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A STUDY ON INDO-SARACENIC ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics
Volume 118 No. 22 2018, 1737-1742
ISSN: 1314-3395 (on-line version)
url: http://acadpubl.eu/hub
Special Issue
ijpam.eu

A STUDY ON INDO-SARACENIC ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

J. Sheeba1, John T. Mesiah Dhas2

Associate Professor
Mohamed Sathak A.J Academy of Architecture1,
RVS Padmavathi College of Engineering &Technology2, Chennai
[email protected], [email protected]

Abstract: Indo-Saracenic (from Saracen, an archaic with its Arches and Beams, which flourished under
name for Muslims used by the British), also known as Mughal patronage and by incorporating elements of
Indo- Gothic was a style of Architecture used by British Indian architecture especially Rajasthan Temple
Architects in the late 19th century in India. Indo- architecture (chattris).
Saracenic Architecture was an effort to merge British Indian touch gave rise to new architecture of Indo-
and Indian aspirations after 1858 and to show that how Saracenic style of Architecture. The hybrid combined
despite being an Imperial power, the British in India diverse architectural elements of Hindu and Mughal
were part of the Indian milieu. It also aroused Indian’s with cusped arches, domes, spires, tracery, minarets
interest in their own history. The Indo-Saracenic and stained glass, in a wonderful manner.
movement began in the 1870’s. An attempt at creating The buildings built in India by Indo- Saracenic style of
authority through classical prototypes and the latter architecture were built according to advanced British
phase moving towards the Colonial Architecture. It is structural engineering standards of the 1800's including
more classical than Gothic. The Indo-Saracenic is a infrastructures of iron, steel and poured concrete. These
mixture of Indian and Islamic Architecture but type of buildings were employed with domes, pointed
remained British in spatial Organization and arch, vaulted roofs, pinnacles, minarets, pierced open
composition. Buildings built in this style were usually arcade and open pavilions.It is an indispensable
grand public buildings such as clock towers, court overview to one of civilizations most resplendent
houses, civic and municipal buildings, Government artistic traditions.
colleges, Town halls, Railway stations, Museums and
Art galleries. Few Architects of this style were: Robert 3. A Tradition Created: Indo-Saracenic
Fellowes Chisholm, Henry Irwin, Edwin Lutyens and Architecture Under the Raj
Charles Mant.
A distinctive style of Indian architecture commonly
Keywords: Indo-Saracenic, Indo-Gothic, Colonial, known as the 'Indo-Saracenic' – came of age. It has
Gothic, Spatial Organization. been fashionable for British attempts to imitate in their
buildings the traditional architectural styles of India.
1. Introduction Yet these British buildings still tell us much about how
the British shaped India's conception of its past, and
“Indigenous ethnic Architecture” The Indo-Saracenic how they turned India's architectural heritage to the
Revival (also known as Indo-Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, service of the Raj.
Neo-Mughal, Hindu-Gothic) was an Architectural style Much British building in India harked back to
movement by British Architects in the late 19th century Western classical models, for the 'eternal principles'
in British India. It drew elements from native Indo- and ordered beauty' of these buildings embodied, as
Islamic and Indian Architecture and combined it with Herbert Baker argued, 'eminently the qualities of law,
the Gothic revival and Neo-Classical styles favored in order, and good government' which the British held out
Victorian Britain. Saracenic was a term used by the to their Indian subjects. But the British sought as well
Ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert to place themselves in the line of the great Indian
areas in and around the Roman Province of Arabia and empires of the past, and so, during the later decades of
who were distinguished as Arabs. the 19th century, set about creating a style of building
Indian in appearance, but Western in function.
2. The Emergence of Indo-Saracenic Style This study and analysis of British emerged a
composite architectural style fitted for modern building.
The prevailing style of Architecture was Trabeate As precedent and justification for this 'reconstruction'
employing pillars, beams and lintels. The Turkic of Indian architecture, the British looked back to the
invaders brought in the Arcuate style of Construction work of the Mughal and other medieval Indian builders.

