Friends, family pay tributes to architect Tara Murali

Friends, long-time work collaborators, and family came together on Thursday at Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) to pay tributes to architect Tara Murali, who passed away recently. It was Tara who designed the beautiful ACJ campus in Taramani.

N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group (THG) Publishing Private Limited, and Trustee of ACJ, said Tara was a very special person, thoroughly secular and modern. “Always passionate about social justice, she detested exploitation. Sometimes, she would talk about how domestic workers are treated badly,” he said. She fought to save the DGP office, a heritage building and translated a book on Veerapandiya Kattabomman by Ma.Po.Si., he added.

ACJ Chairman Sashi Kumar said the campus was a testimony to what she stood for and did not like air-conditioning. She loved the ACJ canteen’s samosas and there have been times when she would drop in just to take some, he recalled.

Accoustician Ramani Ramakrishnan, who spoke from Toronto, shared his experience of working on the ACJ auditorium with her. “Tara was one of the most brilliant architects I have worked with. We had tremendous mutual respect for each other. During the inaugural concert in 2018, she refused to get on the stage. It was then I understood that she was not interested in name or fame,” he said.

Architect Kalpana Balaji said Tara was there to nudge her in the right direction even when she did not know she needed it. “She was the one who shaped my love for the city. When I decided to work with my husband, we grew with her generosity,” she added. Structural engineer Nagesh, said Tara was meticulous, and gave quality time for any project. She was a very humble lady, he added.

Radhika Menon, long-time friend of Tara Murali, said she knew Tara before ACJ was built. “We went to her because we wanted eco-friendly materials at the house we built in Uthandi. I remember we didn’t have any disagreements. The plan was light and airy. She was an avid scrabble player, and we had planned to have a game. But that never happened,” she said.

Tara’s son Krishna Murali and husband N. Murali, Director, The Hindu Group of Publications, and president of The Music Academy, accepted the condolences.