'Friend in Need Society' building in May 2008 (above) and now (below)
The building of the Friend in Need Society at Pattoor had caught my attention ever since I came to Trivandrum for it quaintness and apparent antiquity. So I was really concerned to see the building on the verge of demolition for widening the road. The picture on the top was taken in May 2008. Somehow, due to bureaucratic red tape or due to resistance for acquisition from a nearby church, the building survived for two years more. The picture below shows the condition of the building today. Will it be there tomorrow?
Now that the building is almost part of history, does anyone know what the 'Friend in Need Society' was and how old was it? I searched the web, but could not get any lead. If anyone has some information, I would like to know.
3 comments:
Friends in India Society was established in 1893. Maharaja Sree Mulam Tirunal was its patron. The society had only three objectives-
1. the relief of the deserving poor
2. encouragement of industrious activities and 3. the suppression of mendicity. The society helped the destitute without the distinction of caste, creed, or color-by means of small monthly pensions or temporary help of small sums of money. Monthly subscriptions were collected including from the Maharaja and from the interest from 'permanent endowment'. The annual subscription in 1938 was Rs 5/-
Sorry for the error. It is Friends in Need Society
Thank you Uma Maheswari. It is pity that the society's heritage building is nearly demolished.
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