A Comparative Study of Two Architectural Heritage Sites of Bazars and Hans of Bursa and Dhaka

1 ECONOMY AND CULTURE IN TRANSITIONS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SITES OF BAZARS AND HANS OF BURSA AND DHAKA Tasleem Shakur, Roxana Hafız, Tulin Vural Arslan and Arzu Cahantımur Abstract Introduction Chawkbazar in Dhaka and Covered Bazaar in Bursa are two unique examples showing the contradiction A common understanding of Bazaar is a among the traditional and the contemporary life-styles permanent merchandising area, marketplace, and their reflections on space uses and architecture. or street of shops where goods and services are The first example in Dhaka is one of the prime icons exchanged or sold. For both Bangladesh and of Mughal architecture in Bangladesh, whereas the Turkey (and for many parts of the Islamic world), second one in Bursa is the first example of the typical the word derives from the Persian word ‘Pazar’ nucleus of traditional Ottoman city. Based on these , the etymology of which goes back to the two case studies in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Bursa (Turkey), this paper attempts to illustrate how the Pahlavi word baha-char (or sometimes spelled emerging cultures and spaces are continuously being as ‘Pazar’ in English translation) meaning “the either negotiated or contested with their adjacent place of prices”. Historically (and according historic sites (Shakur, 2005). This comparative research to some Architiectural/historian academics), between two similar historical sites (Mughal and Turkish bazars generally contain a number of Ottoman) but miles apart geographically is intended multifunctional buildings such as bedestens, to understand the commonalities in its economic, bath houses (hammams), hans (khans) along social, cultural aspects through its transformation from with shops, market stalls and a mosques ( the historic to the contemporary period. It highlights Peterson, 1996:32). Although the current the socio-economic and cultural transformation and its implications for future conservation and meaning of the word is believed to have development. originated in Persia, its use has spread and now has been accepted in the dialects and languages of countries around the world. Keywords Urban transformation, architectural and cultural It seems that in Bangladesh, this name was heritage, traditional Bazaar, Bursa, Dhaka. derived with the arrival of the Mughals to this region (early seventeenth century). Bazaars have evolved over time and were influenced by the cultures of different regimes that came Copyright © 2012 Archnet-IJAR, Volume 6 - Issue 3 - November 2012 - (00-00) Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research Economy and Culture in Transitions: A Comparative Study of Two Architectural Heritage Sites of Bazars and Hans of Bursa and Dhaka 2 to rule the region of Bangladesh. Starting from Thus, this study intends to provide a comparative the open-to-sky markets to glitzy shopping malls study of the development of one of the most - all are evidences of their gradual evolution fascinating Bazaars - Chawk Bazar of Dhaka catering to the needs of people with regard to (Bangladesh) and the historic covered Bazars time, history and locale. Bazaars, in the regions and Hans of Bursa (Turkey) which underwent of Bangladesh, are traditional markets located varied economic, social and cultural in open spaces where traders gather for part of transformations at different political times. It also the day to sell their goods. Traders sat in rows attempts to illustrate how the emerging cultures or in a circle to sell their wares; the idea was to and spaces are continuously either negotiated display as well see what others had to offer. In the or contested through various soico-economic, later years, temporary structures were erected political, cultural and aesthetic factors with their for protection from the sun and rains. Much implications from local to international world. afterward the structures were permanently built with brick and concrete. In Bangladesh the Methodology of the Study Bazaar or markets are places where people socialize and spend time to recreate from the This article intends to investigate a comparative drudgery of daily life, in addition to trading. The historical development of the old Bazaars in N VURAL ARSLAN AND ARZU CAHANTIMUR İ Chawk Bazaar is an evidence of the glorious Dhaka (Bangladesh) and covered Bazaar and past of Dhaka and a very old commercial Han region in Bursa (Turkey). The concept of center. Bazaar are similar in both the Islamic historic spaces of old Dhaka and old Bursa. However, Similarly, Turkey which contains a glorious socio- the historic shopping spaces of Bursa is a cultural, architectural and political history bit different than that of Dhaka as it is more has very old and rich examples of traditional of an elaborate complex of buildings and commercial districts. Like Dhaka, Bursa (the functions where Chawkbazar (Dhaka) is more first capital of the Ottoman Empire) has one of or less a homogeneous one large layout