NOVEMBER 10 Excuse me, what is this place? asked a young Middle Eastern tourist as we stood in front of the 100-year-old Vivekananda Ashram.

I told him this is a building that hosts a variety of arts and cultural programmes. It used to be a hostel for students.

Is it open? How do I enter? he asked further.

I looked at the gates and it was locked. Not wanting to disappoint him, I told him it was best if he returns another day, preferably in the evening, before I said goodbye.

I was disappointed as I was not able to tell him more about the site. From the look on his face, he was fascinated with the rustic colonial style building which stands out among the other modern skyscrapers in Brickfields.

I returned home, and through my trusted friend, Google, I learnt that the building was in fact 110 years old and is named after the Indian spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda who visited Malaya in 1893.

Such a significant piece of information should be etched at the entrance of the building to not only inform tourists about the site but educate the locals. Many people do not know that the bronze statue which stands in front of the building is that of Vivekananda.

Members of the public have been campaigning online through the Save Vivekananda Ashram Facebook page.My encounter with this young gentleman was some two weeks before news broke that Vivekananda Ashram chairman Tan Sri Dr K. Ampikaipakan said the board of trustees had approved the decision to sell the 0.4ha plot of land surrounding the building to private developer F3 Capital Sdn Bhd for the construction of a 23-storey service apartment.

There have been many cases of historical buildings torn down in the name of development and the latest edition riled up many, including politicians from both divides.

Despite Dr Ampikaipakans assurance that the structure of the main building and Vivekanandas statue will remain, sceptics say the old structure will not stand when heavy construction begins.

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Come clean on Vivekananda Ashram redevelopment