Simla Office at Pune
Photo Source: IMD Pune web site
In Pune, the imposing and beautiful building which houses the offices and laboratories of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is known to the public as ‘Simla Office’. It is an outstanding landmark in the heart of the city of Pune, and even the very busy square where it is located is popularly called the ‘Simla Office Chowk’. The people of Pune know that IMD earlier had its office in Simla (now Shimla) from where it was shifted to Poona (now Pune), but most of them are not quite aware of the fascinating history behind the name. Here it is in brief:
IMD was established in the year 1875 with its headquarters in the capital city of Calcutta (now Kolkata). Almost simultaneously, a Branch Meteorological Office was set up in Simla, which since 1864 was the summer capital of colonial India, and was therefore equally important. As the years went by, greater responsibility got assigned to the Simla branch office and its activities went on increasing. From 1885 onwards, the Indian Daily Weather Report, monthly and seasonal summaries, and the long range forecasts were issued by IMD from Simla. Eventually, in 1905, the role reversal became official, as Simla became the headquarters of IMD and Calcutta was reduced to the status of a branch office.
In 1875, the Simla branch office of IMD was temporarily housed in the Government Telegraph Office. Sir John Eliot, who was the head of IMD from 1889 to 1903, had bought an old bungalow named ‘Constantia’ for his own stay in Simla during the summers. Eliot rented out a part of this bungalow for use by IMD and so ‘Constantia’ served as IMD’s office at Simla from 1890 to 1903.
When Eliot retired, he offered to sell the property to IMD. While this offer was not accepted, Sir Gilbert Walker, who had succeeded Eliot as the Director General of IMD, continued to function from the ‘Constantia’ office until 1908. At that time, the Governor General decided to acquire the building for establishing the Young Women’s Christian Association there. ‘Constantia’ stands today in a properly maintained condition and still houses the Shimla YWCA.
Constantia in 1910 (Photo Source: Internet)
YWCA Shimla (Photo Source: http://hpshimla.nic.in/ShimlaHeritageReport.pdf)
In 1908, IMD moved out into a larger bungalow on the Yarrows estate in Simla, but this was already so old that it had to be structurally reinforced by means of heavy scaffolding. By 1916, the Yarrows site had further deteriorated and had to be abandoned, and so IMD moved its office once again, this time to a temporary and hurriedly constructed building on the Kennedy House estate. There is no trace of either of these buildings in Shimla now.
The Kennedy building was not well-suited to the nature of IMD’s activities, which were constantly increasing. Walker had been seriously considering the idea of shifting the IMD headquarters out of Simla to a place on the plains and had thought of Poona as an alternative. In 1924, the year of his retirement, Walker made a formal proposal to the government to this effect. His successor Director General, J. H. Field, pursued the proposal and obtained government sanction in 1926.
The IMD headquarters building at Poona was built upon a 10-acre site in the Bhamburda (now Shivajinagar) area on Ganeshkhind Road. The architectural plans were drawn up by M/s Stevens and Partners. The observation-cum-clock tower was designed to have a square cross-section with its diagonals aligned north-south and east-west. The building was inaugurated on 20 July 1928 by Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, Governor of Bombay. By that time, Field had also retired and Sir Charles Normand had just taken over charge as Director General of Observatories. Even before the formal inauguration ceremony was held, the process of shifting the office from Simla to Poona had been completed and the publication of the India Daily Weather Report had already commenced from Poona on 1 April 1928.
Normand was the Director General of IMD until 1944. However towards the end of his tenure, which coincided with the Second World War, the headquarters of IMD had again to be shifted to New Delhi, as it was required to provide specialized forecasting services to the air force. In 1947, after independence, it was decided that the IMD headquarters would continue to remain in New Delhi.
Dr S. K. Banerji, was the first Indian to be appointed as the Director General of IMD in 1944 and he held that position till 1950. Presently, IMD has a six-storied building named ‘Mausam Bhavan’, and another six-storied building called ‘Mausam Upagrah Bhavan’ in a sprawling complex of its own on Lodi Road in New Delhi.
