vhile to the latter are due the Ring DOCUMENTS of Vienna, the garden boulevads of Wurzburg, and of Rheims. Each si- de has thus its successes to appeal to, and is not easily moved by the arguments of the other. for a pro- NOTES ON found difference of temperament and sentiment divides them: for Professor Patrik Geddes while the first is fervently romantic, the second is apt to be cynically con- temptuous of all romanticism, and finds its aesthetic satisfactions in la- ter and more conventionally mo- dern ways. Intermediate types there are also, partaking of the character of each school: appreciating for instance this or that historic triumph .of ar- chitecture, now religious, like the Ahmedabad mosques, now dome- stic, like the richly carved old house-fronts of the pols, or again delighting in the military sternness of bastion and walls, or the varied individuality of gates; and even see- king, often not without appreciable success, to revive one or other of these forms for modern uses. Such On a recent visit of some days in tly of the school of Sir Walter Scott in fact have been the fashions of ar- November last, I was able to ac- (and in this connection it is worth chitects, and hence the contempora- quaint myself with the city in com- remembering that the restoration of ry struggle and medley of styles, of parative detail. The question of the these very walls of Ahmedabad which modern Bombay is but the demolition of the walls was then put took place in 1832). Sometimes in- most conspicuous of Indian exam- to me, both by the Collector, and directly, by way of his disciples, as ples. by the then acting Municipal Com- through the Oxford movement of Amid this Babel of specialist opi- missioner, Mr. Mehta, I devoted 1843, through Ruskin, Morris, nions, what is a Government to do? considerable time and attention to Violett-le-Duc or Sir Gilbert Scott To pigeon-hole and postpone is one the walls accordingly, throughout and the later mediaevalist restorers; familiar method; to throw aside all their entire course. On a more re- or finally from the archaeologists, specialist reports and to act on its cent and briefer visit (4th-6th April who are still essentially romantics, own responsability is another. But 1915). I have again gone over them, however chilled by a too Germanic to postpone is to conserve; while to and theis neighbourhood, section science. Similarly the attackers are decide is victory for the one party or by section. for the most part directly of the the other; for to one of these, un- The dispute before us is one school of Haussmann in Paris or of consciously if not consciously, eve- which has frequently recurred in one or other of his successors, Dr. ry member of every Government Europe, during the latter nineteenth Sttibben of Berlin for choice. To na- must incline, having in course of his century especially; and with more me a few examples of the best work particular temperamental experien- frequent, though not invariable suc; of each school, we owe to the first ce, taken in more of one view than cess to the attack. The defenders are the preservation of the walls of Car- of the other. usually romantics, sometimes direc- cassonne, of York an Nuremberg, What then is to be done?

I 76 i i

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77 With more and more of their results man" as a "mere Utopist"; while if I Happily there is appearing a fresh in evidence (as may be reasonably he ventures experimentally to test and larger way of treating these and hoped at the coming Cities Exhibi- his Utopia in practice, he too readi- E many other vexed questions of city tion in Calcutta in November next) ly neglects essential factors and is S policy. Upon this method the ro- the advantage to Town Planning of set aside as a "mere crank". Such is iv mantics, the historians and the ar- these Civic Surveys will be readily and has too long been, the dissocia- a: chaeologists on the one hand, and and convincingly realised; and the tion of citizenship into its separate R utilitarians or specialised aesthetes application of these methods to In- elements, each and all ineffective d of the later one are a like beginning dian cities will thus recommend it- while alone. The analogous types in t- to converge. Thus all are tending to- self to all responsible for them. In politics and religion are a like not wards a larger view of cities and fact it may be boldly alleged that be- far to seek; or similarly in art, in ti their architecture alike, one conso- fore many years the conception of education also; whereas it is of the tl nant with the tradition and the re- City Surveys and of these as not on- very essence, significance and pur- in sponsibilities of Governments both ly of scientific interest, but of prac- pose of that renewal of civics and c central and municipal, and at their tical value, even of national and civic life which the Cities and Town Sc best. world-wide importance, will be as Planning Exhibition express, to re- al familiar as is now that of the Geolo- unite all these points of view, and to SC What then is this method? It is to gical Survey itself. For this city of insist that the very name of each ci- P treat the problem in question not Ahmedabad, then, of exceptional ty should carry with it all