The Tale of Mohan Buildings: A Century in Stone

In the heart of Chickpet, Bangalore Karnataka where the old world brushes against the new, stands the Mohan Buildings, a grand relic from 1909. Built by the visionary Hajee Ismail Sait, the structure was once a proud residence, a place where a family’s legacy took root. The walls, adorned with echoes of colonial elegance, cradled the life of the Sait family until 1945, when the winds of change began to blow.

The Saits moved on, and with their departure, the building was transformed, its very identity reshaped. Nandanlal Kapoor, a businessman from Mumbai, acquired the property and in a gesture of familial affection, renamed it after his brother, Mohanlal Kapoor. Thus, Ahmed Building became Mohan Buildings, a name that would carry it through the decades that followed.

What was once a home morphed into a bustling commercial hub. The first floor, with its small cubicles, became a lodge—a temporary refuge for travelers and a permanent home for some. The corridors whispered tales of those who stayed, like the Anglo-Indian woman who called it home for 20 long years.

Time, however, has not been kind. The building, though still standing strong, bears the weight of its age. Its once vibrant spaces now lie silent, the lodge abandoned, the court hall a distant memory. Yet, the ground floor remains alive, a hive of activity with handloom shops and traders who have made Mohan Buildings their own.

The building changed hands again, passing to Rajesh Traders through a public auction. And now, it stands at a crossroads. The current owners, like those before them, hold the keys to its future. But the building, with its storied past, deserves more than just preservation—it calls for a revival.

There is a dream among those who care—a vision to transform this centenarian structure into a cultural sanctuary. Imagine its halls alive with art, its spaces resonating with performances, while the businesses below continue to thrive. Mohan Buildings, with a little love and care, could once again become the heart of Chickpet, a bridge between its glorious past and a vibrant future.

And so, as you walk by this ancient edifice, take a moment to pause and ponder its journey—a century in stone, waiting for its next chapter to be written.

Information Source – thenewindianexpress
Copywriting originally written by – Akhila Damodaran (24 DEC 2015)
Copywriting altered by-ikfotos

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• The Tale of Mohan Buildings: A Century in Stone

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