Cloud and Sunshine 
Dec 07, 2019 @ 11:47:39
Dear Sir,
I am in need of Historical data on barometric pressure (in Kpa or mm of Hg) of Pune throughout year. For our automotive product, it is specified to check air flow at 23 deg temp ( by AC) & 96 TO 103 Kpa barometric pressure. I am using barometric pressure gauge. Today it is showing 741 mm of Hg( 98.8 Kpa) & is within spec. But I am not sure in May values.
I am not getting historical data on IMD ,PUNE.
Please guide me in this connection.
Regards,
Krishnaji N Kelkar
Dec 07, 2019 @ 12:18:53
Dear Shri Kelkar,
Thank you for visiting my site.
If you are living in Pune city, you may visit Simla Office and try to meet some one personally in National Data Centre. If you are not in Pune, please explain to me what you mean by historical data. Do you want hourly pressure data for Pune? For every day of the year? For how many years?
Regards and best wishes,
Ranjan Kelkar
Dec 09, 2019 @ 10:15:59
Dear Sir,
Thanks for prompt reply. I am living in Chinchwad & working in auto part co. in Chakan. Historical means min/max atmospheric pressure in every month of year. Even Min value in which month( probably in Apr/May) & Max Value in which month(may be in Dec/Jan) are sufficient. This is only to ensure that we are conducting air flow (unit is Kg/Hr given by Emerson Coriolis Flow meter) test at specified barometric pressure means 96 to 104 Kpa. Since barometric pressure is not controllable, If it is going below 96 Kpa in summer, then I have to add a correction factor in program. This is all actually required.
With Regards,
K N Kelkar
Dec 09, 2019 @ 10:33:39
Dear Shri Kelkar,
Please contact IMD about your data requirement. Their contact details are available at
http://www.imdpune.gov.in/Links/contactusnew.html
You may phone them or email them.
Regards,
Ranjan Kelkar
Jan 09, 2019 @ 15:54:30
Dear Prof. Kelkar,
I am curious to know who were the Directors General of IMD since 1950. Is that history recorded anywhere?
Please let me know.
Thanks!
Vasu Ramanujam, Cellphone: 9822002447
Jan 09, 2019 @ 18:34:38
Dear Vasu,
The information is available on the IMD web site. Here is the direct link
http://www.imd.gov.in/pages/about_ex_dgms.php
Regards,
Ranjan Kelkar
Jan 10, 2019 @ 12:04:28
Thank you Prof. Kelkar for your prompt reply. I have one more question: Do you happen to know or know of a senior officer of IMD Pune by the name K Chandra? The only reference of him that I can get on the Internet is a 1951 paper he wrote: Destructive thunderstorm over Ambala on 18 May 1950. IJMG Vol.2. Wanted to know more about him Sir! Thanks! Vasu.
Jan 10, 2019 @ 06:42:45
Dear Vasu,
Can you spell out your interest? Is it biographical or scientific? Or is it some personal connection? Can you send me a full copy of the paper that you mentioned?
Kelkar
Jan 10, 2019 @ 08:56:58
Dear Prof. Kelkar,
My apologies for not mentioning this earlier. The interest is a personal connection. We are drawing out a family tree and Shri. K Chandra is my wife’s grand uncle. I was hoping to get something about him to be able to go back one more generation and know more about my wife’s grand father and grand mother and their predecessors.
Any light you can throw on him would help us.
Thanks!
Vasu
Jan 10, 2019 @ 10:24:31
Dear Vasu,
Please send me a mail at kelkar_rr@yahoo.com telling me the whole story. What was Chandra’s full name to begin with? What could have been his age when he wrote that paper? Are you sure he was posted in IMD Pune? Could he have been in the IAF? Etc.. Also tell me where you are located.
Kelkar
Jan 10, 2019 @ 09:01:27
Dear Prof. Kelkar,
To respond to your other request: I do not have the article. It has been cited in an IMD Forecasting Manual which can be accessed on this page:
Click to access IMD_III-2.2.pdf
Thanks!
