Theme 12 .
COLONIAL CITIES
Urbanisation,Planning’s and Architecture
Q. To what extent is census data useful in reconstructing patterns of ubranisation in the colonial context?
Ans. Census data is useful in reconstructing patterns of ubranisation in the colonial context by:
1. Smaller towns had little opportunity to grow economically while as colonial cities like Bombay, Madras and Calcutta grew rapidly as new commercial and administrative centres at the expense of other existing centres.
2. When England underwent industrial revolution colonial cities which earlier functioned as collection depots for export of Indian manufactures such as cotton textiles, became entry points of British manufactured goods, and points of export of raw materials as cotton.
3. Reverse in pattern of trade led to sharp differentiation in economic activities of these colonial cities. With the coming of new mode of transport the railways in 1853, economic activity was shifted from traditional towns located on old rates and navigable rivers to railway towns.
4. With the expansion of railway network, workshops and railway colonies were established. Railway towns as Jamalpur, Waltair and Bareilly developed. Whether the census data being invaluable source in the study of urbanization it is not without limitations and historians have cautioned the date is not free from biases.
Q. What do the terms “White” and “Black” town signify?
Ans. The British had white skin as they were often described ‘white’ and they considered themselves as superior to others. On the other hand natives had brown or black skin. So they were known as the ‘black’. The white signified their superiority over the black due to the colour of the skin.
The British symbolized the black areas full of chaos and anarchy, filth and disease and on the other hand, the white areas stood for cleanliness and hygiene. In black areas, epidemics like cholera and plague often broke out. The British took stringent measures to ensure sanitation and public health to prevent diseases of the black areas. They ensured underground piped water supply and introduced sewerage and drainage system in the white areas.
Thus, we can say that the white towns were those parts of the colonial towns where the white people lived. These towns had wide roads, barracks, churches, parade ground, big bungalows and gardens, symbolized settled city life, whereas the Indian lived in black towns, were said to be unorganized and a source of filth and disease.
Q. How did prominent Indian merchants establish themselves in the colonial city?
Ans. The colonial cities reflected mercantile culture of their new rulers. Indian merchants quickly grasped the reality that trade had slipped out from their hands. They acted as intermediaries between the Indian society and the British established themselves as interpreter’s dubashes middle men, agents and suppliers of goods.
Merchants ensured for themselves a significant place in the new colonial cities. They used this
privileged position in government to acquire wealth. The rich agents and middlemen built large traditional courtyard house in the black town in the civility of the bazaars to symbols their new status. They bought up large tracts of land in the city as future investment.
They wanted to impress their English masters. They threw lavish parties during festivals. Their powerful position in society was established by their charitable work and patronage of temples in the black.
Q. Examine how concerns of defense and health gave shape to Calcutta.
Ans. Sirajuduaula, the Nawab of Bengal in 1756, sacked the small fort from Britishers. subsequently, when Sirajuduaula was defeated in the battle of plassey, the British built a new fort, Fort William which could not be easily attacked. Around this a vast open space was left called as maidan or garermath. This was done for security reasons, because there would be no obstructions to fire from the Fort against an advancing enemy army. Soon the British built residences along the periphery of the ground. This indicates that how the English settlement in Calcutta began to take shape. The vast open spaces around the Fort William became the significant town planning measure in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
Lord Wellesley was more concerned about the conditions that existed in the cities. Cities were overcrowded, and had no sanitation facilities. He issued an administrative order in 1803 on the need for town planning and set up various committees for this purpose open places in the city would make the city healthier. As a result of this, many bazaars, Ghats, burial ground and tanneries were cleared or removed. After Wellesley’s departure, the lottery committee carried on with the work of town planning in Calcutta.
Q. What are the different colonial architectural styles which can be seen in Bombay city?
Ans. The buildings of Bombay may be broadly divided into Neo-gothic, Neo-Classical, or new classical, Indo Saracenic.
i. Neo-classical: this style is characterized by the construction of geometric structures fronted with lofty pillars. It was from typical style of ancient roman buildings. They were reviewed, readopted and made popular during the European Renaissance. To express the glory of Imperial India, Elphinstone Circle over arcades at ground level, used innovatively to suit Bombay’s climate.
ii. Indo-Saracenic: it is specialized by domes, jails, chhatris, and arches. It was inspired by medieval buildings in India. By integrating Indian and European style in public architecture the British tried to express their legitimacy as rulers of India.
