How Pune’s Nagarkar Wada withstood a century yet faces neglect today

Describing the architecture of the Wada, the committee mentions, “Spread astir crossed 4,000 quadrate feet, the operation of the Wada is unique, featuring arches, triple-arched columns, intricately connected pillars, a Victorian-style arch for the main door, on with columns and cornices, a finely crafted woody doorway that ties to Indian traditions, and lotus-pattern carvings connected the apical close and near corners of the door.”

It further adds, “On the near broadside of the main door, determination are English-style triple-arched windows, with carvings of carnal figures similar lions, bears, and leopards, intricate latticework, and depictions of Yaksha heads oregon Kirti-Mukh connected the columns.”

Inside is simply a devadi (foyer) and a staircase starring to a surviving room. The interior includes lime plaster bands with carvings of leaves, flowers, parrots, and monkeys. The Wada has 2 courtyards and 47 rooms. The 32 x 16-foot diwan khana (living room) is remarkable.

Inside is simply a devadi (foyer) and a staircase starring to a surviving room. (Express Photo)

This Wada has been graced by the footsteps of personalities specified arsenic Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, Lokmanya Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Sonopant Dandekar. It has been awarded a Grade-1 practice classification by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Pune Municipal Corporation.

However, speaking with The Indian Express, Chandrashekhar Kulkarni, 1 of the oldest residents of the Wada, shared a antithetic story. “I person been surviving present for astir 70 years, and I americium really the 4th procreation of my household surviving here. The precocious level of the Wada is successful precise mediocre information and astir non-functional. Water drips from the ceiling, which is successful a dilapidated state,” Kulkarni said. “There is thing near successful this Wada,” Kulkarni said. “Despite its Grade-1 practice status, I person yet to spot immoderate constructive efforts from the PMC to sphere it,” helium added.

The interior portion of the Wada is successful mediocre information and could airs a information to visitors, starring to warnings being scribbled connected the Wada’s doors successful Marathi. “Savdhaan! Pudhe dhoka aahe! (Beware! There is information ahead!),” they read.

Kulkarni recalled however galore years ago, 17-18 families utilized to unrecorded successful the Wada, which would travel live with each festival marked by expansive celebrations. Now, lone 2 renters enactment here.

“It is unbearable to unrecorded present during the monsoon. The backside of the Wada has astir turned into debris,” helium said. “Many visitors travel to spot and seizure the facade, which inactive maintains its rustic charm, but my genuine privation is to sphere this Wada for generations to come. I person spent my full beingness here, and it pains maine to spot it falling apart. All I privation is for this place, which holds truthful overmuch history, is that it basal beardown for the future, truthful others tin witnesser its beauteous architecture and history,” Kulkarni added.