Coimbatore’s Victoria Town Hall turns 130: People share memories about the heritage structure

An artist, an architect, a historian, a publisher, a Government official, a pickle seller, and a sweet vendor reminisce about one of the city’s oldest buildings

The Victoria Town Hall has stood the test of time. Once the venue for public and council meetings, civic receptions and banquets in honour of visiting celebrities — including Mahatma Gandhi and Rajaji — it faced the threat of demolition in the early 1990s.

The Coimbatore chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) led by its then convenor Shashi Ghulati launched a campaign and the over 100-year-old heritage structure was saved for posterity. Municipal council meetings were held there till 1953 while from 1952 to 1986 a library and reading room existed on the mezzanine floor.

It is spruced up now to welcome the elected members of the city Corporation council. Apart from the seating arrangement, which has been increased from 72 to 100, minor repair works have been also addressed.

The Town Hall, however, is more than just bricks and cement. For, it houses memories of the people who have been inside it and those who live close to it. Here are a few of them talking about the centuries-old structure:-

Originally from Rae Bareilly, I came to Coimbatore in 1967 after my SSLC and just stayed on. My forefathers came here much early on. Life was easy and not so chaotic. There was less noise, less crowd and one could count the number of vehicles as Big Bazaar Street had two-way traffic.

The Victoria Town Hall building opposite our shop would always be abuzz with political meetings. I remember watching Sivaji Ganesan at one of the meetings. When he floated a party, the actor conducted his election meetings at Town Hall. I could catch every word from my shop. During the time of leaders such as Bhaktavatsalam and Kamarajar, political meetings were low-key affairs. There were no convoy of cars or round-the-clock security. Events like handloom exhibition was also be organised there.

The ground near the hall also played host to Kribananda Variyar’s kathakalakshebams. He was one of our star customers. My father supplied Durghalal Rose Gulkhand, a specialty of our shop to him regularly. He would mention our products while talking about food and it gave us good publicity.