Kishore Kumar's alma mater, the Indore Chrisitan College, now lies in ruins

Legendary singer Kishore Kumar's century-old hostel, the Indore Christian College (ICC), on Nasia Road, now stands in ruins.

Kishore Kumar, who would have turned 87 on 4 August, was born in the neighbouring Khandwa district.

Kishore and his brother Anoop Kumar lived in one of the 60 rooms of the hostel, which was abandoned two decades ago.

Amit David, the principal of the college, said that the district administration has now declared the hostel as a 'dangerous building' due to its dilapidated form. David said that restoring the building to its original form was close to impossible as it could not withstand extreme weather conditions.

History department professor of ICC Swaroop Vajpayee said that Kishore Kumar studied in ICC from 1946 to 1948, before leaving his studies midway to move to Mumbai.

He rose to become a playback singer, actor, lyricist, composer, producer, director, and screenwriter.

"He owed 'panch rupaiya barah aana' to the canteen owner then," the professor said, adding to the myth of the song Panch Rupaiya Barah Aana from film Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) origin.

Vajpayee said Kishore use to skip classes and used to sing songs and practise his trademark 'yodeling' under an imli (tamarind) tree.

-- PTI