Vasu
May 07, 2017 @ 02:00:44
Sir, I am interested in climatology research or in subject, I am now in 12 th science, can you guide me about my future career?
Also give me sufficient information about climatological jobs in IMD Pune.
May 07, 2017 @ 02:25:00
Dear Deep,
Thank you for visiting my site and telling me about your interest in climatology. I suggest that you visit the IMD Pune web site http://www.imdpune.gov.in where you will find a lot of information about the work that goes on in IMD’s offices in Pune. Contact numbers of senior scientists are available on the web site and you may seek an appointment with one of them.
If you wish to pursue a career in meteorology, you should have at least a degree in science, preferably in physics, and a post-graduate degree in atmospheric sciences. SP Pune University has a Department of Atmospheric Sciences. It also has a Department of Geography. You may like to visit them and seek guidance. Cochin University and Andhra University in Waltair offer post-graduate degrees in meteorology. You can visit their web sites.
Best wishes, Deep!
Ranjan Kelkar
Dec 21, 2016 @ 09:26:11
Dear Kelkar Sir,.. We are students of Urban Planning (CoEP) and are using satellite data to understand the temperature distribution in Pune City. Our analysis shows that the temperature is quite high in the outskirts of Pune, and low in the core areas like shivajinagar. Does IMD maintain such records of temperature of different areas in Pune City? We wanted to verify our analysis. If our study is in fact true, could you estimate the causes of such an anomaly?!
Dec 21, 2016 @ 09:45:15
Dear Omkar,
You have not told what satellite data you have used and in what manner. Satellite-based land temperature retrievals on a local scale can yield misleading results unless done with great caution and care. However, since you are students of CoEP you can just walk into Simla Office and visit the National Climate Centre. I hope you will get there the advice and information you want.
Best wishes,
R R Kelkar
Jul 08, 2015 @ 02:55:13
Can I use IMD satellite photos on my blog without infringing copyright?
Love your blog!
Jul 08, 2015 @ 05:20:34
I think that it would be proper for you to take up the issue directly with IMD.
Best wishes,
R R Kelkar
May 01, 2015 @ 08:15:37
Respected Prof R R Kelkar,
I am a student of 12th. I am searching for some information about the night sky maps of May 2015.
I searched some websites but got no data. Please can you guide me to find it out?
Regards,
Vaidehi Janvekar.
May 01, 2015 @ 12:43:28
Dear Vaidehi,
I suggest that you visit http://www.packolkata.gov.in/
Then scroll down until you see the icon for Night Sky Charts.
Click on the icon and you will be taken to a new page. There you can choose the place and month.
Best wishes,
R R Kelkar
Nov 04, 2013 @ 05:22:00
Dear Prof Kelkar
Congratulations for a great write-up! I am a resident of Simla and it is delightful to learn different people’s comments and perceptions about this charming town!I feel glad that Simla is popular elsewhere too through its old historical linkages. Thanks once again.
Cheena
Nov 04, 2013 @ 06:34:27
Dear Cheena,
Thank you for your words of appreciation! I hope and wish that some day I can visit Simla and see for myself what I have written about.
I suggest that you go through the comments on my post. They are interesting too.
Regards and a Happy Diwali,
Ranjan Kelkar
Nov 10, 2011 @ 10:26:27
Appropos Shree Bhagwat’s comment –
I have heard different versions of the Donkey story and why IMD HQ was
shifted to Poona (Pune).
First the donkey story:
In a party Blanford overheard a remark by a guest that he can forecast
weather better than IMD. When his turn came for after-dinner speach
Blanford said he would tell a story:
“When a king complimented his court forecaster for his correct weather
forecasts the man very modestly said that credit really should go to
his washerman who provides him with weather forecasts. The King then
summoned the washerman and enquired about tne secret of his success.
That man was modest too and replied that the credit should go to his
donkey who shakes one of its ears when it is going to rain and the
other when weather is going to be fine.
The King then got the donkey to be brought to the court and put his
priciest garland on its neck.”
