Showing posts with label Mumbai University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mumbai University. Show all posts

Monday 6 November 2017

A celebrated Contractor with a glorious past- Ellapa Balaram

Ellapa Balaram


Introduction-
Rao Bahadur Ellapa Balaram was a well-known citizen of Bombay and a leading member of a Telugu community. As a building contractor he erected the new Secretariat, the new High court, the University clock tower (Rajabai Tower), the Bhandarwada waterworks and the Colaba point north and South batteries, besides several spinning and weaving mills, station, and roads etc. Ellapa was a person who contributed very much in the history of Bombay, he came from a poor family and lost his mother and father due to plague but still he survived and made himself as a very famous personality. He was not just a constructor but he was also a very kind herarted person who tried to protect Bombay from plague. While checking the data’s related to him the author got the original certificates and paper pieces which confirms his great achievements.







Legacy of Ellapa-
Ellapa Balaram was born in Colaba in 1850, but their native place was Hyderabad. His grandfather first came to Pune and started dairy industry. Mr. Ellappa’s family was well known to the British army at poona (Pune) Bombay (Mumbai), Disa and Karachi as a supplier of milk on a very large skale and with loyalty. When Elappa was 8 months old, his mother died and he was raised by his grandmother. His grandmother and uncle raised Ellapa like their own son. At that time, there was no English school at that time, so Ellapa couldn’t learn English, Ellapa used to visit one European couple to deliver milk. The European couple loved him like their own son, the European lady taught him proper English.
The European man was an engineer and he saw that Ellapa was very creative and he was fast catcher of tings aroud him. Hence, he gave him few lesson on engineering, drawing and building maps. When Ellapa was 13 years old his uncle died. “He was adopted by his brother and hence he started using his name (brother’s name) in spite of his father’s”[1].    
In the milk trade he had earned good reputation for honesty and enterprise. After his father’s death Mr. Ellappa tried for continue his ancestor’s business. But as he was very early initiated in the line of building contractor so he meet with a very famous contractor called Nagu Sayyaji (very famous contractor in the historical Telagu community),[2] Balaram visited him and told him that, he is very much interested in construction business. Now Nagu Sayyaji made him his partner because, Ellapa was very creative and he had a good construction skill. So, now he became a contractor from a dairy industrialist.
Soon, Ellapa progressed in the work of contracts and now he started getting bigger contracts and started building new secretariats. The map of this new building was drawn by Colonel Wilson, who actually asked to Ellapa that, “Could you build this building as per my plan”, then Ellapa said very confidently that “Yes, I can do it”. Then, he successfully constructed the new secretariat. After building the new secretariat, Ellapa asked for a recommendation letter from Colonel Wilson but, Colonel refused to give any letter. Later, when he asked the reason, Colonel said, there is no need of any letter where this whole secretariat is your recommendation letter. Before completing 20 years of his life, Ellapa became one of the most famous personality of Bombay. At that time he got two contracts at a time. First on was, clock-tower of University of Bombay and Bombay High court building.
In 1877, Bombay Presidency gone through drought and many people died and migrated due to unavailability of food and water and many people of Bombay Presidency came to Bombay city[3]. At that time of drought, the Collector of Sholapur John Grant and he became the commissioner of BMC. Now, it was the duty of BMC to mobilize all the drought-hit people at a place and take care of them, feed them. At that time Ellapa constructed small huts in the city for the victims of drought. At that time very few people residing in Colaba.
Further Ellapa constructed Tophkhana in Colaba and near Mahalaxmi. He also constructed a college building in Indore named as Rajkumar College (Daly College). With growing popularity, he got many contracts. The British government awarded him with title ‘Rao Saheb’ in 1891. Before that in 1883 he was honoured with ‘Justice of Peace’ (J.P.). He was the first non-Brahmin to get this honour and title[4]. In 1896, the threat of plague begins. Many people lost their lives. The British government and Municipal corporation started a new scheme that- whoever affected by plague have to immediately shifted to hospital. When there was shortage occurred for the place of plague victims, Ellapa constructed many huts for them. Now, the people who were not affected by the plague, Ellapa rented a place and gave them shelter from his own pocket. The place he took on rent was in front of BMC office i.e.‘Khoras road’. He also built 1000 huts for non-affected people, 500 huts in Kamthipura for the people, as there was shortage of place. At that time Lord Sandhurst who was the Municipal commissioner congratulated Ellapa for his work. Because of this work, he became popular among citizens. When the plague started in Colaba he raised funds for the hospital, gave monetary help and started two wards in hospital under name of his daughter Mukta and his aunt Laxmibai. There was a convent girl’s school in Byculla and the head of the convent school whose name was mother Catharine. She requested Rao Saheb to shift all girls to Versova near Andheri. Rao Saheb constructed huts in Versova. Mother Catharine named that place, “Balaram Castle”.
Balaram House - Shivam dubey



