Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has announced plans to take over the historic ‘India House’ at Cromwell Avenue in Highgate, London, with the aim of preserving it as a memorial. This property was once the residence of Indian freedom fighters, most notably Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, and was established in 1905 by Shamji Krishna Varma as a student hostel. During its operation until 1910, India House served as a hub for Indian revolutionaries, including Bhikaji Cama, and played a role in the nationalist movement among the Indian diaspora in London.
The decision to take over the historic monument was taken in a joint meeting headed by cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar in Mantralaya on Wednesday. BJP Nashik MLA Devyani Farande, who had first demanded the acquisition of India House, and officials from the general administration, cultural affairs, archaeology department were present during the meeting. It was decided to set up a multi-departmental committee to examine the acquisition and preservation of India House.
According to Shelar, Indian residents in London had drawn the state’s attention to the importance of the property during his trip earlier this year to acquire the famous sword of the 18th-century Maratha general and founder of Nagpur kingdom Raghuji Bhonsle. The sword was bought by the Maharashtra Government for Rs 47.15 lakh at an auction and was repatriated to Mumbai in August.
“For the acquisition of India House, a committee will be formed under the chairmanship of ‘Mitra’ (Maharashtra Institution for Transformation), which will prepare a comprehensive report, which will be presented to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for further action,” said Shelar.
The minister also announced that plans to build a grand memorial of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj at Sangameshwar in Ratnagiri district are afoot.
The proposed memorial will be developed in phases on a five-acre site for the main monument, with an additional two acres acquired for parking and ancillary facilities, officials said. The memorial was proposed by the former BJP MLA Pramod Jathar.
There are two notable properties named ‘India House’ in London. The first, at 65 Cromwell Avenue, is historically significant for its association with Indian freedom fighters. The second, located at Aldwych, is a diplomatic building that houses the High Commission of India in the UK.