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

The architecture of those centuries they saw as a blend 16th century- ThirmalaiNayakar Palace built of
of Hindu and of Muslim elements; hence most Indo-Saracenic style with Arcaded Octagon wholly
appropriately called 'Indo-Saracenic'. constructed of bricks and mortar supported by giant
12m tall round pillars.
4. Architecture as a Symbol of Power 17th, 18th centuries – British redesign of Fort
St.George, Colonial Architecture spread by Nawabs
Turbulent Islamic culture irrupting into the ancient exhibited institutional, civic and utilitarian buildings
world of the Hindus and Jains was like an Earthquake. such as Post offices, railway stations, rest houses and
The antagonism was fundamental: Hinduism venerates Government buildings.
a thousand Gods; whereas the message of the Quran is 19th century- Indo-Saracenic had become almost
strictly monotheistic and the facades of Hindu temples universally accepted as the appropriate style for
are covered with images celebrating the Gods of a substantial public building in India. Even in the far
protean pantheon, while Muslims inspired the Ten south, in Madras, buildings as diverse in character as
Commandments had established an iconic form of the Moore Market (1898) and the Victoria Memorial
worship that rejected all images. Art Gallery (1906) conformed faithfully to its canons of
HINDU ARCHITECTURE, with its temples taste.
hollowed out of cliffs or built of worked stone, is based During the first decade of the 20th century,
on Traditional techniques derived from Timber however, architectural fashions were beginning to
construction: piers and lintels are combined with change. So too was the political environment in which
corbelling. MUSLIM ARCHITECTURE, on the other building took place. Curzon's vice-royalty (1898-1905)
hand is based on arches, vaults built up of shaped foreshadowed the change. Despite his commitment to
Voussoirs and domes on squinches. the preservation of India's architectural heritage,
The introduction of these features into India Curzon never conceived that an Indian style could
initiated a technological revolution. convey the spirit of British Imperialism. From the
12th Century- INDO-MUSLIM ART outset he insisted that the soaring monument he
PERSIAN BUILDERS- Masters in the Art of planned to commemorate Queen Victoria's reign must
brickwork, made use of four-centered arches and of be in a European style. 'What I shall want', he wrote,
domes. Persian influence is detectable between 12th to 'will be a simple, severe, but noble Italian or Palladian
15th centuries. The most characteristic element of building'. He brushed aside the objections of critics,
Persian Architecture was the courtyard-plan mosque including the Governors of Madras and the United
nor is the four-iwan scheme is nowhere seen. The iwan Provinces, and personally supervised the Architect (Sir
with its pointed vault posed too many problems for William Emerson) he hired to design Calcutta's
Hindu stone masons. Victoria Memorial Hall. In Europe too classical styles
Brick was replaced by Ashlar, in the use of which were sweeping back into public favour. As Lutyens
local builders excelled. Only the Arch and Vault which wrote in 1903, a decade before his appointment to New
had initially defeated became widespread. After the Delhi
throne of Akbar in the mid 15th century, “A time of 'In architecture Palladio is the game!!... To the
chaos” of rich creativity saw a profound revitalization average man it is dry bones, but under the hands of a
of the form and aesthetic principles of Islamic Art Wren it glows and the stiff materials become as plastic
This melded style reached its height in 17th century clay.'
Bijapur, if not even earlier, in the fifteenth-century New Delhi, the new capital constructed after 1912,
Pathankindoms of Gaur and Mandu. The buildings of Indo-Saracenic architecture still left its mark on the
this era, as contrasted with the ornate structures of later face of India. A vast array of buildings – government,
rulers, were, in their view, 'more restrained and princely and commercial alike – remain to testify to its
flexible’, simple yet dignified, eminently suited both to hold for nearly half a century over the Indian
decorative elaboration and modern needs. subcontinent. In the process the Indo-Saracenic builders
reshaped India's view of its architectural heritage.
5. Secular Style The Indo-Saracenic style gained further impetus
from its close association with the Gothic. Though the
India emerged in terms of scale and of its stylistic two had of course a wholly different origin, they shared
features- SECULAR an exuberant surface decoration, arched gateways and
Palace of JodhBai- Traditional Indian structural other features; and these provided sufficient superficial
techniques are used with piers supporting lintels, similarity so that the taste for the one style reinforced
braced by brackets and the carved decoration is similar the acceptability of the other. Indeed it was not
to that of Hindu and Jain temples. All expresses uncommon to refer to the Indo-Saracenic as 'Eastern
Akbar’s desire to marry the innovations of Islam with pointed or Gothic'. Nor were buildings which joined
the ancestral customs of India. Gothic and 'Oriental' features at all rare. In Bombay and
Madras especially, the predominant style for

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Special Issue

government and commercial offices was, as one critic It was the official residence of the Nawab of
described the Bombay Victoria Terminus, 'a free Arcot from 1768 to 1855.
treatment of Venetian Gothic with an Oriental'.

