A Project to Illuminate the Red Sandstone Soul of Khalsa College Amritsar

June

2026

Kolkata-based heritage conservationist Mudar Patherya has turned his attention to the historic Khalsa College in Amritsar. An ambitious lighting project aims to transform the architecturally rich institution into a striking nocturnal spectacle. Patherya, widely known for his work as a civic activist and heritage conservation expert, has led several citizen-driven efforts to restore and illuminate historic buildings across Kolkata. The Khalsa College project is his largest undertaking so far. Using more than 2,500 specially installed lights—spotlights, silhouette lights, and grazing lights—the project seeks to accentuate the college’s distinctive red sandstone architecture. Rather than flooding the entire structure with light, the lighting has been designed to guide the eye towards key architectural elements and ornamental details. The project is estimated to cost around USD 31,547. The Principal of Khalsa College, Atam Randhawa says, ‘The project is being entirely funded by Khalsa College alumnus and entrepreneur Padam Prakash Gupta, who has been generous enough to invest in turning Khalsa College into an important landmark on the city’s cultural tourism map.’ Patherya describes his work as an attempt to rebuild civic pride and reconnect citizens with their architectural history. Many of his projects have been supported through crowdfunding, local sponsorships and volunteer participation. At Khalsa College, his team of engineers and artisans has been working for over a month to install the façade lighting system, with the project expected to be completed by the end of June. Patherya has worked on several historic monuments, including the Victoria Memorial and other colonial-era structures across Kolkata. Khalsa College’s unique Indo-Saracenic architecture has long been documented and admired by heritage conservationists. Meanwhile, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, a couple’s unique home imagines the bricks as a banyan tree. The 7,500 sq ft residence with sections of exposed brick jutting out from the wall is called ‘The Brick Banyan.’ Unlike most of its surrounding homes, the home has two floors. The raw concrete slabs in the ceiling are left completely exposed. The home is designed by Studio Mohenjadaro in Chandigarh with Tarunpreet Singh Bhatia as the lead designer.