| A
rundown Bungalow which has been with the Bhagvats
for over 80 years was unused and allowed to rot
for the last many years for obvious reasons. Too
large, inconvenient for Residential use and away
from the station. The younger Doctor - Dr. Milind
Bhagvat, the great grand son of Rao Bahadur Shri.
Shakharam Bhagvat, then the leading Legal Luminary
of Thane, once got together with some of his colleagues
and was discussing what best could be done of this
Huge Bungalow, which was eating away expenses but
was yet unproductive.
Ar.
Bobby Vijayakar as usual offered 4 options (being
highly influenced by the Big B's KBC programme).
1. Take up & Residence to the Old Bungalow
Site.
2. Sell off the Property - the easy way out.
3. Rent out the Property - some hassle though.
4. Restore the Bungalow & put it to some good
social use.
The
Doctor accepted the fourth suggestion and started
looking for like-minded peoople to use the place
for some good social cause. He met Dr. I. S. Gilada
and offered to give the Bungalow for AID's related
research, rehabilitation etc. programmes.
Though
at the idea was accepted but & did not ma
into any concrete proposal. It was then that a
group of highly dedicated and community conscious
band of Doctors approaches Dr. Milind to put up
a Super Speciality Endoscopy Unit at the same
Bungalow site.
This
was acceptable because
1. The Bungalow would be put to very good use
in the field of Medicine.
2. It will generate enough funds for maintaining
the Bungalow as also take care of day-to-day running
expenses.
3. It would generate employment for paramedical
staff viz: Ward boys, Nurses, etc.
4. Most importantly produce a much-needed Medical
facility for Thane and adjoining Area.
Ar.
Bobby was called in to check out the feasibility
of using the Bungalow for the purpose of a Super
Speciality Hospital. Ar. Bobby who sensed the
intensive Heritage value of the Bungalow, suggested
Restoring the Bungalow part by part - put to use
- let it generate proper funds and then go further
in restoring the upper floor.
Cornices
were painstakingly redone. The Bungalow was photographed
from as many angles as possible for any and every
future references.
Under
the expert guidance of Ar. Bobby and his band
of highly supportive people things started taking
shape, bit by bit restoration started and the
Outer shell took up the mantle of Old glory. The
Oldies in the area who had seen the Bungalow in
its heyday were stunned and excited to see the
freshly painted Bungalow suddenly appearing like
the proverbial "Phoenix rising from its ashes".
The
eyesore that once was beside the Police Commissioner's
Office suddenly had become a heritage monument
and the Police Commissioner's Office came to be
known as next to "Bhagvat Bungalow."
The
inside of the Bungalow though reminiscent of the
Old World Charm has old high wooden ceiling, quaint
doors & windows, thick walls built of different
composite materials etc. pleasantly juxtaposed
with the modern Ceramic Tiles, Glass, Steel, Granite
etc.
A
clever blend of the Old and Modern has helped
make the Centre Ultra Modern yet retaining its
Old World Charm.
The
doctors involved - all highly trained Surgeons,
MD's feel the place offers haven for retreat as
also a pleas able working environment.
The
Centre aptly christened - Lake City Endoscopy
Centre ( after Thane - the City of Lakes
) will soon be a place for Excellent Medical Facilities
with the grand ambience of the Older Thane.
A
Superb blend of the Old heritage values coupled
with Modern day necessities has helped turn this
Old decaying bungalow into a hub of medical activities.
The
restoration has not only delighted few of the
Older residents of Thane but has also enthused
others to take up such similar restorations and
try and maintain Old heritage monuments, buildings,
bungalow for prosperity.
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