Faridkot: Architectural Heritage of a Sikh State

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Item Code: NAF766
Publisher: Aryan Books International
Author: Subhas Parihar
Language: English
Edition: 2009
ISBN: 9788173053863
Pages: 316 (Throughout Color and B/W Illustrations)
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 11.0 inch x 9.0 inch
Weight 1.70 kg
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Book Description
About The Book

The Faridkot State was one of the Sikh States created on Malwa region of t he Punjab during the later half of the eighteenth century. It came into its own under Raja Pahar Singh (1827-49) when the British extinguished the neighboring mighty kingdom of Lahore. During the next one century, it prospered under Raja Wazir Singh (1849-74), Raja Bikram Singh (1874-98), Raja Balbir Singh (1898-1906), the Council of Regency (1906-16), Raja Brij Indar Singh ( 1919-18), the Council of Administration (1918-34), and Raja Har Indar Singh (1934-48). Throughout this period , the rulers and aristocracy built a vast variety of buildings which included forts, palaces, havelis, administrative buildings, educational buildings, hospitals, bazaars, gurdwaras, mosques, temples etc. Collectively, these buildings represent the style of architecture that flourished during the second half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century in the Sikh States of Punjab, which has not been studied so far. The book in hand is a pioneering effort in this direction.

The book comprises eight chapters. The first chapter delineates the geographical and historical background of the region comprising the erstwhile Faridkot State. An analysis of the salient architectural features of the monuments is contained in the second chapter. The remaining six chapters document the monuments of the state on typological basis. The third chapter covers forts and royal palaces. The buildings for state machinery are recorded in the fourth chapter. The next chapter contains the survey of public secular buildings. The residential buildings form the subject matter of the sixth chapter. The seventh chapter covers memorials and the last chapter comprises a study of public religious buildings. These chapters are followed by an epilogue, an appendix, a glossary and a bibliography. The text is illustrated with 9 maps, 131 drawings, 35 colour and 196 monochrome plates.

The book thus tries to capture the architectural heritage of Faridkot in its entire rich splendor. It will prove to be an invaluable asset not only to the academicians, architects and libraries but also to the lay reader.

About The Author

Subhas Parihar was born on 12 August 1953 at Kot Kapura, East Punjab where he still lives. He is M. A. (History of Art), M.A. (History), M. Phil., Ph. D.

As an art historian, he has done pioneer work on the Indo-Muslim architecture of the North-Western India and the architecture of the Sikh States of the Punjab. He is a author of Mughal Monuments in the Punjab and Haryana (Delhi, 1985) (Honoured with Dr. W. G. Archer Award by the Punjab Lalit ala Archer Award by the Punjab Laitl Kala Akademi); Muslim Inscriptions in the Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh (Delhi, 1985); Some Aspects of Indo-Islamic Architecture (Delhi, 1999); of History and Architectural Remains of Sirhind (Delhi, 2006); Land Transport in Mughal India: Agra – Lahore Mughal Highway and its Architectural Remains (Delhi, 2008), and more than two score of research papers published in international journal like Oriental Art (London); Iran (London); East & West (Rome); Muqarnas (Leiden); Journal of Pakistan Historical Society (Karachi); Islamic Studies (Islamabad); Marg (Mumbai) etc. He has also contributed to The Dictionary of Art (34 vols.) published by Macmillan (London) and Encyclopedia of Persian Language, Literature and Culture in the Sub-Continent (to be published in Iran ).

He has awarded Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1994-96). He undertook a Photographic Survey of Architectural Heritage of Haryana under Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2001-03). His research on Agra –Lahore Mughal Highway was partially financed by The Barakat Trust (London).

Dr. Parihar is also an artist himself. He has been actively participating in at exhibitions since 1977. He was awarded by Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi in 1979 for the best collage. In the field of photography too, he h as bagged about two dozen prizes including the Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi Award (1997). To deepen his understanding of cinema, he attended Film Appreciation Course at Film and Television Institute of India at Pune, in 2008.

He is working as Head, Department of History at Government Brijindra College, Faridkot, Punjab.

Preface

My relation with the Faridkot State is about one century old. It was about the beginning of the twentieth century that my grand –parents migrated to the State and settled at Kot Kapura which was the only other town in the State. My father, I and my daughters, all were born and brought up at Kot kapura. After the middle standard, I got my entire regular education in the institutions and buildings which were conceived and built by the rulers of the Faridkot State. And since 1994, I have been teaching in my alma mater Government Brijndra College, named after its erstwhile young ruler Raj Brij Indar Singh and Founded by the last ruler of the State, Raja Har Indar Singh. So I have an emotional attachment with the region, its history, people and culture.

It was just a matter of chance that in 1979 I chose the field of Indo-Muslim architecture first for my M. Phil. Degree, and then for my doctoral research. Since its completion I had been thinking of documenting the monuments of Faridkot State but could not spare time for it due to the other projects in hand; first, the History and Architectural Remains of Sirhind, and then, the Architectural Remains of the Mughal Highway from Agra to Lahore. When the second project was nearing completion, in 2005, S. Harcharan Singh Punjab joined our college as Principal. It was he who insisted that I should undertake the project of Faridkot State on priority basis. The result is the work in hand.

