Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion: University of Mysore yet to decide on entrusting upkeep to private entity

Mysuru: The University of Mysore (UoM) is contemplating handing over the 121-year-old heritage structure, Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion (JVM) on Manasagangotri campus, to Deccan Heritage Foundation (DHF) for a period of 40 years, said Vice Chancellor N K Lokanath.

The V-C said that they are contemplating entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the DHF for maintenance of the heritage structure.

The proposal was discussed during the syndicate meeting recently. However, no decision has been taken yet to hand over the structure, said UoM Registrar M K Savitha.

UoM officials have urged V-C Lokanath to obtain approvals from the Mysuru heritage expert committee led by Deputy Commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy and the state government before taking any decision.

“The UoM entered into an MoU with DHF in 2023 for restoration. The DHF undertook restoration work at a cost of nearly Rs 33 crore through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding and international cultural preservation initiatives,” Lokanath said.

“DHF has only proposed to maintain it. They are developing a state-of-the-art international museum and a conservation lab. UoM lacks funds and the government is not providing any funds for the maintenance of this heritage building. Hence, we are contemplating giving it to DHF only for maintenance. The proposal was discussed in the syndicate meeting, but a decision is pending,” Lokanath told DH.

Mysuru Heritage experts committee member, retired professor N S Rangaraju, said, “JVM is one of the 25 heritage buildings of UoM. The V-C is the custodian of JVM but not the owner. It can only be given for maintenance, not for lease or rent. When Sudha Murty gave Rs 1.7 crore for its restoration in 2000, she had said that the building should not be used for any other purpose.”

According to sources from the department of Heritage Archaeology and Museums, as per the zonal regulations of the Town and Country Planning Act, the experts committee should make decisions regarding modifications in the heritage building.

The custodian can make decisions on its maintenance.

“JVM is among the 14 palaces of Mysuru. Kempananjammanni Vani Vilasa Sannidana, wife of 10th Chamarajendra Wadiyar and mother of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, built it for her first daughter,
Jayalakshmammanni. Its foundation stone was laid in 1902 and the works were completed in 1905. In 1958, when Kuvempu was Vice Chancellor of the UoM, he purchased 350 acres of land, along with JVM, from Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. Kuvempu named the campus as Manasagangotri,” Rangaraju added.

The UoM had entered into a MoU with the Department of Kannada and Culture in February 2023 to provide a portion of JVM to house the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Kannada (CESCK).

The department plans to house CESCK after the restoration works.