Bengal(is) in the house: the politics of national culture in Pakistan, 1947–71 (original) (raw)
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Pratnatattva volume 19 , 2013
Current research on mosque architecture associates a broader buffer encompassing socio-theological and religious aspects. More clearly, this paper subjected 'mosque' as a social institution of developing thoughts, generating cultures, norms and values during its genesis part in India throughout medieval period. Following this idea, authors of this paper focuses a Mughal mosque known as 'Khan Mohammad Mirdha Mosque'-located at the vicinity of famous Lalbagh Fort of old Dhaka. The mosque was built in 1706 A.D. when Farrukhsiyar was the Deputy Governor of Dhaka. This timeframe refers to the later phase of Mughal period which created the backdrop of British colonial ascendency in Bengal and India. In the period, Bengal experienced different events and incidents to obtain certain political autonomy-more clearly, by this time; a geopolitical isolation was created between North India and Bengal by the Nawabs of Bengal through a dependant-dominant relationship. This particular timeframe witnessed significant upheavals in social classes, religious transformations and cultural synthesis within a broader theme of medieval period. Mosque, as a center of Mughal society and politics, witnessed and contributed in cultural lifestyle and process respectively. Thematically followed by such concepts, current research focuses the mentioned mosque to learn how theological shifting correlated with structural matrix, how space organization of the mosque responded to cultural changes of functionalism or congressional approach of Islam, and how political ascendancies influenced façade treatments, planning layout, structural vocabulary and construction philosophy. All these questions explore social and cultural history of Bengal within interdisciplinary investigation of historical architecture and archaeology. Basic findings of the paper are to identify the space organization of the mosque, especially underneath the podium, to examine built form elements, structural elements and ornamental elements to classify the development of Mughal architecture in deltaic region with special reference to the synthesis of Local and Imperial architectural styles and technologies. Finally authors of this paper logically determine the form, scale and style of Mughal translation of Bengal architecture as a unique development which was prior recognized as a degenerated style of Imperial Mughal form.
" MOSQUE ARCHITECTURE " OR ARCHITECTURE OF MOSQUE: A NEW NOTIONS OF BENGAL DURING THE MUSLIM RULE
The mosque constitutes one of the most highly developed forms of religious architecture. With the rapid expansion of the Muslim community through conquests as well as missionary activities, it became necessary to set aside an enclosed area in cities or large towns for the purpose of established communal worship. Mosque architecture in the Muslim period exposes clearly its sacred identity, even it is continuously remarked, but in secular architecture, the ideas are not spiritually motivated in a cosmic sense. Definitely a structural idea and use of materials as well as its functional and aesthetic use play a role in determining what is expressed by it. The development of understanding of functional and aesthetic use of materials and technique with effective manner is depending on assimilated technologies. Integrated process of standard materials, skilled labor, innovative idea and socioeconomic as well as geographical factors may regard to constructing any magnificent architecture. The present study is an attempt to analyse and develop the structure, structural decoration and use of materials and design of the mosques during the Muslim period in Bengal.
EdA Esempi di Architettura, 2021
The historical Bengal region, currently divided between Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, has a distinct culture evolved through a long process of hybridization. Since the ancient period, it had many encounters with external cultures, the encounter with Islam was a significant one among the long lists. The Sultanate was a noteworthy period after the early encounter when traditional elements blend with the Islamic culture and generated an evolved form of Baņgālee culture. Like many other aspects of culture, Sultanate Bengal has seen the evolution of many architectural styles through the integration of traditional elements; significant progress is observed in the development of Vaishnava temples and Islamic mosques. An abundance of the mosque, almost three-quarters of historic mosques, were built in Bengal during the independent Sultanate period between 1342 CE to 1576 CE. It is further interesting that almost all of the Sultanate mosque of Bengal has a pond adjacent. This paper explores the cultural continuity of Bengal in religion, literature, music, and architecture from the ancient to Sultanate period; and further shows that the adjacent pond of sultanate mosques is a phenomenon of many confirming the continuity of the Bengali tradition for a practical cause.
Adina Masjid: A Monument of Bengal's Glorious Past
2024
Adina Masjid, located in Pandua, Malda in the Indian State of West Bengal, is a symbolic artefact of Bengal's ironic history. Built during the reign of Sultan Sikandar Shah in the 14th century, this mosque is not only a religious structure, but also an edifice reflecting the architectural, cultural, and political narratives of the Bengal Sultanate period. This research paper explores Adina Masjid's historical significance as an architectural marvel and the sociopolitical context of its erection, offering insights into why it remains a significant monument of Bengal's glorious past.