these three ile e merely as a special point which can magnitude and importance, as well interests, past, present an future, w be isolated from all others for consi- as of such distinguished and historic and in their threefold unity, their R deration, but to view and consider it architecture, a survey should be un- inseparable continuity. Thus the co- ai in terms of the City Survey. - This dertaken with that thoroughness ming "Civic Survey of Ahmeda- vi new movement it is a main use of which is at length being applied do bad", as we may call it during its b; the Cities and Town Planning Exhi- British cities. preparation, should, when ready bition to set forth, and to initiate. What then is the spirit and me- for exhibition, be set forth as "Ah- pi The City Survey involves the accu- thod of such a Civic Survey? At pre- medabad Past, Present and Possi- ti, mulation and record of all docu- sent, here as in Europe, some few ble". In this way the responsabili- cc ments illustrative of the city's life care for the city's past; but this too ties and possibilities of town- lir and activities - plans, pictures, much as antiquarians, without suf- planning become more clearly reali- ar books, etc. - as it is nothing less ficient interest in the present, and sed and understood - those imme- at than the correlation of all aspects of consequently failing to see, or at diate and those remote alike. Thus, es the study of the city - topography, any rate to show to others, how the instead of the piecemeal irresponsi- m housing, density of population etc:, ble changes, to which our genera- fa past has determined this present. Im etc. - from their historic, develop- The majority again (and of all clas- tion, and its predecessor, have been c mental and contemporary stand ses, governing or governed) live too peculiarly prone, and too often wi- dc points. It is thus an analysis of the exclusively in the present, as "prac- thout foundations in the past or fo- ry forces active in bringing about the tical men" and, seeing truly enough resight in the future, we may gra- po present conditions and likely to af- the limitations of the historians and dually plan out a civic policy for the ca fect the future. The results of these antiquarians, think them useless - opening generation, in which the cil studies should as far as possible be "mere fossils". The latter, it is true, heritage of the past may be respec- an reduced to graphic form upon co- feeling no less clearly the limitations ted, the best activities of the present dc pies of the city's plan. of unhistoric minds, roundly call maintained and increased, yet the fr( Civic Surveys havd of late, and these " mere Philistines". Here and free expansion and activity of the Ur during the current year especially, there someone ventures to dream of enlarging future found fuller and th taken a new impulse in the hands of the city's future; but having com- fuller scope also. Here then, in this hi: a large and active group of archi- monly no clear knowledge of the renewal of citizenship, we are ente- to tects, headed by Mr. Lanchester, past, and often still less of the pre- ring upon a long fallowed field of da F.R.I.B.A., and with active support sent, he is inevitably discounted ali- thought and labour, of social scien- se. from public and semi public funds. ke by antiquarian and "practical ce and social art. tie

78

_j II_ This change has of late years been civic museum and exhibition will these would come also the present- manifest throughout the leading naturally arise, and may be initiated ment, in vivid and coloured per- European contries, and the United before long. spectives, of the palace-fortress ar- States, etc., and the Town Planning The proposed type of civic mu- chitecture of the Bhadr and the Movement is but the practical seum has the merit of being at once Gaikwar's Havely, and in some aspect and first-fruits of this Civic the most vivid and the least costly ways above all of the magnificent Renewal. This Civic Movement is of all types of museum or exhibi- which is one of the destined to an increasing uplift with tion: in fact given but a single one wonders of . So with the the conclusion of the war, and the of the skilled draughtsmen whose town's daily life of which the old manifold need of reconstructive ac- work was in the late (sunk) Cities market places and the thronging ac- tivities (not material only) which Exhibition, or is again appearing in tivity around the stately gateway of this will make manifest. That India, the renewing one, such a Survey of the Tin Darwasa are survivals. in each recent generation, and in- Ahmedabad could be effectively set Nor will all this iconography of creasingly decade by decade, ab- agoing in a single winter. And since the past city be treated simply in sorbs the thought of Europe and such work lends itself peculiarly cold archaeological fashion, like fi- applies it, will not be denied. But if well to inexpensive reproduction gured fossils. We cannot be content so, her opening future is not of the and diffusion, its influence will be with perspective reconstructions of politics of the Victorian age, still great in aiding the tourist move- the past, even though as vivid as less the sporadic dreams and deeds ment, which is as yet