Q. How were urban centers transformed during the eighteenth century?
Ans. The death of Aurangzeb paved the way of emergence of powerful regional powers. The capital cities of these regional kingdoms like Lucknow, Poona, Nagpur and Baroda now become important. Taking the advantage of this opportunity many nobles and officials created new urban settlements such as the qasbah and ganj.
The European companies too had set up their bases in different parts of India during the 16th century and 17th century. For examples Portuguese in Panaji (in 1570) and British in Madras (in 1639). With the expansion in commercial activity, towns began to emerge as trading centers.
From the mid 18th century trading centers like Surat and Dhaka which had grown in the 17th century now began to decline as trade shifted to other places. When the British acquired Bengal and the East India Company’s trade hereafter expanded the colonial port cities like Madras and Calcutta. These new port cities began to emerge as the new economic capitals. In these newly developed cities many new buildings were built and new occupations developed. People flocked to these cities in large
numbers. By the nineteenth century these newly developed cities became the biggest cities in India.
Q. What were the new kinds of public places that emerged in the colonial city? What functions did they serve?
Ans. New kinds of public places emerged in colonial cities; they were parks, schools, theaters, colleges, libraries, places of public debate, cinema halls, gardens etc.
1. The new forms of public places provided exciting new way of entertainment and mode of social interaction. In colonial cities over time, there was a gradual separation of place of work from place of residence.
2. Traveling from home to office or factory by modes of public transport like, buses, trains, and other were a completely new experience. New opportunities were provided for interactions.
3. Schools, colleges, and other institutions opened mode of education and intermingling. Educated people and other scholars, etc. expressed their opinions about social issue and other organizations in newspapers, magazines, public meetings; discussion took place. Many issues about the customs, traditions were questioned.
4. Women limited within the domestic walls cities provided the way of entertainment and socializing. Colonial city provided opportunities and avenues for the employment as teachers, factory workers, artists and others.
5. Poor who migrated in search of job opportunities, and lure of different way of life public transport systems and public places like parts, theatres, cinemas, offices and factories enabled them to shed their old identities based on caste.
Q. What are the concerns that influenced town planning in the nineteenth century?
Ans. The concerns which influenced the town planning in the nineteenth century were defense and health. In many towns British built forts to protect their factories. Around the fort a vast open space was left open. This vast space was known as the Maidan. It was done so that there would be no obstructions to a straight line of fire from the Fort against an advancing enemy. Attempts were also made to improve the sanitation and cleanliness by creating open spaces in the city. For this purpose, in Calcutta many bazaars, Ghats and burial grounds were cleared. The radical divide was reinforced by the new divide of healthy and unhealthy. Densely populated areas busts were seen as insanitary. The laboring poor, hawkers, workers, unemployed were pushed to the outskirts of the town. Underground piped water supplies, sewerage and drainage systems were implemented. Buildings in cities apart from serving functional needs were meant to establish imperial power and glory which reflected the superior culture.
Q. To what extent were social relations transformed in the new cities?
Ans. There was a big contrast between extreme wealth and poverty in the new cities. New means of transport facilities such as horse drawn carriages, trams, buses, etc. made travelling from home to work an interesting experience.
1. Creation of public places like theatres public parks and cinema halls provided new forms of entertainment and social interaction.
2. New social groups were formed people of all classes started to migrate to the cities. With an increased demand for lawyers and engineers the ‘middle class’ increased. Debate and discussion became popular and established social norms and practices were questioned.
3. Cities also offered new opportunities for women. They chose new professions in the city as factory workers, teachers, form actresses, etc. for a long time so women remained objects of social censure.
4. The common struggles for food, shelter, jobs helped in the growth of neighborhood identities and solidarity like chawls.
5. By the religious festivals, tamasha and swans, they created a lively urban culture in their own way.
Q. What was the condition of the cities during the colonial rule in India?
Ans. New class of laborious poor and workers were emerging. Rural laborers were migrating to the cities for employment. Many were migrating due to the attractive city life. Colonial rulers conducted surveys. They collected the statistical datas and published the governmental reports time to time. Maps of Madras, Bombay and Calcutta were quiet different from the old ones. Architecture of the buildings was changed. A large number of labors were coming to the hill stations where plantation of tea and coffee were done. There were a number of opportunities for women in the cities. Some social reformers supported women education which was opposed by the orthodox opposed it. Gradually the participation of women in public places increased. They entered into the new occupations of the cities as maid, factory laborers, teachers, actress etc.
