Last year, when I was in Shimla: It was raining and foggy around 4 PM, as I hurried up to the prestigious institute, well renowned for its historical importance & architectural splendor. I was told that the institute was a place that I should not miss, and truly it was!
Indian institute of Advanced Study - IIAS - an institute for postdoctoral studies in areas of arts & humanities - is housed in this prestigious building that resembles a palace. The building originally built in 1888, was meant to be a summer palace for the Viceroys of India. After independence, it became the summer rest house for Indian president, but Dr. S Radhakrishnan the then President of India, decided to convert it into an academic institution for higher studies. Now residential post-doctoral courses are run here.
Few of the notable things, that captured my interests were:
- Clock - Old manual winding clock that still runs today and shows the Full Moon and New Moon
- Roof - Made of Walnut wood
- Switches - German make and still functioning!
- Piano - keys made out of elephant tusk
- Electrification - First electrified building in Shimla in 1888 and that too with concealed wiring!
- Chandelier - Belgian make
- Table - Pandit Nehru and Mountbatten signed an agreement for partitioning of India and the table was partitioned to signify it
- Doors - Burma teak unpolished & unpainted
- Library - Originally a Ballroom
- Simla Conference - Hindu Muslim conference organized in 1945
- Fire Sensors - Wax on water pipes that will melt automatically on heat
- Entrance - Wood paneled like the best Scottish houses, with fireplace for the winter months
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| IIAS - As I saw it - that day, that time |