only in its in- those of ancient Greek cities by which have now vanished from fancy. In the opening generation, French architects. These monu- Russia; the trend of social thought and with the return of prosperity af- ments are still part of the life of the and life is towards regional and ci- ter the war, the stream of travellers town, even for its citizens generally, vic constructiveness, rustic and ur- will flow on to India as in the past it and not to Moslems alone; and al- ban alike. has overflowed Egypt. Here in fact though archaeologists are here in Imagine, then, that we set about is an economic resource which will control, and restoration is happily preparing the Survey and Exhibi- substantially profit the town and its not threatened, the fitting preserva- tion of Ahmedabad. This will be municipal resources. The proposed tion of each monument requires for content with nothing short of visua- civic museum is thus also an agency its due sitting, all the services that lising the whole city, and of seeing for educating the visitor, no less town planner, tree-planter and and showing it in its living relations than the citizen. park-designer can render its surron- at various periods, up-to-date, and dings. For failing such planning and even its possibilities of improve- care, not a few of these unique and ment and town-planning. Here in irreplaceable monuments may at fact is a new type of exhibition and What then are the main panels any time be concealed or injured by museum, which begins already to (the future gallery rooms) of an Ah- new buildings erected haphazard in dominate the traditional fragmenta- medabad Survey? the neighbourhood. ry ones - a type now in active pre- First evidently, such archaeologi- But to return to our museum. To- paration, with general as well as lo- cal material as may be recovered, or wards the close of the Moslem pe- cal societies to carry it on, in great reconstructed from the early past riod belong the city walls. These ho- cities and small, from Edinburgh and up to the Moslem conquest, wever from their magnitude and and Dublin, Perth and Chelsea, with the latter's use of destroyed past importance, not to say their down to the smallest towns like Saf- Hindu temple-fragments for its ear- present interest, will claim a third fron Walden or Musselburgh, yet lier mosques. panel of their own; and this all the up to the great London itself. For Next the rise and flower of that more if they are to disappear. Follo- the cities of great architectural and marvellous architecture to which wing upon these illustrations of the historic interest - and it cannot be Ahmedabad owes its special emi- walls, as they were and as they are, too clearly remembered that Ahme- nence and attractiveness. Not only should naturally come plans of the dabad stands very high among the- then the city Mosques, but the ma- Ring Boulevard which it is sugge- se, and not only among Indian ci- ny outlyng monuments, at , sted should replace them, and the ties, but the world's - this type of Shah Alam's tomb, etc. But with proposed internal changes also; cor-

79 respondingly it is for those who de- Thus taking Ahmedabad all over, The old architect-maestri have sim- I sire to conserve the walls to show what more hopeful field for town- ply carried out their purposes of life how they would treat them, as in planning, and at its best; and this as and use, adapting the wall to these, the case of the recently suggested the material side of that Civic Revi- and these to the wall, in a direct police barracks. vance, which, as already urged, is common sense way, and with en- All this magnificence of public coming into view as clearly for the hanced variety and beauty as a re- buildings is however, far form ex- opening generation as did the va- sult. hausting the historic architectural rious political movements and eco- As kindred planners to these, let interest of Ahmedabad. Loving and nomic interests for recent ones. us therefore go along this river-wall learned volumes will yet be written, once more, this time considering rich in illustrations, devoted solely how far its promenades may be im- to the domestic architecture of the All this discussion has been ne- proved and made more continuous old Pols, and to the study of the de- cessary before definitely conside- - how far any fresh outlets to the velopment and detail of their car- ring the problem of the City Walls. river, in addition to the existing vings, not forgetting even the prin- For on the present view, we can nei- four, may be practicable if of ad- ciples of their colouring; and ther so simply conserve them as vantage to the town quarter within though Indian cities seem to have would the romantic or the archaelo- - and how far the pleasing sugge- lost the sense of this, it may be reco- gists, nor yet so simply destroy them stion of the garden and temple on vered. with the boulevardier. [Keeping the river wall may be utilised elsew- With this study of domestic ar- constantly before us as central to here. chitecture in its characteristic grou- our problem, the continuous and Turning from the river at the ping and treatment, there naturally expanding life of the whole city, we Khanjah Gate (South West), we co- go constructive suggestions for its may now