People started blessing him for his works, people appreciated him for his support during eradication of plague. In 1898, he honoured as Rao Bahadur, at that time,the leaders of Bombay including D M Petit, Justice Ranade, Sir Bhalchandra Chandavarkar, Sir Narayanrao Chandavarkar, J.C. Kama, Colonel Wilson, Dr. Prabhakar, Sir Kareem Bhai Ibrahim, J.C. Wilson, Sir Mir Abdul Ali, Madan Lala Munshi, Damodar Govardhan Das, they all honoured him. This was the first ever programme for some Bhahujan. Justice Rande was the president of this ceremony. In that programmem a Pt. Keshavrav Vaman Pethe  red a Marathi poem titled ‘Rao Bahadur Ellapa Balaram’.
Ellapa, founded ‘Gyanvardhaka Sabha’ with his friends. For Telugu society he built a night school. With the help of Gyanvardhaka Sabha’ he organized lectures in Marathi language. He built a library in kamathipura along with his friends. He gave timely funds to library. To make library accessable to all he gave donations to library. He became corporater of Kamathipura and stayed 25 to 26 years. The name of the place Balaram street was given when he was alive.[5] 

Rao Bahadur Balaram


Signatures of Various Important people 


Sanad Of Rao Bahadur 

His works for Plague:
 In late 19th century when Bombay was becoming the trade hub many people from other states came here for better future opportunity. At that time the population of the Bombay was 820,000[6].  Most of the population around (70%) were lived in chawls. In September 1896 the first case of Bubonic plague was detected in Mandvi. It spread rapidly to other parts of the city, and the death toll was estimated at 1,900 people per week through the rest of the year[7].  The medical facility was not available properly at those times so the spreading of plague was very fast.
His father and mother died due to plague only so he wanted to save others from plague. In 1898, when the symptoms of plague observed again then he organized a sabha at Telugu Sabhagraha. Balaram was President of that sabha and he agree to give 125 rupees per month and along with him many other Telugu rich people like Gangaram Saybu, Narsingh Saybu, Rajaram Jilankar etc. gave 50 rupees each for the recommencement of the hospital. The hospital runs on his name for more than 2 years. The common people, never tried to going hospital because their mentality was that if anyone visit a plague hospital, never comes alive from there.
            At the day of Gudi padwa Ellapa organized a sabha at telugu sabha and donated money and clothes to the people who lost their everything due to the plague.
During the three years of plague, Rao Bahadur Ellapa Balaram has taken an active part in alleviating the sufferings of the people of all the Hindu communities. He has visited the houses of the sick, removing them to the hospital, and has attended to the segregation and comforts of the “contacts”. He was the first to establish the extensive health camp, on Forbs’ road, known as the “Balaram Camp,” which was capable of accommodating from twelve to sixteen hundred people. He has also maintained the “Telegu Plague Hospital”. For all this activities he got honored by the colonial government at that time. His contribution in JJ hospital is also noticeable. He built Gaurabai hospital in Kamathipura (present in 13th lane). He also built a dispensary on the corner of the Balaram street which is now converted into T.B. hospital which comes now under the B.M.C. he also opened many other clinics also in Kamathipura and near Bhaykhalla.[8]   
In present 2 buildings are present in sir JJ hospital which was donated by Ellapa balaram. He also donated huts for plague patients and not plague patents so that the plague will not come in a direct contact with common people.   
He has his own bungalow in the Balaram Street but now at the same place a building has been erected named as Balaram Bhavan.

His Death:

In 1911 ellapa invited in Delhi Darbar but never became a part of it. Gaurabai his wife was very ill at that time so he does not wanted to go but gaurabai forced him to go and at the same day of the festival Gaurabai died and Allapa was became very ill after that incident.
Ellapa was unwell from past 2 years. In last month when he passed away, many famous doctors treated him. But, they were unable to save him. When he died his age was 64. His dead body was burnt on sandal wood pyre[9]. Many famous people came to pay homage to Ellapa. On the death of Ellapa Balaram Bombay chronicle, Gyanprakash newspapers has paid a homage. “the death of Rao Bahadur Ellapa Balaram J.P., Honorary magistrate and one of the oldest members of the Municipal corporation, occurred on Sunday night at his own residence at grant road. For the last two years and more he was in indifferent health and during the last month there was a sudden change of worse which accelerated his sad end”.[10]
He started a clinic on his wife’s name, he invested 22,000 rupees for his clinic and 15,000 to 20,000 rupees for its construction. Now the clinic is under BMC commonly known as ‘ Balaram T.B. Hospital’.
On his day of death many newspaper like Sakal covered a proper story of his life. He did a lot in his short life. 

