Monumental neglect: Ross institute testimony to how we ignore heritage

Hyderabad: A signboard near the old airport in Begumpet points towards Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Parasitology, a museum seldom visited by anyone from the city. This is where Sir Ronald Ross performed pioneering research on malaria which won him the Nobel Prize in 1902.

Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Parasitology (Infographics)

The dusty visitors’ book bears testimony to how tourists ignore the museum, as well as the emotions of those who visited it, The last entry, on March 9, is by a scholar from Oxford University: “I am so glad I found it... if only it were better known.”

There are less than 10 entries in the book this year, and less than 100 from 2004. May 13 will be the 159th birth anniversary of Sir Ronald Ross. Sir Ronald had a road named after him, which was renamed Minister Road. Only a plaque carrying his name exists.

Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Parasitology (Infographics)

The museum is overseen by Osmania University but the 2.5 acre land on which it sits belongs to the Airports Authority of India. Mr Ch Veera Chary, president of Welltech Foundation, which works on malaria, said, “The building is neglected and is unknown to the public. No facilities for visitors, there is no one to guide visitors. People booze at night in the premises.” He has offered financial help.

“Organisations from other countries like the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine, UK, have shown interest in maintaining it,” he said. Dr Reddya Naik of OU’s zoology department, who serves as director of the institute, said: “We tried to get a water connection but the AAI demanded a huge fee. Requests have been sent to the PMO for setting up a research centre at the institute, but the AAI was not ready to part with the land. Renova-tion was not done properly by the archaeology department in 2010.”