COMMUNITY LIVING OF GUJARAT
- Malika Vaidya
- Feb 28, 2021
- 3 min read
The state of Gujarat is home to various communities living in harmony through centuries. From the Rural communities of Kutch, the Dawoodi Bohras of Siddhpur, the Parsis of Udvada to the famous Pols of Ahmedabad, the architecture of the region presents a unique amalgamation of these communities.
So, let us explore the unique identities of these communities and how the architecture is a manifestation of the cultural imprint of these communities.
BHUNGAS OF KUTCH
Found in the desert region of Kutch, the Bhungas are clusters of circular houses, constructed with locally sourced materials. Considered as the real identity of the Kutch region, a typical Bhunga consists of a single cylindrical shaped room with a conical thatched roof. Clusters of two or more Bhungas form a house for a family, and a combination of these clusters form a village.
The circular form of the structure makes it highly resistant to earthquakes and desert storms. While the circular form does a good job of resisting against lateral forces of an earthquake, the walls made of bamboos tied together with a rope and finished in mud and cow dung, provide insulation and control against the extreme weather of the desert. These walls are then decorated with vernacular art forms of the community such as the Lippan art.
DAWOODI BOHRA HOUSES OF SIDDHPUR
An exemplary example of community living, the Dawoodi Bohra houses of Siddhpur, known as Bohravad, are residential havelis belonging to the Dawoodi Bohras, a Shia Muslim community from Gujarat. Traders by profession, the Dawoodi Bohras migrated and settled in Siddhpur in the late 19th century. They built rows of narrow, deep and closely packed houses, about three to four storeys high along a main street or in a grid like formation.
Though the community believed in being close knit and connected, they valued their privacy equally. Hence, the houses were built on a higher plinth,( borrowing from the concept for Otalas), which elevated the house above the street level. External viewing was done with exquisitely carved and decorated windows and Jharokhas. The Façade of the house was decorated with ornamental columns, mouldings and brackets. The ornamental designs were done in abstract geometric patterns.
The Bohra house is an eclectic mix of European and Indian influences. But, a majority of these community homes are no longer maintained and remain abandoned.
POLS OF AHMEDABAD
The typical fabric of any Indian city contains and revolves around neighborhoods- called Mohallas in north India, Peths in Pune, Paras in Bengal and Pols in Ahmedabad. The word ‘Pol’ is derives it’s meaning from the Sanskrit word ‘Pratoli’, which means ‘gate’. So, the Pols of Ahmedabad are gateways to housing clusters belonging to specific communities. These were created as a measure against communal riots, which necessitated protection against external forces.
The essence of a Pol lies in closely packed houses, narrow streets opening into a large chowk (courtyard) covered in colourful and intricately carved wooden facades and frescos.
Originating from the Khadki type of settlement in North Gujarat, each house shares a common wall with the adjacent one, forming rows on opposite sides of a street which is actually a central courtyard. The entire settlement is enclosed by the rear walls of the houses, forming a closed unit guarded by a gateway called ‘Khadki’.
The Khadkis in the city are called Pols.
TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The temples in the state of Gujarat and Rajasthan were constructed in the Maru- Gujara or Solanki style of architecture around 11th to 13th century. Although, It was a regional style of Hindu architecture, the Solanki style of temple architecture found patronage under the Jain community.
A typical Solanki style temple plan consists of a sanctum and a porch that are connected both internally and externally. The plan consists of three horizontal sections, the basement (peetha), the wall face and the Shikhara. Pillars are carved with motifs of Rakshasa, elephants, horses and humans, with humans occupying the highest place on the pillar. The walls are reserved for figure sculptures. The shikhara consists of a group of turrets surrounding a larger central structure. The interiors of the temples are richly carved. The temples at Sunak, Karyoda, Delmel and Kesara near Patan in Gujarat are some of the earliest examples of this style of temple architecture. The most famous example of this style of temple architecture is the Surya temple in Modera, which is now in ruins.
Apart from the architecture of various communities and temples, the state is also home to the UNESCO site of Dholavira, an excavation site of the Indus valley civilisation or Harappan culture.
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