Mitha Ram Hostel
| Mitharam Hostel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | |
| Address | Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed (Kutchary) Road in Serai Quarter |
| Town or city | Karachi |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 24°51′9″N 67°0′48″E / 24.85250°N 67.01333°E |
| Current tenants | Paramilitary Pakistan Rangers (since 1992) |
| Construction started | Between 1894 and 1901[2] |
| Owner | Government of Sindh |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 3,639.66 m2 (39,177.0 sq ft)[1] |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | James Strachan |
Mitha Ram Hostel, also spelled as Mitharam Hostel, is a historical building and former hostel in Karachi. It now serves as a sub-jail under the administration of Sindh Rangers since April 2015.[3][4]
History[edit]
Mitha Ram Hostel shares a historical connection with D. J. Sindh Government Science College, which was established through the efforts of Indian lawyer, Dayaram Gidumal, in the late 1880s.[5] Gidumal campaigned for the college's construction, as many Karachi students could not afford to travel to Bombay for education.[5] Funded by both the Bombay and Karachi governments and private contributions, the college was completed in 1887 and named after Diaram Jethmal, whose family made a significant donation.[5]
The subsequent influx of students to Karachi necessitated the construction of a hostel.[5] Gidumal's brother, Mitha Ram, contributed financially to the project, leading to the hostel's completion in 1901.[5][3] Notably, the Mitha Ram Hostel played a role in the 1940s independence movement, hosting meetings for activists such as Sobho Gianchandani and Hashu Kevalramani.[5]
In the 1990s, Syed Abdullah Shah, a former chief minister, intended to transform the building into a museum, but this plan never materialized.[5]
In 1992, the hostel was occupied by the Pakistan Rangers and later received the approval by the Chief Minister of Sindh, legitimizing a practice that had occurred without formal agreement for decades.[5] Initially, the Rangers were stationed at the hostel to maintain order and address escalating incidents of targeted killings and kidnappings in Karachi.[5]
See also[edit]
- Jinnah Courts, another former hostel under the administration of Sindh Rangers
- Sevakunj Hostel
References[edit]
- ^ a b Soomro, Tania Ali; Soomro, Mohsin Ali; Kanwal, Hummaira (1 July 2019). "Heritage at Stake: Discourse Concerning the Causes of Damages Occurred to the Historic Hostel Structures Built in British Era in Karachi". Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology. 38 (3): 819–834. Bibcode:2019MURJE..38..819S. doi:10.22581/muet1982.1903.23. ISSN 2413-7219. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Tania Ali Soomro; R. Kumar (15–16 October 2013). Documentation & Recording of the Forgotten Heritage – Case Study of the Historic Core of Karachi, Asian forgotten heritage: perception, preservation, and presentation: Proceedings ICOMOS Thailand International Conference 2013 "Asian Forgotten Heritage", the Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University (Phim khrang thī 1 ed.). Krung Thēp: ʻIkhōmōt Thai. pp. 364–375. ISBN 978-616-90599-5-0.
- ^ a b "They came, they saw, they never left: Mitha Ram's gift to students will now house the country's worst". The Express Tribune. April 17, 2015.
- ^ "Mitha Ram Hostel declared a sub-jail". The News International.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Baloch, Saher (July 9, 2016). "Laying waste to a heritage site — Mitha Ram Hostel". DAWN.COM.