Pune University’s Heritage Walk Draws Hundreds, Highlighting the SPPU’s Rich Cultural Legacy

Reported by Kajal Bhukan 

Pune, 7th June 2025: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), one of India’s premier educational institutions, is known not just for its academic excellence but also for its rich architectural and historical legacy. On Saturday, hundreds of students and citizens took part in a captivating Heritage Walk that offered them a glimpse into the university’s colonial past and its evolution into a progressive educational institution.

Organized by the Department of History, the Heritage Walk is conducted twice a month and is free for all. It takes participants through a carefully curated route that uncovers lesser-known facts and stories that shaped the university’s sprawling 411-acre campus.

A Peek Into Colonial History

The walk begins at the Potdar Sankul, where a tunnel leads to kitchen quarters — an area historically used by Indian kitchen staff during the colonial era who were not permitted to enter the main residence. Participants are guided through the tunnel, which ends underneath the main building in what was once the Butler’s Pantry.

From there, visitors ascend into the core of the majestic Main Building, constructed in 1864 as the monsoon residence for the Governor of the Bombay Province. Designed by British architect James Trubshawe and inspired by Prince Albert’s Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, the building reflects the architectural grandeur of the era. It combines Victorian Gothic aesthetics with Italian influences and features an 80-foot-high flag tower that remains a visual landmark across the city.

Walking Through Legacy

The trip proceeds to a stone that bears the year 1864, when the provincial administration of Bombay approved funding for the grand administrative buildings. The heritage walk then leads through rooms that once served as the ballroom and banquet halls, adjoining a grand fireplace and the Marble Hall. These once hosted formal dinners and social gatherings for colonial officials. Today, they serve as meeting spaces for various academic bodies and public functions.

Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has four historic conference halls — Yashwantrao Chavan Sabhagriha, Sant Dnyaneshwar Sabhagriha, Shivaji Sabhagriha, and Sant Gadge Maharaj Sabhagriha — which now host the university’s most important academic and administrative meetings.

Aditi Ghotekar, an MA student in English Literature, described the walk as deeply memorable:

“It was a moment to remember. After getting admission to the university, I was always curious about the Main Building and how it looked inside. We all know its history, but very few of us ever get to experience it up close. Through this walk, we saw hidden corners and rooms we never imagined we could enter. The university is doing a great job by organizing this walk.”

A Living Archive

One of the notable points on the journey is the heritage museum on the ground floor. Dedicated to showcasing the history and material culture of Western Maharashtra, the museum displays rare artefacts including original coins, Maratha-era paintings, and manuscripts dating back to the 1790s. These artefacts not only highlight the region’s rich cultural legacy but also bring into focus how colonial rulers used the wealth of local cultivators to erect symbols of British dominance and permanence.

However, with the end of British rule, these same structures have been repurposed. The very halls that once excluded Indians now serve as centers of learning, innovation, and empowerment. Today, the university stands as a beacon of hope for lakhs of students from diverse backgrounds who come here to shape their futures with dignity and purpose.

Voices of Transformation

A quiet yet powerful moment in the walk is the visit to the statue of Savitribai Phule, the university’s namesake and a pioneer of women’s education in India. Positioned near the Main Building entrance, the statue serves as a constant reminder of the university’s roots in social reform and educational equity.

The walk concludes near the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor’s offices and the newly developed Cartoon Museum, tying together the historical with the contemporary. From Victorian ballrooms to modern academic offices, the transformation of the space mirrors the social and educational evolution of India itself.

A Journey Worth Taking

This carefully curated experience is not just about architectural grandeur or colonial nostalgia. It invites participants to reflect on the layered history of the campus and understand the transformations that lend these spaces new meaning and relevance.

For those seeking to connect with the spirit of SPPU — whether as students, historians, or curious visitors — the Heritage Walk offers not just a tour of bricks and mortar, but a journey through time and ideas that continue to shape the university and its community.