UP govt to convert legendary KD Singh Babu's home into a museum
LUCKNOW: After the silence of many years, the sprawling brick house on one end of Barabanki city may get visitors soon. Hockey legend KD Singh Babu's ancestral bungalow has been under the spotlight following an ownership dispute between family members.
However, the state govt has now stepped in to stop the auction of the 35,000 sq ft Civil Lines house and convert it into a museum centred around the life of the legend. Family members had agreed to court's order of auctioning the bungalow and distribute the proceeds among themselves after which local MLC Angad Kumar Singh sought the UP CM's intervention in the matter.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has now directed the Barabanki district administration to buy the property from the family and convert it into a museum. "There are 19 parties of the property, and to date, we have met at least five members of the family to discuss the matter. They have all shown interest in govt's initiative to develop the property into a heritage site. The govt will acquire the property from the family on the circle rate and distribute the proceeds among them equally," said Barabanki DM Satyendra Kumar.
The Barabanki district administration expects to receive a proposal from the family in the next couple of days, following which they will intimate the court about the family's unanimous discussion. Once the court gives its assent, the administration will assess the property value, which is currently sealed on the court's order.
This is the very house where the 'Houdini of hockey' was born in 1922 and learned the early tricks of the game.
A master dribbler, Babu used to dribble the ball all the way to Dewa, another town 12 km away, every day when he was barely 15.
In Lucknow, a metro station is named after him. Besides, KD Singh Babu stadiums were constructed in Lucknow and Barabanki.