Wife of Balaram 


Architectural style of Balaram T.B.Hospital:

Balaram TB Hospital 



1.
Built date
1896 to 1899
2.
Location
Balaram Street, Alibhai Premji Marg(Foras road)
3.
Townscape(Natural/manmade)
Located at Juction of Balaram street and Mehta Chawk
4.
Architectural Description
Simple and modest vernacular style stone structure with minimal ornamentation having sloping roof with wooden trusses. Municipal dispenseries built in colonial era fall in the same typology. The walol is made of basalt stone in random rubble pattern. The corner edges of the building have long and short work.
5.
Entrance
Constructed mainly to provide free health care for working class population, the city has many such health centers that have bear minimum functional facilities and spaces. Has random rubble masonary wall with decorative brackets supporting the roof.
6.
Floors
G+1
7
Plinth
15c.m.high Basalt stone plinth
8.
Walls
Malad stone walls in random rubble masonry
9.
Floor
Wooden joist flooring.
10.
Stairs
No stairs
11.
Openings
Rectangular opening with Florentine arch.


Buildings built by Ellapa:
Ellapa blaram was a contractor and his main works as a contractor is-
1-       
Secretariat building.
2-       
Rajabai clock tower of University of Mumbai.
3-       
High court building
4-       
Topkhana in Colaba, Mahalaxmi
5-       
Rajkumar college (Daly college) Indore
6-       
Free Huts for the girls college in Versova 
7-       
Library in kamathipura
8-       
Huts for plague patents
9-       
Two buildings in JJ hospital
10-   
Clinics in Bhaykhalla and in Kamathipura.
11-   
Library in Kamathipura
12-   
Hospitals (Gaurabai Hospital, Balaram T.B. Hospital)





 Conclusion:
Mr. Ellapa almost from beginning of his career identified himself with every public movement and function which was set on foot for promoting social welfare. He was a great friend of all work of mercy, particularly that of the society for the prevention of cruelty of Animals (The hospital for animal is the proof of it). To this association he had rendered much service. As he was most loyal to the British rule he was ever ready to help forward any cause which required public recognition and cooperation. Mr. Ellapa was very charitable disposed; and he gave away much money for charitable purposes during his life time[11].
His genuine sympathy and kind-heartedness were specially observed during the first three years of plague in Bombay. He spent thousands of rupees to all to alleviate human misery and destitution caused by the terrible scourge. For all his works to the public government showed their esteem for him by conferring upon him the titles of Justice of peace, Rao Bahadur, Rao sahib etc. he was a member of the municipal corporation for the last 28 years and he worked as an honorary magistrate ever since the inception of that institution[12].
   Ellapa balaram created a milestone in the field of construction, he lost his family at the early age. He was very creative and intelligent boy so because of his knowledge and technical skills he made his name in the society. He was a kind hearted person who donated a lot of land, money, food, and clothes to the poor people. He opened schools, libraries, clinics, donated funds for hospitals and created shelters for homeless people. For his works he got many awards honors etc. He also treated very well by the colonel governments. His works are unforgettable, he created a new history of Bombay. 
  Bibliography:
1-      The times of India May 15,1930
2-      The Bombay chronical September 2, 1914
3-      Mumbai Raviwar Sakal October 14, 1984
4-      Gyan Prakash September 2, 1914
5-      Navashakti November 12,1972
6-        Representative men of Bombay presidency second edition
7-      Interview with Saroj suryavamsi
8-      Interview with Jayant rao suryavamsi
9-      Mumbaichya ubharadita, telagu samajache yogadan.By Manohar kadam
10-  Theory.tifr.res.in The plague Epidemics of 1890’s  




[1] Based on Interview with Saroj Suryavanshi with the author.
[2] The Bombay chronicle Wednesday September 2, 1914.
[3] It was mainly area of Colaba at that time, not entire Bombay we see today.
[4]  It was reported in Navshakti newspaper of November 12, 1972.
[5] From the original visiting card of Ellapa Balaram.
[6] Theory.tifr.res.in The plague Epidemics of 1890’s
[7] Theory.tifr.res.in The plague Epidemics of 1890’s
[8] Based on Interview with Saroj Suryavanshi with the author.
[9] Gyanprakash Marathi news paper Wednesday September 1914
[10] The Bombay chronicle, Wednesday September 2, 1914,
[11] The Bombay chronicle, Wednesday September 2, 1914,
[12] Based on Interview with Saroj Suryavanshi with the author


                                                                                           
                                                                                           Shivam Dubey

                                                                                         Researcher, Editor and Writer 
                                                                                         ShabdaChitra Noida 
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