go round the walls in de- me eastwards along the southern treatment, as on lines already indi- tail, and see how far the contrasted, wall to that of Jamalpur. The long cated in other reports (Broach, Na- yet not irreconcileable demands, of triangular space outside the walls is diad, Baroda) and therefore unne- conservative and radical, may be of great beauty and interest; - a cessary here. practically met.] range of informal and varied land- Nor does the interest of Ahmeda- Let us begin with the west wall scape, of ghats, tombs and temples bad domestic architecture and even along the river, the more since - natural river-front and wild- here. To a degree unusual among along this line there has been no wood mingled with half-ordered the towns I have visited, there are question of demolition, and for va- river-park-way, which makes this, good survivals among the humbler rious reasons; - primarily defence towards sunset especially, the most bl dwellings, even of the basal art of against the floods, but not exclusi- striking excursion from the city, the a mud architecture. vely, since this would not preclude shortest and easiest also. ri Again, of the intensifying deterio- some breaking down and lowering. As we return to the city it beco- d: ration and squalor of the ruder in- The noble architectural effect is he- mes plain that the wall is here no se dustrial age, Ahmedabad offers on- re surely some defence. In this con- obstacle to the free entrance of the er ly too conspicuous examples. Yet so nection is well worth noting the fine prevailing south-west wind, which at far as our knowledge goes, though effect produced by a massive man- blows down-hill over its trifling in too much mean building exist, the sion, near the Khanpur Gate, which height without appreciable inter- k( city has almost escaped the applica- evidently covers one of the ba- ruption, save in its immediate lee. tr tion of standard sanitary plans (ex- stions, and also by the wooded gar- But here, in the lee of the wall, there re cept perhaps on the old market site den and temple under the walls. He- is open space for the most part and n near the Tin Darwasa) the introduc- re in fact are examples of the gain, dwellings do not suffer. Building si- su tion of lofty chawls or other expres- event to the architectural effect of tes do not appear to be in demand sions of the Bye-law period so cha- the wall (let alone to practical uses) either inside or outside, nor would racteristic of later nineteenth centu- of freedom in treatment of it, yet the thickness of the wall (some 8 ry manufacturing England and which is neither conservative entire- feet) be of much gain to them if being imported into India when be- ly with the archaeologist, nor de- they were, or repay the cost of its coming obsolete in Europe. structive of it with his adversary. demolition.

80 Similarly eastwards from Jamal- wall is here enhanced by the wall of planted so as to display the monu- pur gate to Astodia Gate. On the in- the spacious old Guard-House or ment, not cancel it - to frame its ner side of the wall we have conside- Barrack, which is now used as a Le- various pictures as it were. The va- rable open spaces for some distance per Asylum. This military wall with cant ground on each side within the from each gate and also about mid- its battlementing like that of the city Astodia Gate admits of the plan- way between them. A cotton mill wall harmonises with it and gives it ning of a worthy Entrance Place, stands near the wall at a point to- and its bastions a fuller dignity and kept from being too large (a present wards the Jamalpur Gate; if houses scale. danger of planners) by the useful al- are here required there is room for Here again the desired external location of sites for dwellings, of constructing them independently of Boulevard and thoroughfare alrea- pleasing proportion, but not too or- the wall. In this section between the dy exist, and only need a little tree- nate character, and not exceeding gates one or two minor openings planting to give them full effect. two storeys in height; more than have been made. I see no objection [Demolition here would be vanda- this would diminish the due promi- whatever to enlarging these if and lism; for to throw away this back- nence of gate and mosque. This lit- as desired, or to making new ones ground of rich red walls on both si- tle place would from an effective wherever they are wanted, whether des, would be a waste of beauty centre of the neighbourhood]. for exits or entrances and towards brought about by extravagant la- It will be remembered that before streets or to gardens and play- bour and expense, and pratically to entering we noted as forming an ef- grounds. no purpose within the wall any mo- fective whole with the gates and This neighbourhood however is re than without]. On each side of walls, of City and Hospital, - a gravely deteriorated in pubblic the Astodia Gate within, far from great Outer Gate-Court as it were, esteem by the proximity of the the overcrowded buildings which of effective and military aspect. Wi- Night-soil Depot and of the Sewage we shall come to futher north, we thin the gate, we shall come to the Pumping Station: so much so that find open and unbuilt spaces. Follo- due contrast of