RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) has started renovation of Odeon Cinema to restore the original structure of the over a century-old building on The Mall.

RCB spokesman Qaiser Mehmood told Dawn that work had been started last year but due to the Covid-19 pandemic its pace remained slow. However, he said the renovation has been restarted and would be completed next month.“At present, RCB has restored minarets of the building. However, the inner hall of the cinema and other interior portions will be renovated in the next phase.” He said the basic aim of the restoration of Odeon Cinema to its original architecture of 1910 was to save the old heritage.

The cinema, cantonment library and Shah Baloot Park belonging to Lansdowne Trust were founded by Sikh brothers Sardar Kirpal Singh Rai Bahadur and Sardar Sujan Singh Rai Bahadur to provide educational and recreational facilities to the residents of the cantonment on Dec 5, 1881.

The trust was named after Lord Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, V. Marquees of Lansdowne, the viceroy and governor general of India from 1884 to 1894.

According to the transferring deed between English officers and Sardar Kirpal Singh Rai Bahadur and Sardar Sujan Singh Rai Bahadur: “We Sardar Kirpal Singh Rai Bahadur and Sardar Sujan Singh Rai Bahadur, having at our own cost built the building known as Lansdowne Institute at The Mall on ground for the purpose by the cantonment committee Rawalpindi have now the pleasure of formally transferring the said institute to the public on the condition that it be open to all persons European and native alike conditional on conformity to rules of management and payment of subscription. The institute will be used as a place of entertainment and instructions.”

The original building of the institute was converted into a cinema house by the trustee in 1912. The cinema got burnt in 1946 and remained in that state till 1949. The restored building of the cinema was christened as Odeon Cinema during the ‘60s by the then tenant.

After this, the building was used as cinema and library till 2013. The Shah Baloot Park has also historical significant as the Sikh brothers arranged parties for the English officers at the northern post.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2021