State to conserve Bhai Ram Singh’s architectural legacy

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 3

“He was a carpenter, a fixer of machines and instruments, an artist. Bhai Ram Singh was a man of many talents. But his legacy remains as the foremost and celebrated architect of pre-Partition Punjab,” says Prof Balwinder Singh, a conservationist from the city. “Study his works and you’ll find his signature on every prominent building he designed, which could be either the way a chhajja (balcony) has been designed or the way wood has been carved around the windows. His works so far have not been given their due. But if the state government is serious about their restoration then it might be a good news,” he adds.

The UNESCO team’s visit on Wednesday to Khalsa College, which was designed by Bhai Ram Singh, was more of an identification recce to single out the prominent buildings designed by the famous Sikh architect. The team also visited Durbar Hall in Kapurthala and Banasar Bagh in Sangrur. “The state government plans to restore and preserve the architectural legacy of Bhai Ram Singh by investing in their conservation. We will identify where work needs to be done and also process documentation required for getting them enlisted for heritage status,” said NPS Randhawa, Director, Punjab Tourism Promotion Board. He was accompanied by the UNESCO India head and a team of officials. Randhawa said it was Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s initiative.

Born in Gurdaspur’s Rasoopura village in 1858, Bhai Ram Singh’s father was a carpenter. “He was also known as Queen’s India Architect as his work impressed Queen Victoria, who got him to design one of the Indian halls at her palace,” informs Balwinder Singh. He also adds that the blueprints of Bhai Ram Singh’s designs are still with his family and the state government should acquire them to be displayed and considered as his heritage.