Blanford then sat down leaving the other guests in confused silence
till one of them jokingly broke the silence, “What is the moral of the story?”
Blanford rose again and said, “Since that day every donkey thinks he is
a good forecaster of weather”..
Next about the shift to Poona:
During a court of enquiry about a marine accident the Judge asked the
Simla based Meteorolgist who had issued the forecast under scrutiny
whether he has ever seen any sea. When the poor soul replied in the
negative the Judge ordered that the Met Office should shift forthwith
to seaside. Poona was the closest to sea. IMD could shift its entire
establishment to Poona at that point of time.
I don’t remember the sources but am sure that these are just jokes.
Nov 10, 2011 @ 10:50:45
Dear Dr Sen Sarma,
Thank you so much for your stories. I am sure that my blog readers will enjoy them.
R R Kelkar
Oct 14, 2011 @ 04:24:04
As a child, I remember to have read in Marathi “ANAND” monthly, that once the then Governor General of India (I don’t remember the name given in the article) was staying in Shimla, the summer capital of India and had arranged a party. After consulting the IMD in Shimla, he thought of a garden party. On the morning of the party day, he had gone out in his car when he saw some farmers gathered in a field and one of them had lifted some dust in his hand and was releasing it slowly and they were all watching it and discussing among themselves. Curious, the Governor General stopped and through his interpreter asked what activity was going. The reply was, “We are examining the possibility of rains today.” “And what is your prediction?” “It shall rain today and it will be around 8-8.30 in the evening.” As an abundant precaution, he shifted the party to the hall. In the party, one of his friend sort of ridiculed him for ignoring the well- equipped IMD’s prediction and relying on illiterate farmers’ opinion. Just then, a servant came telling that heavy showers had started. The Governor General asked the friend what the time was and it was 8.35 p.m. Furious about incapability of IMD to predict correct weather even with latest equipment, he ordered its shifting from Shimla which was shifted to Pune. The article ended with a comment that the IMD still continued its tradition of “errorless prediction”.
Oct 15, 2011 @ 03:39:06
Dear Mr Bhagwat,
This is an old joke, but thanks for your comment anyway!
R R Kelkar
Jan 10, 2011 @ 11:02:54
Interesting to read the comment from Brig.Sood.During my last visit i.e. Nov09 I happened to visit the premises of Kenfield and even took some snaps of my once home building with a immense desire to see it back in its original state…..a hope against a hope.Nice learning from you that your a wife is a part owner of te building and nice to receive your comment.
Mar 10, 2010 @ 12:10:13
Dear Prof. Kelkar,
Well well, Random surfing is my pasttime. Read your beautiful informative article about Shimla house Pune
I need you Help.
I was born in Shimla (1949) and studied at Harcourt Butler (1957-64)
I read the comments of Mr Khanwalkar and Wg commander Achutha Ramaiah.
Both of them have studied at the Harcourt Butler.I wish to get in touch with them. Please postme Mr Khanwalkar’s email id.
I am from Mumbai. my e mail id sharadshinde@hotmail.com
Jul 25, 2009 @ 10:20:03
Sir,
I happened to surf for Simla due to my love towards the place. My father was working as Section Officer that time and his office was located in Kennedy Cottage. We, myself and my elder brother, were frequent visitors to his office on our way back from the school, Harcourt Butler School. On reading some comments on your post, I have gone back so many years in my age and once again got lost amidst the sweet memories of Simla. We were staying in Kenfield, Chura Maidan. I shall be thankful to you if you could post some rare pictures of Simla or those of Harcourt Butler.
Thank you.
Jul 25, 2009 @ 12:01:36
Dear Mr Khanwalkar,
How nice to get a comment from a person who studied in Simla and whose father worked for IMD? Can you recall in which years that would have been? You must be having many personal memories or anecdotes about IMD and life in Simla at that time. I would be happy to put them on this post.
I have never been to Simla myself, nor do I have any vintage pictures, but if you happen to have some, we can upload them on this site.
