AN ODE TO
DADABHAI NAOROJI
(D.N.) HALL

THE MAHARAJA
SAYAJIRAO UNIVERSITY
OF BARODA

By: Dr. S. Brintha Lakshmi

You stand with grace and dignity,

Embracing one and all with profound intensity,

I have etched you in my heart with great propensity,

For you exude warmth and tranquillity.

Your entrance is prominent but you greet with simplicity,

Your simplicity flows out of every feature of your personality,

Be it your façade, your passages, your roof, or your domes,

You make everyone feel at ease, and at home.

The bevy of brick arches on your façade make you as light as filigree,

The arches with their intimate scale, and a little ornamentation reflect pedigree,

I am sure every user will agree,

The moving lines of the arches hold the eye endlessly like a musical soiree

Your arches connect the inside and the outside,

An interesting passage on the inside, and an expanse of space with trees on the outside,

The passage is in itself an experience for one to cherish,

The smooth surfaces of the arches, the shadow pattern of the arched openings cast by the moving sun, embellish.

The instant action of stretching the hand outside to feel the rain in the palm, and the spray on the face is a relish,

The spontaneous move to pull a chair, and sit in the warmth of the sun in winter to read a book is no fetish,

The opening of the arches framing a glimpse of the trees on the outside are not garish,

The jack-arch ceiling creating a wavy texture to mesmerize the eye is another embellish.

The walls of the rooms with their doors and windows, the proportions, solids and voids, textures and surfaces are in unison,

All blending together to create a variety of experiences through the day, and the season,

The passage is always alive and kicking, dancing in every season.

The courtyard is your heart, a space very warm and calm,

You draw people inwards within themselves like a balm,

Away from the outer world but upwards to the celestial sphere,

A wooden balcony that lightens the inner sphere,

The exposed brickwork that warms the inner sphere,

The slender wooden columns, the low hanging roof that are not severe,

All create a discreet presence to complement the serenity of the celestial sphere.

Your domes are special features that frame your façades,

They soar to the heavens, lightly kissing the sky,

They play hide and seek amidst the trees’ foliage,

But always telling the users, ‘I aim for the high’.

Stately D.N. Hall,

Can I miss you ever?

Can I forget you ever?

For you are etched so very deep in my heart forever