steps taken by british to establish their footprint.pdf

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History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

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Steps taken by British to establish their footprint

Term Paper for History of Architecture (AP131)

Prannay Dhingra

Roll Number: 15

Sushant School of Art and Architecture

ABSTRACT

Delhi had been, for centuries, a major centre of power. Ever since Shah Jahan had shifted the Mughalcapital from Agra to Delhi, Delhi had remained, uninterrupted, the seat of the Mughals. The British

response to the uprising of 1857 was to destroy much of the city Shah Jahan had built and to rename

the Mughal monuments that remained after British monarchs. The British realized the need to build their

own city, New Delhi. King George laid the foundation stone of the new city at the grounds where the

Durbar had been held (present day Coronation Park). (1)

The British in 1911 shifted the capital of India to Delhi. The eighth city of New Delhi took shape in the

imperial style of architecture. From then to now Delhi continues to throb with vitality and hope. From

1912 to 1931 British architects Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker were responsible for

the construction of New Delhi as Britain's new imperial capital of India.

But Lutyens design for the Viceroy's House (1912-1931), though inspired by neoclassicism, also paid

homage to Delhi's Mughal architecture in its use of red and yellow sandstone, its dome, and in

other details.

The British colonial were constantly thinking that their architectural styles are not generating the

expression of grandeur. So, to overcome this expression they started building using Mughals details in

order to express their power over Mughals.

According to me, king did so, ironically, at a durbar modelled on that of the Mughals, under a

purposely built Shah Jahani dome. The message was clear: the British were the legitimate successors of

the Mughals and their new capital was intended to express the power of the Raj, just as Shah Jahanscapital had expressed the authority of the Mughals.

The challenge they faced was to produce an architecture that successfully combined local traditions

with a statement of colonial power.

Now, the question arises that how Britishers used their details and generated different buildings which

are today being used as the government buildings. For eg: Rashtrapati Bhavan, one of the finest

example of British colonial building and is evolved using many features from different periods as well.


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PAPER

Introduction

The British Raj was established in India in 1857 and it lasted up till 1947.

Initially there was no specific style of construction used by the British Empire in India. The buildings

were essentially functional. As the empire continued to grow and develop, several experimental styles

developed. Soon the British ruling authority realized that across all rulers and times one thing had been

common and that was the way of expression of power of a dynasty. The power or strength of a

dynasty was judged based on its outward show of wealth, grandeur and splendour. The British kept

changing their capitals in the Indian Subcontinent. They had Shimla and Northern India as their summer

capital, Calcutta as their winter capital. In the coronation durbar held in Delhi in 1911, New Delhi was

proclaimed as the new capital of the British Raj in India.

Although, mughals at that period of time were already in power in delhi and were spreading their

style all over the place and imposing their rules on to the people. So as the impact of mughals were

keep on increasing, the British colonial were constantly thinking of them and even thought that their

architectural styles are not generating the expression of grandeur. So, they thought to have started

building their units in delhi so as to overcome the rule of mughals and as they were facing less time so,

they started using the existed mughals details as it is into their structures.

Major features of Mughal style of architecture

Almost perfect or bilateral symmetry Red sandstone with white marble inlays Later pure white marble surfaces Geometric ornament Domes slightly pointed instead of hemispherical ones Garden surroundings Fine cut stone masonry were used for facades coursed rubble stone construction for the

majority of the walls

Carved stone workshallow relief depiction of flowers to intricate pierced-marble screensknown as jaalis (2)

Hindu influence on Mughals

The trabeate stone construction Shallow arches made out of corbels rather than voussoirs Richly ornamented carved piers and columns Hindu architecture was modified and elements of spaciousness, immensity and extent were

incorporated Hindu style of decoration were used by mughals for decoration of arches


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Persian influence on Mughals

chattrisa dome kiosk resting on pillars chajjas and jarokhasa projecting balcony resting on corbels with a hood rexting on columns

Now further, showing the comparison between Mughal style and British Colonial style architectural

examples.

Alai Darwaza

The gate is square in plan. Its wide, shallow dome rests on an octagonal base, and the transition from

the octagonal base to a circular dome is achieved with squinches (muqarnas). On the exterior, the

dome is plastered.

Figure 1: South Gate Figure 2: Ornamented with slender pillars Figure 3: Geometric patternsRef:http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186815

The gate stands on a plinth clad with red sandstone with carved friezes (Figure 1).

On the south (main) elevation of the gate, steps beginning at the plinth lead into the gate itself. Its

exterior is clad with intricately carved red sandstone and white marble bands carved with calligraphic

inscriptions in Naksh script or geometric patterns (Figure 3). In the centre, springs the gate itself, a true

arch (as opposed to the older, local trabeated construction visible in other parts of the Qutb complex),

ornamented with slender pillars (Figure 2). The gate is bilaterally symmetrical on its south elevation:

flanking the gateway on either side are two small arched windows with delicate latticework (jalis) just

above the plinth level. Above these lower-level windows are shallow rectangular niches (again, two on

either side of the gate) created with concentric bands of red sandstone and white marble carvings.
http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186815http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186815http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186815http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186815


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Figure 2: Western facadeRef;http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186824

On the eastern and western sides, the arrangement of central archway flanked by a jaliwork window

on the lower level and rectangular niches on the upper level is repeated. However, on the western

elevation, this sandstone and marble niche revetment has fallen off. Where the volume of the gatejoins the complex wall, the blind window on the north-western corner has been half-covered by the

complex wall.