a public place of In- the removal of this section of the wing this thoroughfare as it curves ner Gate-Court with town-life in its wall would probably be peculiary northward towards the junction domestic and recreative aspects; a objected to by the citizens of the Ja- and divergence of five roads a little little way farther we come to the fa- malpur ward. I may assume that it way within the city, we see on the mous Mosque. Having entered is not proposed to demolish this sec- east side of the famous Mosque of from the outer court with its stern tion either. Rani Sipri, one of the chief glories walls, its frowning gate, the exquisi- The improvement of the quarter of its city, and of its age. Though of tiness of the sacred mosque is sure- both inside and outside the walls, is course conserved as an historic mo- ly enhanced. Why then spend - a matter far better worth conside- nument, its fullest beauty cannot be more than all that would be needed ring. The Ring Park Space is alrea- assured without the city's acquiring for the proposed improvement of :o- dy here, but vulgarised by the coar- fuller control of its immediate sur- this whole neighbourhood - on the no sest indifference of which sanitary roundings. distruction of what is the most per- he engineers are capable. Filth depots [Here in fact is a whole quarter fect possible foil and contrast to ch and tramway, latrines, etc., appear awaiting appropriate planning, as this mosque? Given one of the most ng in far extended range of squalid na- perhaps the finest of all the entran- precious master-pieces of Ahmeda- r- kedness, instead of being concen- ces and exits of the city. Time has bad, indeed of India, we must sure- ee. trated and planted up with trees as not admitted for the preparation of a ly retain every element of its effect. ;re respect for property values (let alo- sketch-design, but the general prin- But it has been said that "the nd ne propriety, taste and civic feeling) ciples are clear, as follows: - (a) walls are not particulary interesting si- suggests. For the five roads a traffic junction from the historical or the aesthetic nd At and near the Astodia Gate, place, improved both as regards points of view". True they have not lid moreover (just beyond where the traffic and aspect; (b) The immedia- such historic interest as those of 8 Pail Depot has been established), te neighbourhood of the Mosque to Constantinople, not such varied if are the finest opportunities of city be acquired to prevent incongruous charm as those of Rothenburg; yet its improvement along the whole-wall building, and part of this to set asi- no main feature in the history of circle. The effect of the gate and de as a public space and carefully such a city as this, is lightly to be

81 4 shattered. As to the aesthetic effect, important monument of its kind in the Kankaria avenue may be easily let any one still doubting this reser- India, since the Gopi Tank of Surat improved), we have thus the whole ve the walk just describe, and start was destroyed; or at most, it is southern region of the city - the from an appreciation of the doubtfully surpassed by the very Khadia ward no less than the Ja- Queen's Mosque, and proceed out- different Teppakulam at Madura. malpur ward - brought within the ward to view the walls in their mas- Though some landscape architects range of this attractive park, and its sive simplicity, their sweeping lines, prefer the simpler yet more monu- (potential) neighbourhood garden- their long perspective of bastions. mental design of Madura, [the sur- village. In the former case we passed from roundings here afford ample space To miss no section of the walls, the warlike gate and walls to the for boulevards, gardens and trees, let us follow the road which runs on mosque and tomb of the great even woods: so that it is not too their inner side from the Raipur to queen, a masterpiece at once noble much to say that here, awaiting but the Astodia Gate. Here open buil- and exquisite; and in the latter we simple and inexpensive completion ding and planting spaces are availa- return with the converse increase of and slightly improved approach, is ble; and internal improvements are a effects, from piano to forte. In the- one of the very finest Water-Parks again far more satisfactory than de- se over-specialised days, one may in the world. All this improvement struction. This cannot be conside- appreciate even the simplest ar- can be assured, and even with it a red necessary or even expedient at mour, and another have eyes only further and substantial provision any point along this reach, any mo- for the subtly wrought adornments made for suburban development, re than on preceding ones. There is of a queen, and the stately drapery with the relative proportion of the also an extra opening in the wall, of her pall; but surely the simplest funds which it has been too lightly and there is no reason why more of eye, as well as that most given to aid proposed to spend on distruction]. these should not be opened, as may a the grouping and contrast the va- To clear away the Cholera Hospital be desired. iied beauty of cities and the pagean- absurdly placed near this great sheet try of life, may alike see that since of water hitherto undefiled, to re- here we have