for the beautiful landscape or any interest in conserving energy (as artificial lights are being used to keep the place lit up even during daytime!)
One really wonders whose �brilliant� idea it was to create this marvel of repulsiveness? My guess: probably the same officials who are accredited with the construction of tasteless kapray kay thaan (cloth) shops that have sprung up everywhere on Mall Road within the last one year. Sadly, the �queen of the hills� of the Raj period has lost its former glory and charm, owing to the unplanned development and unchecked commercialization. One wonders, as a nation whether we are left with any sense of decorum and taste?
Mrs. Rashida Shahid Jan
Murree (July 09, 2002)