Exploring Fort Architecture: Unveiling Heritage Precincts
Old
buildings and old precincts are part of history. They are images one refers to
for awareness of a city's growth and evolution; the life styles and aesthetic
tastes, technology and crafts of a forgotten time. They reflect ancient choices
made, ancient functions fulfilled. One among the most vexing problems that
urban and environmental planners in India, today are trying to grapple is how
to consume and protect from decay the innumerable historical and architectural
structures, which are an evidence of our rich cultural heritage. The problem
has taken unprecedented proportions in the historic times, where in there has
been chaotic and rapid progress which results in the disintegration of the old
and the new urban.
Introduction
As the leaves of a tree, automatically draw
the sap from the roots, though they are far above, similarly one
needs to learn and
draw our future from past. Everything is going to be history. Buildings and
monuments of today will be heritage tomorrow. The whole foundation of life is
on sanskars and traditions which we want to save. Similarly, heritage is our
architectural Sanskara.
Restoration
and rehabilitation are not only limited to human lives, but for the entire
Heritage which is going into handicapped stage. Environmental, expansion and
lack of awareness, legal rules, terrorism, urbanisation, pollution, and
terrorism -nothing can be the real excuse of leaving and letting our foundation
get eroded.
When
hungry- food is in-taken, when sick medicine is taken, for real serious
diseases even surgery is performed, similarly heritage also needs to be fed and
treated. Specialization in all the industries is on boom and skills in all the
fields are being executed with marvellous outcome. Bringing back to breath all
our heritage with skills of special conservation doctors is also of utmost importance.
As walking without foot is not possible, similarly building a nation without
our foundation heritage is not possible. Our heritage depicts our richness,
culture, values and brings economy and beauty to country. In a competition of making
new foundations and growing fresh roots yesterday beauty is lying under wraps.
Our country has very rich heritage spreading to forts, museums, palaces and temples
etc.
1.
Historical
Significance
During old
times it was necessary to have fortifications for prevention against animal
attacks and also to raise and train army. The existence in the architecture of fortifications provides a
historical context of the political influences and situations in India. Not
only forts provided shelter in times of calamities but they also protected the
treasury, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Arthashastra, Rig-Veda all contain accounts of
forts.
2.
Fort
Architecture Styles - Drug
An Indian
term for Fort means difficult too Trespass, comprised strong thick walls
surrounded by a moat for prevention against animals and enemies. They also had
big and heavy gates which were difficult to enter. Most of these forts were
situated on sites which were difficult to penetrate and conquer.
Six types of Forts can be found
1.
Dhana
durga or desert fort
2.
Vriksha
or Vanna fort
3.
Giri
or hill fort
4.
Nara
fort -protected by men
5.
The
Jala durg or Water fort
6. Mahi durg or the mud fort
3.
Conservation
of Heritage Precincts - Charters
Heritage
means what we want our future generations to inherit. It can be anything
tangible or intangible having natural, cultural, historical significance
providing its own identity and inspiration.
The
various charters under conservation are -
Burra
charter of ICOMOS
Athens
charter for restoration of historic monuments
The Venice
charter
The
Florence charter
The
Washington charter
INTACH
charter
Also
agencies as Archaeological survey of India are working for conservation of
Heritage.
Hence, Conservation
aims at conserving a place which has uniqueness to hold and caress much more
than its physical form and has significant historic, geographic and cultural characteristics.
4.
Conclusion
India is widely known for its rich cultural Heritage and Antiquarian remains, ranging from pre-historic rock shelters to a large variety of monumental edifices such as rock cut caves, tombs, ancient temples of different styles forts, mosques, madrassas, sluices', churches, step wells, hunting lodges, bridges, pavilions, reservoirs, bathing, ghats, gurudwaras, minars and gardens. Conservation aims at adaptive re-use of building without losing Essence of character and thus promoting heritage tourism in the long run. Countries like America, which are not fortunate enough to have rich cultural Heritage as India, feel the need to discover its moorings, then why not the already blessed country preserves its most enviable Heritage.
At Nitte SAPD various courses are taught related to Heritage
and conservation as Heritage documentation, Culture and Built environment,
Adaptive re use etc. Students
have learnt a lot and participated in numerous heritage competitions hosted by
INTACH and COA. Nitte SAPD students have won Heritage documentation awards for
excellence in competitions held by COA in 2022.Nitte SAPD is one of the best
colleges to focus on Heritage learning and Practising.