of the earliest examples of Turkish bazaar which shopping. Although, somewhat similar to Bursa, was first developed in the fourteenth century Chawkbazar is surrounded by a few old historic (Peterson, 1996: 33). However, unlike in Dhaka residential places (which at one time was used (Bangladesh), here in Bursa (Turkey) such early as Sarai khana or in Turkish concept Kerwan examples of bazaar includes half a dozen Serai which is more of like a hotel for travelling of mosques, baths (or hammams), khans, merchants) mosques and madrassahs. In TASLEEM SHAKUR, ROXANA HAFIZ, TUL madrassahs and a bedesten (closed form of current usage they are not so much an integral Turkish market, more like a warehouse where part of the Bazaar. It is therefore the researchers goods of high value were traded). However, took slightly different approaches in researching these districts have faced physical, economic two different geographic locations. However, and social decline due to the boom in personal both the research teams adopted a heuristic mobility (i.e. the car) and convenience of approach and overview the transformation shopping in out-of-town shopping areas. periods in the development of the Bazaar areas. Because of the high density and mixed Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research - Volume 6 - Issue 3 - November 2012 Economy and Culture in Transitions: A Comparative Study of Two Architectural Heritage Sites of Bazars and Hans of Bursa and Dhaka 3 use development in Dhaka, this case study Dhaka to get all possible data. Comparison undertook a survey of the Chawk Bazaar to of old photographs and maps with current understand the changing land use pattern ones showed striking changes in the form and of the Bazaar and trace the changes that structure of the Bazaars. In the conclusion part of occurred over time. Here some participant the paper, the commonalities in transformation observations and focussed group meetings periods of these two case studies from different was held with local traders, especially the geographies are summarized with a table. seniors, in order to know about its past. This was undetaken to compensate the paucity of the existing historical record. A Historical Account of the Development of Dhaka and Bursa While the Bursa study undertook a survey of the bazaar to understand spatial, social and The central location of Dhaka prompted Islam economic features of the district and trace the Khan, the Mughal Governor (or Subedar) changes that occured over time. Within the establish his capital here in 1610 (see Map1a). scope of this study, existing written documents, The Mughal town of Dhaka expanded rapidly thesis, articles, old photographs, air photos, growing around the old Fort (presently the N VURAL ARSLAN AND ARZU CAHANTIMUR İ old maps and planning studies were searched Central Jail). It also grew as an important by both the research teams in Bursa and commercial center largely through its TASLEEM SHAKUR, ROXANA HAFIZ, TUL Map 1a (left): Dhaka and its surroundings (insets) (Source: www.banglapedia.org/httpdoc). Map1b (right): Bursa and its surroundings (Source: Google Earth, http://www.turkiye-rehberi.net/bursa-haritasi.asp). Archnet-IJAR, International Journal of Architectural Research - Volume 6 - Issue 3 - November 2012 Economy and Culture in Transitions: A Comparative Study of Two Architectural Heritage Sites of Bazars and Hans of Bursa and Dhaka 4 establishment as an inland port or Shah Bandar. them navigable throughout the year, fell into Traders, local and foreign, flocked to Dhaka to despair as a result of dire negligence on the do business. As Dhaka grew, artisans, craftsmen part of the colonial administrators and due to and manufacturers came to settle here. Gold, the introduction of the railway and motorized silver, brass, wood and shell work flourished, vehicles. Lack of security forced merchants to but the production of cotton goods surpassed pay high premiums for export of merchandise all others. The production of the world famous to Kolkata. The abolition of inland transit duties Muslin prospered under the patronage of the and town duties set in motion the recovery Mughal rulers. It is stated that in the 18th century of Dhaka and it became the most populous between 28 lakh of rupees to 40 lakh of rupees town of Bengal by 1840 (Ahmed, 2009). The worth of cotton goods were exported annually commerce of the city was mainly concentrated from Dhaka, and most of it to Europe (Ahmed, at Chawk Bazaar, the Mughal’s main emporium 1986). in Dhaka; other bazaars were located not far away from it. At its peak, Dhaka had a population of 900,000. However, Dhaka began to decline when the The other forces that rekindled renewal were capital was relocated to Murshidabad by administrative, educational and commercial N VURAL ARSLAN AND ARZU CAHANTIMUR İ Subedar Murshid Kuli Khan in 1715-16, but it and Dhaka banked on these to spring back remained the headquarters of the Mughal army to prominence by the end of the 19th century. and navy in Eastern Bengal.

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