The ill-fated Lal Kothi

A multi-storeyed commercial and residential complex will soon replace the crumbling `Lal Kothi’ which belonged to Dr Pranjivan Mehta, a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi and where the likes of Acharya Kripalani and Jawaharlal Nehru often stayed. The building opposite the Ashram has been taken up by a real estate developer who knocked down the top portion just a few days before Gandhi Jayanti this year. Dr Mehta had constructed the bungalow because he wanted to stay close to Gandhi but was unable to follow the strict regimen of the ashram.

In view of its historic and architectural importance, the Vastu-Shilp Foundation had proposed that the building be preserved as a landmark, along with many other historical buildings of the Gandhi Ashram. Thanks to an inept administration and indifferent trustees, the dismantling took place before anything could be done.

The real estate developer Bhupendra Shah insists the old building had no historic importance. To prove this, he produced a note written to Sabarmati police by senior conservation assistant of ASI. The note dated September 8, 1999 reads: This Lal Bungalow is not a national protected monument under this office. It is regretted that this office could not provide any information in this regard”. Shah also quotes a letter written on July 22, 1999 by Doshi to late Gujarat Vidyapith chancellor Ramlal Parikh. It says: “At present there are no legal provisions by which this can be acquired or declared as monument…we request your initiative and help in this matter.”