both effects, we will pair the two or three mantabams We have now come round two si- do well to keep them, and develop beside the water and encourage des of the city, the west and south: their mutually enhancing contrast, pious donors to do their part to hence, even if the prevailing wind not destroy it for ever. complete the great design, to impro- were to be stopped by these walls With this scheme for a worthy ci- ve the neglected banks, are all sim- (which are in reality far too low to ty entrance thus becoming broadly ple and inexpensive touches; but effect this), malign agency could clear, we way now retrace our steps they will achieve a result of which not be ascribed to the East and for a little to the Jamalpur Gate. any capital might be proud. North, walls, to which we come For just within the fine exit to the At present the south of the city is next in order. great line of ghats and tombs alrea- discredited and depreciated; in fact From the Raipur Gate the wall dy mentioned, and almost corre- unduly exaggerating the traditional sweeps round in a circular curve to sponding in position to that of Rani inauspiciousness of this quarter it the Sarangpur Gate. Along this ran- Sipri, is another mosque, not of has undergone sanitary havoc. [But ge of south-east outlook and defen- course of anything like the same with better planning, all due needs ce the bastions are more numerous; perfection, yet a fine monument of of sanitation can be met, and more and again several minor gates have the same style in its simpler form, economically. The interest and been opened e.g., the Wadia Gate. With this too, the surroundings way beauty of this fine suburban region In this section the space in front of be fitly coordinated, and housing may be more than renewed, to- the wall has unfortunately almost and civic beauty again advanced to- wards the river and the tank alike, entirely been built over, even up to gether. and the planning and development the wall itself. The ring boulevard is From the Astodia Gate an impor- of suburban housing schemes may here interrupted accordingly, or ra- tant road sweeps east and south to also be proceeded with, all to the ther pushed farther afield, as an or- join that from the Raipur Gate, and great advantage of the cityl. thence runs due south to the Kanka- Returning now by the Raipur Ga- ria Lake. This is probably the most te (for to this the nearest section of Ahmedabab in 1878. (Fig. 101).

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83 fII dinary thoroughfare, but the walls its removal would abate these evils. ordinary street; since their first and bastions come finely into view Some clearence and replanning floor overlooks the wall, and is thus V before we reach the Sarangpur Ga- should here be carried through; but as fully exposed the sunrise and the * te; and remain free until the north- if these are to go on as well as the breeze as the wall itself. The impres- east angle is reached. Building-up demolition of the wall, how (and sion of serious limitation of light has thus taken place here to a far when, after this war) are all these and air by the wall is thus substan- smaller extent than in most fortified changes to be budgeted for? Far tially abated when we look into it in V cities. better spend any available funds detail. 0 #, ictl Look now into the conditions wi- upon direct sanitary and housing On each side within the Prem Ga- thin the wall: the narrow street fol- improvement. te is space which admits of replan- 0 " sC lowing the wall is fairly continuous; From the Gate north to ning, more or less on lines previou- still there are several openings into the Prem Gate, the houses acing sly suggested within other gates; the town, in the southern portion the wall on the inside have for the and behind the space is a temple, o 0 0a especially. most part high buttresses and are al- which might be invited to join in h The short section northward most without windows in the base- this improvement by reducing the h from the Saranpur Gate is not very ment. Here we have evidenly a no- height of the high dead wall which fi interesting along the interior road, table difference in ground-levels, surrounds it. Resuming again the U but a space capable of improvement which is worth considering for a narrow Wall Street, we find here it opens out as we approach the moment. The lane is of course sub- and there opening into it a small Panch-Kawa Gate. Around this, stantially higher than the ditch out- and simple doorway which might he P however, is a large centre of the fuel side or even than the boulevard well be that of a private house, but Si trade, which cannot readily be in- beyond, but here, as arises naturally turns out to be that of a whole Pol! a terfered with; but north of this through the age-long accumulations Here is a survival of the timidity of d again is a somewhat irregular and of every old city, the houses stand troublous times; yet one for which o tl slummy area, easily capable of con- higher than the lane, and the space there is also contemporary excuse, siderable improvement. From this behind them is higher still. Hence since we are now entering the quar- b onwards, the street within the wall though the impression one receives ter of dubious reputation, and