Old Assembly Hall to be made historic monument

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 18. The Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant, will declare the Old Legislature Assembly Hall, behind the Secretariat, as a historical monument and dedicate it to the nation on February 24.

The Speaker, Mr. M. Vijayakumar, told presspersons here on Sunday that the Hall would be developed later as a full fledged museum and study centre.

It will have facilities for research and higher studies in Parliamentary Democracy, democratic experiments and their impact on the social, political and administrative fields of the State.

Besides, two galleries - a portrait and photo gallery - will be set up, in the Old Assembly Building with a light and sound system to elucidate the history of the Legislature. The Hall will be made lively by the appropriate use of light and sound. Important speeches and ruling from the Chair will be amplified effectively and judiciously. On the whole, an onlooker from the visitor's gallery will get an unforgettable glimpse of the dramatic schemes in the Assembly, the Speaker said.

The Portrait Gallery, he said, would have paintings of all the Speakers and Leaders of the House. Besides, rare photographs relating to the history of the House, documents and proclamations, from time to time, would be displayed in the Gallery. Assistance from the Centre and other agencies was expected for the Project.

Mr. Vijayakumar recalled that the Assembly had functioned for 60 years - from 1939 to 1998, in the building. The first Legislative Council, constituted by the Maharaja of Travancore, had met in the Dewan's Hall in the North Block of the Secretariat on August 23, 1888. From October 22, 1904, the newly formed Sree Moolam Popular Assembly had functioned from the VJT Hall until it moved to the Old Assembly Building. Several changes had taken place with respect to the powers and constitution of the House during this period. In 1933, it had become bicameral, with a 37-member Upper House called the Sri Chitra State Council and a 72- member lower House called the Sree Moolam Assembly.

On December 12, 1933, Freeman-Freeman Thomas, the Viceroy Governor General of India, laid the foundation stone for the Assembly Hall on the northern side of the Government Secretariat Building. The Assembly Hall was opened by C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, Dewan of Travancore, on February 8, 1939, and on the very next day the Second Sree Moolam Assembly met there for its Fourth Session. The bicameral legislature continued till September 4, 1947 when the Maharaja proclaimed the establishment of responsible Government in Travancore. On July 1, 1949, the States of Travancore and Cochin were integrated. Consequent on the merger of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar, the State of Kerala was formed on November 1956. All these years, the venue of the Assembly was the same and it continued to be so till June 28, 1998 when the Tenth Kerala Assembly met there for its eighth session. Then the House moved to the new Assembly building in the Legislature Complex.

The Speaker said that the decision to preserve the Old Assembly Hall as a historical monument was taken at a meeting of the Legislature Party Leaders, and announced on the floor of the House on June 29, 1998.

Candidature for Assembly poll

Asked about the uncertainty about his candidature for the coming elections, Mr. Vijayakumar said that the picture would be clear only by April. The present situation could change. He indicated that he was not unwilling to be in the arena.

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Section  : Southern States
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