Sir,

A 200-year-old genuine palace is demolished, yet no bleeding-heart heritage advocate is crying foul or protesting that it should be preserved and restored using ancient technology (Royal family rebuilds ‘Bettada Aramane’ in Star of Mysore dated Sept. 16).

However, I appreciate Pramoda Devi Wadiyar for rebuilding it using new technology while retaining the same exterior design. I had used this platform a few years ago to criticise the heritage brigade for becoming active only when so-called heritage buildings such as Lansdowne Building, Devaraja Market, Maharani’s College and the Fire Station in Saraswathipuram collapsed due to age and lack  of maintenance.

I had also asked what makes a building a heritage structure, but received no reply from anyone. With each collapse, the only thread that appeared to define “HERITAGE” was that the building should be more than 100 years old. The supporters of this definition, who cry foul and protest when such buildings are demolished, are yet to see these structures rebuilt using ancient technology.

The Supreme Court, I hear, has supported this definition and passed an order directing the MCC / Government of Karnataka to reconstruct the buildings using old technology while preserving their original appearance.

In my letters to this column, I had recommended total demolition and reconstruction of these buildings, replicating their original appearance but adding more floors and providing better parking facilities. The MCC could then invite tenders from interested parties to rent the premises at market-linked rates, with a strict clause prohibiting subletting or transferring the rental/lease agreement as an inheritance to family members.

The rental / lease period should be fixed at not more than five years or until the death of the renter or lessor, whichever is earlier. I look forward to seeing how magnificent the palace will look when it is completed.

Three cheers to the Maharani!

— George Rego

Mysuru

17.9.2026