Yours sincerely,
R R Kelkar
Pune
email kelkar_rr@yahoo.com
Jan 03, 2011 @ 14:50:21
This is interesting as my wife is one of the present owners of Kenfield Estate and if you have any further information, we could discuss and exchange notes.
Brig C K Sood
Pune
Jan 03, 2011 @ 15:48:16
Dear Brig Sood,
Thanks for your interest in my blog. To be honest, I have never visited Shimla, and this post has been written by me on the basis of information gathered from various sources. Since you own property in Shimla, you would be more knowledgeable than me about the current situation.
R R Kelkar
Jul 16, 2009 @ 05:08:55
Dear Mr. Rrkelkar,
I need to know the state wise data of how rainfall has already taken place in India in the year 2009.
I have searched a lot many websites, but data has not been updated on them for current year, can you please provide me with the data or guide me to find it.
Regards,
Mansi Arya
Jul 16, 2009 @ 15:48:49
Dear Mansi,
Try these links http://www.imd.gov.in/section/hydro/dynamic/seasonal-rainfall.htm and http://www.imd.gov.in/section/hydro/dynamic/weelly-rainfall.htm. Both are from the IMD web site where you can get this information under the link ‘Rainfall Maps”.
R R Kelkar
Nov 12, 2008 @ 15:28:48
Thanks, Dr Gopal Krishan, for your comment. I am happy that my post has evoked so much interest and we now have corroborative evidence from different sources. Kelkar
Nov 12, 2008 @ 15:01:39
Sir,
I am interfering in the discussion that it was very true to mention that old Kennedy house had been burnt to ashes long before (nearly more than a decade) where there happened to be the store house of some useful documents. And the glory of previous building, which was original, had been lost completely but the site of the building is very much there.
with regards,
gopal krishan
Oct 10, 2008 @ 10:07:13
Dr. Kelkar,
Great article. Really helped me understand the history of this great building and institution in Pune. I am always to curious to learn about historical facts about Pune. It is amazing to know sometimes, how little we know about our surroundings! I am planning to put some Pune centric history trivia on my blog.
Thanks again,
Amit
Sep 04, 2008 @ 01:29:01
Dear Wing Commander,,
Thank you for your comment. We now have first hand information to settle the controversy. Thank you also for inviting me to visit Shimla. Maybe you can suggest a good time for doing that and help me plan my excursion on a low budget.
Regards
Kelkar
Sep 03, 2008 @ 17:16:22
Sir
I recently ( july) visited Simla and went straight to the spot where Kennedy house and Kennedy Cottage were situated.Frankly I was flabergasted to find that the two buildings were missing. I found two solid buildings built on the spot of old buildings by HP Government.On enquiry I was told that the old buildings built of soild wood got burnt in a big fire and the HP government built those new buildings.
Simla has changed so much. The old charm is gone for ever excet the Mall which is being preserved under The World Heritage Funds.
I am sorry sri Kelkar for misleading you.However i still insist on your going to Simla to pick up the old charm.
achuta
Jul 09, 2008 @ 12:36:13
Sir,
I have spent a lot of quality time around Simla Office. The article made an informative reading.
Thanks
Manoj
May 30, 2008 @ 13:59:07
Dear Col Dalvi,
Here is an additional piece of information. Next to the Simla Office is another two-storied building which also belongs to the Meteorological Department. This is called Ramdurg House as it was acquired from the Prince of Ramdurg around 1963. Maybe you had known this and somehow confused it with the main office building.
.
Kelkar
May 30, 2008 @ 10:56:09
Thanks, Col Dalvi , for your comments.
Kelkar
May 29, 2008 @ 14:41:10
Dear sir,
Your article is very informative. I always had some misconception that the building must have been donated or previously owned by some prince or maharaja from Shimla. Your article has set aside that doubt. Also thanks to Wg Cdr SA Ramaiah for updating the info.