this 0 takes on a more continuous and on arriving from the railway sta- as regards both vice and crime. Si monotonous character; but it is by tion, and on viewing the walls, from A simple treatment, however, at fi no means badly kept, as Ahmeda- the outside alone, may be of their li- once suggests itself, as at any rate a ir bad goes; and though there are in- mitimg the town, this is corrected step towards improvement. Let the tt terruptions to the direct passage of by observation, and in more ways Municipality here remove the piece a motor here and there, involving a than one. First, the town, here spe- of wall and door closing each Pol Si detour, comparatively few altera- cially, stands upon its mound, (where these occur between houses): a tions would make its inner ring con- which the wall largely conceals or where this entrance passes under si tinuous throughout. Such immedia- from the outside, and which these a house, remove bodily this last. 0 te expense however need not be ur- houses in turn partly conceal from thus giving as good and wide an ou- a, ged, since traffic here will always be the Wall Street, as we may call this tlet and inlet from Pol to Wall very limited; but it is at any rate a inside lane throughout. Though in Street as the breadth of the former st fair case for improvement of the all, this mounding amounts but to a may allow. Let the city wall opposi- alignment by set-back on rebuilding few feet, the ground-floors of the te it be similary pierced, say, by a 10 fi or repair. We are plainly however at houses are here mostly un- feet x 10 feet opening. Both may tt the beginning of a less desirable inhabited. In other sections of cour- now be protected by an iron grill, stSt wall-quarter than heretofore, for se, the ground-floor is regulary in- and gate to close at night. fr east ends in India are apt to crowd habited, and its outlook on the In this north east section may be at and deteriorate, like east ends el- blank wall is monotonous. Yet so the situation for the proposed new al sewhere: it is thus not the mere pre- low is the wall, from within, that it Police Office, I see no reason for v; sence of the wall which causes slum may be broadly affirmed, that these preventing the erection of this upon Sc conditions or overcrowding, and houses are in better, not worse, con- the wall, if desired, since the utilisa- q there is as little reason to hope that ditions than they would be in any tion of this last, with its long pro- ti

84 st menades ranging south and west, desired, defending the opening by rable amount of candle, what an Is would give excellent outlooks, and an iron grill and gate only. Picture- amount of improvement, econo- le > ready communications with the ga- squeness may thus be notably in- mic, sanitary and aesthetic to boot, s- tes; while the town may be entered creased, and the main architectural might be accomplished? It through the Pols, and these control- effects left quite uninjured. Such three-fold improvement has led, where need be. Such a building The more this patient study of the already been indicated, for the in would simply be an extension of walls and their neighbourhoods is south side of the town especially, one of the oldest daily uses of every continued, the less does proposed but it may be well to point out how city wall - the maintaining of daily demolition maintain itself in any much may be done on east and older within and not simply of occa- way, whether as a business proposi- north also. We have already seen sional military safety from without; tion, an aesthetic or a sanitary one. that the wall, on these sides espe- s; and as the beauty of old city walls is In no respect is the game worth the cially, keeps out no air from the ci- often as much enhanced by guard- candle; whereas, with that conside- ty: any limitation of air-currents n houses as by gates, so it might be le here. Various ways of doing this ef- h fectively suggest themselves: as the :e utilization of a single bastion with e its adjacent wall; or better, of two, .11 with the space between. The exam- It pie of the fine building upon the we- It stern wall may here be recalled. Yet l! another way is to purchase a buil- )f ding or two at any suitable spot in :h the Wall Street, and rebuild these, placing merely an outlook upon a r- bastion. This may be reached not is only by its usual stairway, but if de- sired also by a bridge from the first It floor of the building. Though estee- a ming more than most the architec- le tural beauty and interest of the :e wall, I see advantage to it in any al , such addition, assuming of course architectural competence in the de- .r sign. Archaeologic and historic pie- t. ty does not limit continued use and a- . adaptation. I From the Dariapur Gate ea- !r - stward to the Delhi Gate, the long i- Wall Street seems unbroken, 0 though Pol entrances may be ty found. Behind these there is conge- I, stion; but in the next section, i.e., from the Delhi to the Shalpur Gate le and thence to the river, it certainly w abates. Again however, I see no )r vandalism, but only the common- ,n sence renewal of what was a fre-

quent medieval practice in peace- Mamunaik's pol at A hmedabab. - time, in piercing the walls wherever (from Survey of India). (Fig. 102).