In the beginning I never thought that the number of historical buildings in the State was so large, more than four score. But once started the work has been a labour of love for me.

The monuments of Faridkot State possess a novel look. These are a source of delight to the patient observer even today. The grand Secretariat building, if cleared of the ugly stalls can present a view, rivaling the Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. Collectively, these buildings represent the style of architecture that flourished during the second half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century in the Sikh States of Punjab, which has not been studied so far.

The present study comprises eight chapters, an epilogue, and an appendix. The first chapter delineates the geographical and historical background of the region comprising the erstwhile FaridKot State. An analysis of the salient architectural features of the monuments is contained in the second chapter. The remaining six chapters document the monuments of the State on typological basis. The third chapter cover sorts and royal palaces. The buildings for state machinery are recorded in the fourth chapter. The next chapter contains the survey of public secular buildings. The residential buildings form the subject a matter of the Sixth chapter. The seventh chapter covers memorials and the last chapter comprises a study of public religious buildings. These chapters are followed by an epilogue. The appendix gives Dr. Kamil Khan Mumtaz’s interview with a traditional mason. Technical architectural terms and some non-English terms not defined in the main text, are explained in the glossary. The study ends with an exhaustive bibliography.

The text of the book is extensively illustrated with maps, drawings and monochrome and colour plates.

Introduction

The Faridkot State was one of the Sikh States situated to the south of the river Satluj, born after the decline of the Mughal Empire in the region during the later half of the eighteenth century (Map 1). It lay between 30. 13’ and 30 50’ north latitude, and 74. 31’ and 75. 5’ east longitude. Oriented at an angle to the north-south axis, the State covered some 64 kilometers (40 miles ) long , and 54.7 kilometers (34 miles) broad area, of which the pargana of Jaitu belonged to the Nabha State (Map 2). Besides this area , a detached strip of land to the south, comprising the villages of Burj Ladha Singh Wala, Kesar Singh Wala, Sirye Wala and Bhagta, also formed part of the State . In total, the state had an area of a little more than 1665 square kilometers (about 643 square miles). On the northern, eastern and western sides, it was surrounded by the British territories comprising Ferozepur District. On the southern side, its boundaries touched the State of Patiala, seven times larger than the Faridkot State itself.

