The house of renowned writer late R K Narayan, who built the myth of Malgudi in his fictional works, will be developed as ‘Malgudi Home’.
This was decided at a meeting convened by the Karnataka government, attended by some members of the late writer’s family and key figures of Mysore on Wednesday.
After reports appeared in the media that the house was being demolished for construction of an apartment in early September, the government swung into action and declared it as a heritage building. At the meeting, it was decided to renovate the building at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. The Kannada and Culture Department, in association with Mysore City Corporation and Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), have been asked to prepare a proposal to develop the property. The government would take possession of the building, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar said, indicating that the family would get a compensation.The market value of the property is Rs 2.7 crore. Once renovated, it would be managed by the Post Graduate English Department of Mysore University and utilised as a centre for young writers and conducting workshops, he said.
Narayan’s grand-daughter Bhuvaneswari and her hushand K Sreenivasamurthy assured the government they would help it bring back some manuscripts of the books authored by Narayan which are now with Boston University. Narayan’s family had earlier sold the property to three persons, and the Mysore City Corporation had also sanctioned building plan without realising its significance.
Suresh Kumar also said the number of such (heritage-type) buildings in Mysore have come down to 198 over time from 220, and the Mysore City Corporation and MUDA have been asked to prepare a report on steps and funds needed to restore and renovate them.