Q. Describe the growth of cantonments in India?
Ans. For the defense of their Empire, the British Government established cantonments at strategic places and on borders of the many important native states to check the disturbance in these states and to control the activities of the rulers. In 1765, Lord Robert Clive initiated the policy of building cantonments for British troops to keep them “cantoned” in one place, to enforce discipline and military way of life and also to keep them in a sanitized environment. During that time there were 62 cantonments in India. The Director General of Defense Estates is the apex body of the Defense Estates organization having its offices in various parts of the country. It is entrusted with the task of administration of cantonments and management of defense lands both inside and outside the cantonments.
The cantonments are administered by the autonomous Cantonment Boards functioning under the control of the Central Government in the Ministry of Defense under the provisions of Cantonments Act of 1924. Cantonment Boards comprise of elected representatives besides ex-officio and nominated members, with the station Commander as the President of the Board. The Central Government provides financial assistance by way of grants in aid to a certain extent to a number of cantonments to balance their budget and for discharging their mandatory civic duties like provisions of public health, sanitation, primary education, street lighting, etc.
Q. What were Civil Lines during the colonial rule?
Ans. After the Revolt of 1857British attitudes in India were shaped by a constant fear of rebellion. They felt that towns needed to be better defended, and white people had to live in more secure and segregated enclaves, away from the threat of the “natives”. Pasturelands and agricultural fields around the older towns were cleared, and new urban spaces called “Civil Lines” were set up. White people began to live in the Civil Lines.
Q. Why did the records of the colonial cities were preserved?
Ans. (i) Tow know the change of population.
(ii) For reconstructing the history of growth of the colonial cities.
Q. Write common characteristics of the three colonial cities Bombay, Calcutta and Madras?
Ans. The English East India Company established their administrative and trade centres in these cities. Originally these cities were weaving and Fishing centers. Ports developed near these cities.
Q. Write the names of any three hill stations established by the British in India?
Ans. Shimla during Gorkha war (1815-16), Mount Abu during Anglo Maratha war (1818) and Darjeeling in 1835 were three famous Hill Stations of Colonial India.
Q. Why were the hill stations developed in India by Britishers?
Ans. 1. Need of British army.
2. Strategic places of Army.
3. Cool climate temptation for Britishers.
4. Free from epidemics.
5. Healthy climate
6. Home away home for Britishers. Any five points are required
Key concepts in nutshell
❖ The settlements of the local peoples were named “Black Town”. A fortification was built around the “White Town” to separate it from the “Black Town”.
❖ Forts: - Fort St. George in Madras and Fort William in Calcutta.
❖ “Separation betweentownandcountrysidewasfluid” because peasants on pilgrimage passed through towns and flocked to towns on times of distress. There was also flow of goods and humans from towns to village’s e.g peddlers selling goods in Villages.
❖ Madras (in 1639), Bombay (In 1661) and Calcutta (in 1690) were acquired by EIC and became important trading and administrative centers under British rule.
❖ The Survey of India was established in 1878.
❖ The first All India Census was attempted in 1872. However Census became a regular activity from 1881 and is conducted after every 10 years.
❖ Kanpur (for leather, wool and textiles) and Jamshedpur (for iron and steel) were two important Industrial cities of Colonial times.
❖ Madras was locally known as Chennapattnam.
❖ Maps in colonial times reveal Topography and help to understand landscape like hills, rivers, vegetation and location of ghats. While as Maps also conceal urban poor in towns reflecting bias of Colonial rulers in map making.
❖ The company in 1639 purchased right of settlement from local Nayaks of Kalashi which later developed into famous city of Madras.
❖ Calcutta grew from three Villages i.e, Kolkatta, Suttanuti and Govindpur.
❖ Dubashis means who can speak two languages i.e, local language and English. They worked as agents, merchants and intermediaries between Indian society and British.
❖ In Tamil “Pet”means settlement and “Puram”means Village.
❖ Calcutta remained the Capital of British India up to 1911 when the capital was shifted to Delhi.
❖ Qasba was a small town in the countryside.
❖ Ganj was a small sized mixed market.
❖ Busti is anglicized name for basti, meaning, makeshift huts built by urban poor. In 19th Century Busti and Insanitary slums became synonymous.
❖ Chawl was a multi-storied single room apartments with long open corridors built around a courtyard.
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