he Senate House is one of the most beautiful structures on the Marina. It is part of the University of Madras, one of the three oldest surviving universities in India, the other two being Bombay and Calcutta.

These universities were established by the British in the mid-19th century to provide modern scientific knowledge through the English language to Indians.

Soon after the establishment of Madras University, the Senate House was conceived as a grand auditorium for public functions, mainly the University’s annual Convocation.

In 1864, the government announced a competition for the design of this building in which British architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm’s design was adjudged the best.

He supervised the construction of the building that was completed in 1879 at a cost of Rs 2,89,000.

The Senate House is a unique building with certain artistic and architectural features unknown in any other edifice in the city.

Inspired by the Byzantine style of the Middle Ages, it was built basically in the Indo-Saracenic style, which is a combination of the Hindu, Islamic and British styles.

It has a large Central Hall, measuring 50m by 15m and is around 16m in height. It can accommodate over 1600 persons.

The hall is flanked, on the east and west, by long verandahs, lined by sturdy stone columns with capitals bearing sculptures displaying Hindu and European motifs.

Some of the interior walls feature rare paintings of the style that prevailed in medieval Europe. The richly ornamented domes and stained glass windows make the building stand out.

The author is an archaeologist and Tamil Nadu State Convenor, INTACH

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Others / by Dr. S. Suresh, DC, Chennai / October 08th, 2012