Regards
amit
Dec 24, 2007 @ 16:51:14
Dear Kelkar sir
I went through the website remark. I guessesd correctly that you put down the remark about the Kennedy House
through someone. I can say with new found conviction that building still exists along with adjacent Kennedy
Cottage where my father had worked and retired.My brother Sai Murty now settled in Piitsburgh went to Simla
along with his family in the yR 2005. He visited our old places and many other buildings and he showed the photographs .He me that Simla of our days has not changed much esp the office places like kennedy cottage, Anandale etc. So I back my conviction that the building still stands intact.
Simla stays as the queen of hills despite the din over other hill stations in India. One thing you would admit
that only in India Raj still survives through its buildings fondly built by the English with the fond hope of the Raj survival trough centuries.When Victoria’s memorial was built in calcutta the Viceroy having remarked on inaguration that the British Sun would never set brought laughter from the public. The English were non-plussed but were told that Hindustan has seen several victors.But we Indians continue to lionise the British and not enganger their buildings like the Victoria Terminus and the Mall in Simla. Infact the HP government has declared the whole of Mall in simla as touch me not as Imperial relics.
So I request you to go down to Simla and see it for yourself and confirm.
achuta
Wg Cdr S A Ramaiah(Retired)
Dec 02, 2007 @ 04:29:57
Thanks for your detailed comments. To be frank with you, I have never visited Shimla. My article was based upon information gathered from various sources. That the Kennedy House did not exist any more was something that I had learnt from a colleague who had visited Shimla in the year 2000. If you can find out more about it from your sources in Shimla, I will be very grateful.
Dec 02, 2007 @ 01:58:49
dear rrkelkar
Sir
you mentioned in your write up that Kennedy House is no longer there. I had lived in Simla from 1944 to 1967 doing my schooling and college education before completing my engg from iit madras . During my time Kennedy house was existing where the labour commission branch was situated. During the second world war Kenendy Cttage was built near by – where the indusrance department finanace ministry was located . My father worked in the Insurance dept Ministry of Finace and retired as Deputy cotroller of insurance in 1975. The Kennedy Cottage was built opposite to Kennedy House. We used to go to Har court Butler High school passing the Kennedy House. Kennedy House was located on the main road Mall from where a T joint road led off to Annandale ground – a large motorable road taking in Military trucks to Annandale ground.
The article is good and very informative and did not know that Simla office existed in Pune . Thank you for the nice article . Pray accept my congratulations on this fine write up
achuta
Wg Cdr S A Ramaiah (retd)
2-B , 6-3-1100/4 , Somajiguda , Hyderabad- 500082
achuta
Sep 02, 2009 @ 06:53:19
Dear Mr. Achuta ,
I read your letter to Mr. Kelkar of Simla Office while surfing on the net ( a favourite pastime ). As I read your letter , I thought I know you . Are you the same Achuta who lived in Rock House near Chaura Maidan . Your father Mr. Krishnamurthy and my father Mr. R D Khanwalkar were colleagues in Insurance Dept located in Kennedy Cottage . We used to live in Kenfield ( which is now in a bad shape) near Rock House and went to Harcourt Butler High School , Shimla via Kennedy Cottage and Kennedy House , Railway Board etc. How is your younger brother Satyam . I am now living in Pune .
I hope I am right.
regards and awaiting your response,
Avinash
Sep 02, 2009 @ 08:37:31
Dear Mr Khanwalkar,
What a delight to know that my blog has been instrumental in bringing together two old friends! I hope you will now plan a reunion. And don’t forget to include me in it!
Mr Achuta’s email id is achuta.ramaiah@gmail.com in case you want to send him a direct mail.
Regards,
R R Kelkar
Sep 18, 2007 @ 06:03:24
I do not really know this part of IMD Pune’s history and therefore cannot write about it with any degree of authenticity. One may have to search the records available at IMD or IITM.
Sep 17, 2007 @ 11:26:31
ANY PLAN TO INCLUDE THE HISTORY OF THE ANNEXURE TO SIMLA OFFICEVIZ. RAMDURG HOUSE , ITS EX.PRINCELY STATUS AND HOW IT CAME TO IMD?