Architecture of Bulandshahr highlights the revival of traditional Indian architectural styles using local craftsmanship. It documents buildings like the Town Hall, Garden Gate, and Bathing Ghat, which combine native techniques with Gothic principles. Growse emphasizes the fusion of indigenous aesthetics with modern requirements, challenging colonial architectural norms. His work reflects a deep passion for preserving Indian art and cultural heritage through architecture.
THE circumstances which encouraged me to undertake the extensive local improvements which are here partially depicted, form the subject of a little monograph entitled ""Bulandshahr: or Sketches of an Indian District, Social, Historical and Architectural,"" which was issued from the Medical Hall Press, Bena-res, at the end of November, 1884, and which this series of views was originally intended to illustrate. Only eight plates were then given, four of which reappear in the present set, but it was intimated in the Introduction that they were merely samples of a much larger number, some of which were already under preparation, while the others would be put in hand a few months later, in time for a second edition of the book, after the buildings which it described had been completed. When I thus wrote, I had every reason to believe that I should be left undisturbed at Bulandshahr for another year and a quarter. That brief period would bring me to the end of my 25 years' service, and, as I had calculated when I commenced operations, would exactly suffice for a proper winding up of all my projects. But a fortnight had scarcely elapsed from the date of publication, when I received a sudden order from Government, removing me to the district of Fatehpur, at the other end of the province, more than 300 miles away. Thus I have not only had to forego for ever the important finishing touches and connecting links which were still wanting in many of my works, but the practical effect of my whole course of action has been largely defeated. For it was not to be expected that my official successor would take an equal interest with myself in the prosecution of my schemes; while, as regards the rich native gentry, the suspicion which had been expressed as to their motives, was a lesson to them that public improvements are a departmental preserve upon which they are not allowed to trespass, and that they had better spend their money, as of old, on the traditional amusements of fireworks and dancing-girls rather than on roads, bridges, gardens and town-halls.
Mr. Grant Duff, in one of his speeches, has remarked, ""There are many signs that we are entering on a period which I will call the period of great citizens, a period in which theme of vast possessions will find an outlet for their energy and an easy path to over lasting remembrance by conferring in their lifetime great benefits upon their fellow-citizens."" I, too, had formed in my mind a similar conception of the now era of popular emancipation and decentralized control; but apparently the signs of the political horizon have be misread, and the dawn is not yet. Even if the works which I left in progress are eventually finished in accordance with my ideas, it is doubtful whether shall have an opportunity of getting them photographed, and so completism the full series of views as originally contemplated. Accordingly, instead awaiting such an indefinite contingency, I have decided upon publishing immediate instalment of fourteen designs, which I have styled Part I., thought the future appearance of any Part II. is extremely uncertain.
The present sketches had all been dispatched to the Autotype Company for reproduction before the event of my transfer. They are now published with the consent and at the expense of the Local Government, and I trust am duly sensible of the favorable appreciation of my labors which such liberality implies. But my feelings are a little mixed, as must have been the case with the ghost of the Jewish prophet of old, on seeing his sepulchers built by the very same hands that had been most forward to stone him.
Superintending Engineers, in their annual reports to Government, are in the habit of stating that ""Tahsildars and other non-departmental officials, from want of technical knowledge, cannot and do not execute original works, or even repairs, as they should be done,"" and therefore all local improvements ought to be carried out exclusively by the Public Works establishment. This declaration commences with a truism, and concludes with a non sequitur. Without technical knowledge technical success (except by a happy succedent) is, of course, unattainable. But, in districts where local works are conducted on an intelligent system by independent agency, tahsildars and other clerical officials are simply responsible for the accounts and for general supervision. The business of construction is entrusted to native artisans, who inherit the tradition of centuries, and who are intimately acquainted with all local conditions. It is therefore no matter for surprise that the work which they turn out is often as much superior to the work of the more scientific but less experienced and utterly inartistic European engineer as oriental pottery or embroidery is to the tasteless pro-dusts of English machinery.
"
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist