The building housing the office of Director General of Police (DGP) on the Marina is called “Perfect Unanimity.” But, about 30 years ago, it became the source of discord between the then AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) government and a host of concerned residents of Chennai, as the former had planned to demolish the 19th Century heritage structure and raise a “10 storeyed and elegant” complex for the Police department. Thanks to sustained efforts of a band of dedicated conservationists, the authorities had eventually dropped their plan and gone about strengthening the Victorian-era building, which continues to serve as the headquarters of the Police department.
The episode of the campaign to save the DGP office complex was recalled by many, while mourning the passing of veteran architect-conservationist Tara Murali in Chennai last week. She, along with a host of prominent residents of Chennai, had successfully fought hard in saving the building from demolition.