Persian elements in the Muslim architecture of Bengal
2018
In the early thirteenth century, the Muslim victory was a citable historical event in deltaic Bengal. After that Bengal become a very important part of Indian sub-continent for hundreds of years by Muslim rule. During this time a lot of Turk from Central Asia and Persian Muslims arrives in this land who get involved from the regime at every level of the society. Bengali language, literature, history and traditions come together with the contribution of these external Muslims. Particularly, Persian or Iranian relations were very impervious to Bengal which reflects in also architecture like other branches. Especially, when the Bengal comes under Muslim rule in 1204, Muslim architecture erects in centring the capital city of Pandua and Gaur. Later, in all parts of Bengal continue it even end of the Mughal period. Among these monuments or architectures tower, tomb, minaret and mosque are carrying the most important role. Persian elements occupy a special place in the development of architecture in the established Bengal that is easily found on the surviving historical monuments for ages. Actually, the Muslim architecture of Bengal contains a different character with Persian elements such as plan, arch, dome, barrel vault and faceted stucco motif etc. by blending of local tradition in architectural. In the essay, an attempt is made to find out and imply the importance of Persian elements in the Muslim architecture of Bengal. Keywords: Bengal, Muslim architecture, Sultanate, Mughal, Persia
The Sultanate Mosque at Bajua, Hooghly
Pratna Samiksha, New Series 4, 2013. © Centre for Archaeological Studies & Training, Eastern India, Kolkata, pp. 139-49., 2013
The Jami mosque built during the time of Sultan Nasiruddin Nusrat Shah (r. ah 925-38/ad 1519-1531/32) at Bajua-Santoshpur (Hooghly, West Bengal) has a distinctive style of which no other example is extant in the area south of Murshidabad district (West Bengal). It is a single-domed square room structure with a three-domed verandah on the east. The dated mosques of this type range between ad 1460 and 1610, and this is the solitary example during the whole Sultanate period where a mosque of this type has been termed ‘Jami’ in the inscriptions. Though both the inscriptions of ah 938/ad 1531-1532 had been noticed by A. K. Bhattacharya as early as in 1950, the architectural details and terracotta embellishments of the mosque have not yet been properly studied, which the present article purports to do.
Journal of Bengal Art, Vol. 25 , 2020
Bajra Shahi mosque located in the village Bajra of Sonaimuri upazila of Present Noakhali district is a Bengal Nawabi period mosque bearing the characteristics of Mughal architectural features. It was commissioned in 1741 CE by one of the local Zamindars (Talukqdars) of this region called Aman Ullah. Another mosque Nawabganj Shahi mosque in the same upazila locally known as Matubi Mosque (named after the village) is a Colonial period mosque. It was constructed in 1814 CE by an administrative officer-Patwari (record holder of lands) called Muhammad Reza (Ridai) Khan Patwari. Both mosques located in Sonaimuri upazila are noteworthy examples of Late Mediaeval period mosque architecture.
Arrival of Turk Khan Jahan in Southern Bengal and Flourish of Mosque Architecture
2017
1204 A.D. is the most important year in the history of the Muslim Bengal. This year was conquered the Bengal by the Turk valiant Ikhtiyar Uddin Mohammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji. Afterwards many Muslim dynasty rules in this area for a long period and most of the rulers among them are Turk ethnic who come from Central Asia. At the first stage Gour, Loukhnouti and Pandua become a most significant place where governors were appointed by the Delhi sovereigns. In centring these places of Bengal begin to develop the Islamic tradition against the Hindu and Buddhist culture. Those time a lot of Turk origin particularly Sufi, saint Came in this region to spread of Islam as well as they also brought architectural techniques on Islamic architecture of Bengal. Basically, Bengal is separated from Delhi sovereigns in 1338 A.D. by declaring the independence of Fakhr Al-Din Mubarak Shah and which continue up to 1538 A.D. A vast number of Mosques were built during this period. In fifteenth century, When the sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah 1(Founder of the second Ilyas Shahi dynasty) was ruling at Gour, The pioneer saint Turk Khan Jahan Ali comes on the southern part of Bengal or forest area of Sundarban and founds some townships, builds mosques, tomb, madrasas and sarais, roads, highways, bridges and a large number of dighis (pond) in the mentioning part. Now it includes the Bagherhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Patuakhali and Barishal districts of Bangladesh. In which he flourished the Islamic culture specially mosque architecture. He added a new architectural feature in the mosque that is called Khan Jahan style in Bengal architecture. In this paper have been marked that how patron saint Khan Jahan Ali arrives an uncultivated land and develops with Islamic culture by establishing his fascinating mosque architecture in the greater part of the southern Bengal.
Journal of Bengal Art, The International Centre for the Study of Bengal Art, Dhaka. Vol 19: 2014 , 2014
The 'Bhairavi temple' at Bindol near Raigunj, the headquarters of the district of North Dinajpur in West Bengal, is architecturally unique. Though a few scholars have noted its importance, it is yet to be studied in detail. Similarly, the Hussain Shahi 'mosque' at Kulut in the Barddhaman district of West Bengal has also not been given the attention it deserves, so far. This article presents the findings of a few field trips to both these monuments which show their structural affinities and thus, question their long-established identities.