Maseeh Rahman's article "The rebirth of Rashtrapati Bhavan" (BS Weekend, August 9) gives an insight into the past glory and the current predicament of the august building and its premises. If the first occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan had complained that "I am in a zoo and a circus," and the current occupant, Pranab Mukherjee, is also uncomfortable with the way in which the "estate" is maintained, there must be something wrong somewhere in the whole environment, which needs to be corrected.
That it is a "heritage" kind of a structure and the nation should preserve it is no reason to cage the first citizen in uncomfortable surroundings. Apart from the research on history, architecture, the past day-to-day goings-on in the premises, the kitchens and dining rooms, Rashtrapati Bhavan deserves decent treatment in terms of the maintenance and productive use of floor area, and the vast expanse of land around.
M G Warrier, Mumbai
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