Contents

Prefacevii
List of Illustrationsxix
Background: Geography and History1
Introduction3
Main Sources of History of the State3
Geography4
Towns of the State4
Brief History6
Ancient Period6
Sultanate Period6
Mughal Period6
Sikh Period7
Raja Pahar Singh8
raja Wazir Singh9
Raja Bikram Singh9
Raja Balbir Singh10
Council of Regency12
Raja BrijIndar Singh12
Council of Administration12
Raja Har Indar Singh13
Population and its Composition14
Genealogical Table Languages16
Languages17
Crops18
Famines18
Land Revenue18
Other Sources of State Income18
Wages & Prices19
2Architectural Analysis27
Architectural Background29
Climatic Factors31
Building Materials32
Stone32
Brick32
Terracotta33
Mortar33
Plaster chunam33
Kankar33
Wood33
Iron & Steel34
Glass34
Architectural Elements34
Pillars, Piers and Pilasters34
Arches35
Domes and Shikharas35
Other Vaulting Systems36
Verandahs36
Lattices36
Cornices37
Pinnacles, Urns & Chhatris37
Pediments37
Architectural Decoration37
Modes of Decoration37
Themes of Decoration40
Inscriptions41
Language and Script41
Technique41
Period41
Patrongae42
Department of Building Construction42
Architects and Craftsmen43
3Forts and Royal Palaces47
Fort and its Buildings, Faridkot49
Fort and Palace, Kot Kapura70
Sarkari Bagh [now Government Girls Secondary School], Kot Kapura72
Raj Mahal, Faridkot74
Council Kothi, Faridkot79
Fairy Cottage, Bir Chahal83
Kothi Araish Ganj [now Residence, Senior Superintendant of Police], Kot Kapura85
Kothi Pari Mahal, Faridkot86
Kothi Muzang, Lahore87
Buildings Kenilworth, Sherwood, and Cosynook, Mashobra (Himachal Pradesh)89
Kothi, Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh)89
Kothi, Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)90
Faridkot House, Delhi90
4Buildings for State Machinery95
Central Administrative Office97
Secretariat Building/Durbar Hall [now District Courts], Faridkot97
Guest Houses101
Kothi/ Rest House Darbarganj, Faridkot101
Dak Bangla, Faridkot103
New Guest House/ Lal Kothi [now Residence, Chief Judicial Magistrate], Faridkot104
Granaries105
Dane Granaries (Eleveator), Faridkot105
Arnold Storage, Faridkot107
Stables109
Phil Khana (Elephant Stable), Faridkot109
Stables, Faridkot109
Stud Stables, Sikhanwala Bir110
Security Builldings112
Police Station, Faridkot112
Police Station, Kot Kapura113
State Jail, Faridkot113
Jail, Faridkot115
Model Cantonments, Faridkot115
Factories118
State Distillery, Faridkot118
Starch Factory, Faridkot120
Faridkot Glass Wares Factory, Faridkot120
Screw Factory [now Amar Ashram], Faridkot121
Miscellaneous122
Davues Model Agriculture Farm, faridkot122
Faridkot State Press/ Balbir Press [now Government Elementary School], Faridkot125
State Water Works and Electricity Supply Buildings, Faridkot126
Farashkhana, Faridkot127
Hangar (Aerodrome), Faridkot127
State Bank [now District Treasury], Faridkot129
5Public Secular Buildings133
Education & Sports135
Anatomy Block, Lahore Medical College [now king Edward medical university], Lahore136
Brijindra College & Balbir High School Complex, Faridkot136
[Government College of Education], Faridkot139
Manjitindra High School [now Government Secondary Boys School], Kot Kapura142
[District Institute of Elementary Training (DIET)], Faridkot143
Rani Narinder Kaur Girls High School, Faridkot144
Rao Brar High School [now Government Secondary School], Matta144
Balbir Public Library, Faridkot145
Victory Stadium [now Nehru Stadium], Faridkot147
Public Health149
Dawakhana/Mahafizkhana, Faridkot149
Dispensary, Kot Kapura149
Lady Dane Rani Suraj Kaur Zenana Hospital [now the Office District Health Officer], Faridkot151
Mardana Hospital, Faridkot153
Harindra Hospital [now Civil Hospital], Faridkot154
Queen Mary's General Hospital [now Civil Hosptial], Kot Kapura158
Rallewal Veterinary Hospital [veterinary Hospital], Kot Kapura161
Grain Markets162
Grain Market, Faridkot162
Bikram Mandi [Grain Market], Kot Kapura163
Miscellaneous164
Bazaars, Faridkot164
Sarai, Faridkot165
Model Village, Kot Kapura165
Orphanage[now Police Lines], Faridkot165
Victoria Clolck Tower, Faridkot167
Baradari and Tank, Faridkot169
Waiting Room, Faridkot170
Gateways of the Walled Town, Faridkot170
Gateways on Railways Road(Near Courts) [now Nehru Gate], Faridkot170
Gateway, Harindar Nagar , Faridkot172
Jubilee Cinema, Faridkot172
6Residential Building177
Kothi, Naraingarh179
Kothi of Sardar Fateh Singh, Faridkot180
Kothi of Chief Medical Officer, Faridkot181
Kothi of Lady Doctor [now Residence, Chief Medical Officer], Faridkot181
Kothi Bandmaster [now Office, Section Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation], Faridkot184
[So-called SDO's Kothi], Faridkot184
Kothi Balbirganj, Faridkot184
Urban Architecture187
Haveli of Seth Bhani Sahai/ Unchi Haveli, Kot Kapura187
Rural Residential Buildings189
7Memorials197
Memorial Commemorating Event193
Investiture Gate, Faridkot193
Memorials Commemorating persons194
Samadh of Jodh Shaheed, Kot Kapura194
Samadh of Gulab Singh, Faridkot196
Shahi Samadhs, Faridkot197
Samadh of Raja Wazir Singh, Thanesar199
Samadhi of Seth Kedar Nath, Kot Kapura201
8Public Religious Buildings205
Religious Buildings of the Sikhs207
Gurdwara Lohgarh, Dina207
Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj, Muktsar208
Gurdwara Guru Gobind Singh, Mehma Sarja212
Gurdwara Guru Hargobind, Sringagar212
Langar Building, Darbar Sahib, Amritsar212
State Dharmshala, Faridkot213
Tank, Gurdwara Zamin Sahib, bazipur (District Ferozepur)215
Gurdwara Daswin Patshahi, Kot Kapura217
Dera Baba Hans Raj, Udasin [Baba Singlanwala', Kot Ka pura218
Dera Suthreshahi, Kot Kapura219
Religious Buildings of the Muslims220
Chilla Baba Farid, Faridkot220
Jami Mosque, Faridkot221
Idgah, Faridkot223
Mosque Near Chilla Baba Faridkot227
Mosque in Dogar Basti, Faridkot230
Religious Buildings of the Hindus232
Dera Nandeana, Faridkot232
Dera Daryagir, Kot Kapura234
Kalimata Temple , kot Kapura236
Mata Vaishnodevi Temple, Kot Kapura236
Thakurdwara [Dera Baba Dhari Ram], Faridkot237
Temple Pujarian/Thakurdwara, Kot Kapura240
Devidwara, Faridkot241
Dharmshala and Radha Krishna Mandir Complex of Seth Jiwan Ram JI Kedar Nath Khemka, Kot Kapura241
Shiv Temple, Faridkot245
Temple Sat Narain, Faridkot246
Hanuman Mandir, Faridkot247
Temple and Dharmshala seth Dhannu Mal, Kot Kapura249
Dera Baba Dudhadhari, Kot Kapua251
Dera Nihal Das, Kot Kapura251
Dera Manglanand, Kot Kapura254
Epilogue257
Appendix261
Glossary267
Bibliography271
Index277
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