6. Characteristics

Indo-Saracenic designs were introduced

by British imperialist colonizers, promoting their own
sense of “rightful self-glorification”. Public and
Government buildings were often rendered on an
intentionally grand scale, reflecting and promoting a
notion of an unassailable and invincible British Empire.
• Onion (bulbous) domes
• Overhanging eaves
Figure 1. Chepauk Palace
• Pointed arches, cusped arches, or scalloped arches
• Vaulted roofs
7.2. Mysore Palace, Mysore (Karnataka) India
• Domed kiosks
• Many miniature domes
• Domed chhatris The Mysore Palace (also known as the (Amba Vilas
• Pinnacles Palace) is a palace situated in the city of Mysore in
• Towers or minarets southern India. It is the official residence of the
• Harem windows Wodeyars - the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, and
• Open pavilions or pavilions with Bangala roofs also houses two durbar halls (ceremonial meeting hall
• Pierced open arcading
of the royal court).The architectural style of the palace
Chief proponents of this style of architecture were
these: Robert Fellowes Chisholm, Charles Mant, Henry is commonly described as Indo-Saracenic, and blends
Irwin, William Emerson, George Wittet and Frederick together Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of
Stevens, along with numerous other skilled architecture. It is a three-storied stone structure, with
professionals and artisans throughout Europe and the marble domes and a 145 ft five-storied tower. The
Americas. palace is surrounded by a large garden. It is designed
Structures built in Indo-Saracenic style in India and by British architect, Henry Irwin
in certain nearby countries were predominately grand
public edifices, such as clock towers and courthouses.
Indo-saracenic architecture found its way into public
buildings of all sorts such as railway stations, banks
and insurance buildings, educational institutions, clubs
and museums .

7. Emphasised Examples

Chepauk Palace in Chennai designed by Paul Benfield

is said to be the first Indo-Saracenic building in India.
Outstanding examples are spread across the country -
Muir college at Allahabad, Napier Museum at
Thiruvananthapuram, the Post Office, Prince of Wales Figure 2. Mysore Palace
Museum, University Hall and Library, Gateway of
India in Mumbai, M.S. University, Lakshmi Vilas 7.3. Gateway of India
Palace at Baroda, the Central Railway Station, Law
courts, Victoria Public Hall, Museum and University The Gateway of India is a monument built during
Senate House in Chennai, the Palaces at Mysore and the British Raj in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India.
Bangalore. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, the foundation stone for
the Gateway of India was laid on 31 March 1911. The
7.1. Chepauk Palace in Chennai final design of George Wittet was sanctioned in 1914
and the construction of the monument was completed
Chepauk Palace in Chennai designed by Paul Benfield in 1924.
is said to be the first Indo-Saracenic building in India,
referred to as licentious "eclectic" incorporating
elements and motifs of Hindu and Islamic precedents.

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7.6. Government Museum, Chennai

Government Museum, established in 1851, is located

in Egmore, Chennai known as the Madras Museum.
Many of the buildings within the Museum campus are
over 100 years old. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, it
houses rare works of artists such a Raja Ravi Varma.

Figure 3. Gateway of India

7.4. Victoria Memorial in Calcutta

The Victoria Memorial, officially the Victoria

Memorial Hall, is a memorial building dedicated
to Victoria, currently serves as a museum and a tourist
attraction. The memorial was designed by Sir William
Emerson using Indo-Saracenic style, Figure 6. Government Museum
incorporating Mughal elements in the structure.
7.7. Madras High Court

The building of the High Court, an exquisite example

of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, was built in
1892 with the design prepared by J.W. Brassington and
later under the guidance of the famed architect Henry
Irwin, who completed it with the assistance of J.H.
Stephens.

Figure 4. Victoria Memorial

7.5. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC),
also known as the Municipal Corporation of Greater
Mumbai (MCGM)or the Bruhan Mumbai Mahanagar
Palika, is the civic body that governs the city
of Mumbai and is India's richest municipal
organization. Built in the Indo Saracenic style of Figure 7. Madras High Court
architecture, the BMC is the largest civic organization
in the country. 8. Conclusion

Indeed the term 'Indo-Saracenic' itself has now

disappeared from scholarly discourse on medieval
architecture and the term however remaining to be a
label for the British buildings of the later19th century in
India. Indo-Saracenic masterpiece has survived amid
the high-rises along with its commercial heritage. Not
only the western influential buildings, but also other
cultural identities like Temples, Churches should be
conserved from the urban growth and knowledge of it
has to be oriented for a better historical heritage of state
Figure 5. Brihanmumbai and country.

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References

[1] Metcalf, Thomas R. “The Mastery of the Past:

The British and India’s Historic Architecture; New
Delhi: The Beginning of the End; Conclusion.” An
Imperial Vision-Indian Architecture and Britain’s Raj.
Anonymous

[2] S. Muthiah, "Madras, Its Past and Its Present",

Affiliated East-West Press, New Delhi, 1995, ISBN 81-
85938-24-5

[3] Thames, Hudson “Islamic Art and Architecture

from Isfahan to the TajMahal”, 2009.

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-
Saracenic_architecture

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