85 ta follows but indirectly from the wall, The long "sentinel's walk" along munity life - past, present and to for there is a continuous line of the whole range of the walls is also come. We asked our guide in ano- much higher houses along a fair forgotten by those who are willing ther historic city, a man peculiary proportion of it. These, it may be to sacrifice them. The battlement acquainted with his town, and inte- i said, would be dealt with when the wall is at present just a little too rested in its improvement, whether wall is gone; but what prevents dea- high for women and short men to he would oppose the destruction of ling with them now? and before the see over, but an inspection of its its walls if town-planner and archi- needed funds are gone, in a costly narrow upper edge will show how tect, sanitarian and engineer came, i and unproductive preliminary task! easy it is, without appreciable inju- with attractive plans and promises, Moreover, to break their continuity ry to the apparent height of the as at Ahmedabad. "Yes, c.I here and there by opening lanes be- walls, to chisel this down three or certainly!" - "But why?" - "Be- hind them, is a matter which comes four inches, either continuously or cause the history of our city is con- naturally, not with these external at regular intervals. The semi- cerned: and its dignity would be im- changes as has been assumed, but circular bastion-walls are someti- paired". :1 with that "conservative surgery" of mes lower than the straight interme- I am much mistaken if the Ahme- the Pol behind, of which I have gi- diate ones; or rather their platforms dabad public do not feel the same. '4 ven examples in kindred reports. are higher; moreover here an occa- The promised external Ring Bou- sional stone step may be introdu- P. Geddes ;j; levard then, practically exists alrea- ced, which would also serve as a A4 5 dy, and this throughout the greater seat for children. The walk is fairly part of its course. It only needs to broad, and quite sufficient for two be completed, and what remains of persons to walk abreast without its ditch improved, but without de- danger: still, as it comes into more tmolition of the noble wall-and- general use, a simple iron hand-rail 47 1 bastion background. By the prepa- may be provided. Or, cheaper still, a couple of stout fence-wires may ration of a regular, yet rhythmic and iiI- < varied, planting design, - i.e., one be stretched along a series of iron keeping an orderly yet changing re- stanchions. A new stair may be oc- lation to the bastions and their in- casionally provided, where the di- terspaces - a pictorial succession, stance between two is great. The ?t of gardens and trees with bastions, passages through the gateway to- walls and houses, can be assured; wers need not be open to the public, and they will be of far greater inte- unless on special occasions. 4> rest and variety than can be any Enough then for the present, of boulevard of conventional kind. this lengthy, because detailed, de- This variety and interest would be fence of the city walls; and on all aided by the new openings, now ar- the usual grounds of town-planning ched, now square, kept permanen- discussion - communications, sa- 4 tly airy by grills for doors, and wi- nitation and aesthetics - this de- 1 thout break to the battlements, fence holds good, no less than as which as already indicated, should the larger grounds of historic conti- be cut in the walls opposite the pols, nuity, and of civic survey generally. i lanes, etc.. These public accesses But there is yet another line of ar- 1t between the old town and the sites gument. The walls of the city may ~p of the old storm-water dicht, now legally belong to Government as old improved and planted and garde- military structures: or they may ha- E 1 I ned, wherever space may allow, ve passed over to the Municipality as their historic boundary or defen- I would be much appreciated; by the PI younger generation of course first, ce: but in a deeper sense they belong but gradually by all. to the tradition of the whole com-

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