Y.S. Rana ,CHANDIGARH—No one may agree to the contention of Dr Fahim Amir, a research scholar from Austria, at a first glance when he said that Le Corbusier’s planning of Chandigarh more or less was guided by Harappan architecture. As he opens up in detailing his point of view, one may find co-relation between the both. . He was in Chandigarh to find more and more links between Le Corbusier and Harappan architecture.
Unknown to many in and around Chandigarh, the surrounding region was a treasure trove of ancient civilization that reflects in the planning and designing of Chandigarh. Buried under the ravages of time, a Harappan town lays witness to glorious past of the place. Certainly the ancient town was a flourishing one like Chandigarh. According to Dr Fahim, with the area’s history dating back to 5,000 B.C, the archaeological sites here could be any architecture enthusiast’s delight.
He further stated that architectural components namely grid system, efficient drainage system and landscaping features including tree ecology of Chandigarh were derived from Harappan architecture. Harappan people were also expert in water management system—storage and conservation of water.
In a bid to bring his point to home, he said that those people had built cities systematically divided into blocks each measuring 365mx244m. Street and buildings were marked by underground drainage line with inspection chambers at regular intervals. Each block used to be independent itself and had its own people utility services. “Sector’s planning of Chandigarh is on the same pattern,” he asserted. Keeping in view the historical value of this place in terms of presence of Harappan settlement here as revealed through various artifacts, found during the archeological investigation and explorations of the site, it was earmarked by an expert committee consisting visionaries like Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Partap Singh Kairon and Dr M.S. Randhawa.
According to Dr P.C. Sharma, a renowned Museumologist stated that city’s design and plan in one way or the other have derived inspiration from Harappan architecture. Block settlement of that period has been ‘renamed’ sectoral settlement in Chandigarh. Dr Sharma said that open hand imprints were seen on the walls of rural houses in the region with a belief that it would ward off evils from the houses. Open hand is also known as symbol of prosperity that now stood glorified as an insignia of Chandigarh, he said.
Agreed with Dr Fahim, he stated that wide streets, roads, segregation of religious places, educational institutions and above all drinking water system, clean and green settlements of that period were reflected in the drawings of Chandigarh. The Harappan planning vis-à-vis City Beautiful, the architectural research has also been initiated on the same subject in academic association with Prof Vikramditya Parkash, Department of Architecture, University of Washington, USA, added Mr Sharma.
In order to preserve the vital links between the two, a new gallery titled “Indus Civilization vis-à-vis City Beautiful” is being conceptualized to showcase the original artifacts and manuscripts pertaining to inception, conception and design of Chandigarh by the Le Corbusier Centre.
A book “The making of Chandigarh” is being brought out by Dr P.C. Sharma in association with Prof Vikramditya Parkash highlighting the influence of Harappan architecture on the planning of Chandigarh. The research so made in the book will also be showcased in the newly set up gallery, said Dr Sharma. EOM
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