Figure 4: North gate Figure 5: Horseshoe archRef;http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186823

The gate of the north elevation, facing into the complex, is a semicircular arch (Figure 4).

The south, east, and west elevations each feature horseshoe arches with spearheaded decorations in

the intrados and a decorative parapet above (Figure 5).
http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186824http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186824http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186824http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186823http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186823http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186823http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186823http://archnet.org/library/images/one-image-large.jsp?location_id=14962&image_id=186824


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Rashtrapati Bhavan (British Colonial Period)

Figure 6: South block of Secretariat bulidingRef;http://www.indianholiday.com/pictures/travelguide/attractions/3418_4527.jpg

Traditional Indian chhajja all around the structure.

There were grilles made from red sandstone, called jalis or jaalis

The exterior fronts of all sides gave a very strong impression of classical order. There are horizontal

lines all around the structure almost uninterruptedly having a strong base with a wall on it and a deep

chajja over it with an attic above.

Now if we look at the ALAI DARWAZA, Lutyen used the same concept of having plinth and then the

structure above inorder to emphasise the solidity of the base.

Figure 7: North block of Secretariat buildingRef;http://static6.depositphotos.com/1005637/559/i/950/depositphotos_5594654-New-Delhi-President-House.jpg

Now over here we see that rashtrapati bhavan is very perfect and bilaterally symmetrical. The

crown of the dome is also taken itself from the Sanchi Stupa and the railing below the crown too.

In both the cases, in the centre of the building, they are having the central dome which represents

the power or having the major control with them. This feature reflects more in the case of rashtrapati

bhavan as it is the house of the president of the country.
http://www.indianholiday.com/pictures/travelguide/attractions/3418_4527.jpghttp://www.indianholiday.com/pictures/travelguide/attractions/3418_4527.jpghttp://www.indianholiday.com/pictures/travelguide/attractions/3418_4527.jpghttp://static6.depositphotos.com/1005637/559/i/950/depositphotos_5594654-New-Delhi-President-House.jpghttp://static6.depositphotos.com/1005637/559/i/950/depositphotos_5594654-New-Delhi-President-House.jpghttp://static6.depositphotos.com/1005637/559/i/950/depositphotos_5594654-New-Delhi-President-House.jpghttp://static6.depositphotos.com/1005637/559/i/950/depositphotos_5594654-New-Delhi-President-House.jpghttp://www.indianholiday.com/pictures/travelguide/attractions/3418_4527.jpg


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Other feature like, jaalis or thin stone slabs perforated in floral or geometrical patterns. Chattris or

domed pavilions are influenced form the work at fatehpur sikri, in the viceroys palace, chajjas are

made up of red sand-stone.

Use of materials

Lutyens used a combination of red sand-stone and beige agra stone to highlight the basic divisions in

the elevations. Again the darker tone of the base emphasizes the solidity of the base.

On comparing with ALAI DARWAZA, there is also the same type of patterns are used in order to make

the elevations more classical. There also used the two type of stone i.e. the white marble and the red

sand-stone.

Also, in rashtrapati bhavan there are jharokas instead of the normal windows which is also animportant mughal element which mughals were influenced from the Persians.

The most important part of the mughal style were the MUGHAL GARDENS in the front (entrance). This

style was influenced by Persian gardens.

Figure 7: Layout of Mughal garden; Viceroys house


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Bibliography

1. INTACH. World Monuments Fund. World Monuments Fund's website. [Online] [Cited: wednesday

september 2013.]

http://www.wmf.org/sites/default/files/wmf_publication/Rashtrapati%20Bhavan%20and%20the%2

0Central%20Vista.pdf.

2. India Net Zone. [Online] Jupiter Infomedia Ltd., 2008. [Cited: thursday september 2013.]

http://www.indianetzone.com/41/features_mughal_architecture.htm.

3. Features of Mughal Architecture. s.l. : Jupiter Infomedia Ltd., wednesday july 2013.

4. Chand, Shyam. Book Review: Religious Dimensions of Indian Nationalism: A study of the RSS by

Samsul Islam. s.l. : Tribune India.

5. Savarkarji, Veer. The Indian War of Independence: National Uprising of 1857, Chandigarh. s.l. :

Abhishek Publications, 2008.

6. About Us: Jagran Prakashan Ltd. Jagran Prakashan Ltd web site. [Online] MMI Online Limited. [Cited:

wednesday september 2013.] http://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/the-design-of-

rashtrapati-bhavan-the-official-home-of-the-president-of-india-1343024420-1.

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