Celebration of 400 years of Dhaka City as Capital

Pathshala- Oslo Workshop theme

Theme for PATHSHALA-OSLO Workshop 09
November 25, 20081. Life after Sidr- Comeback of the people @ Shoronkhola

2. Experience of Sidr- portraits @ Shoronkhola

3. Sundarban - The Rising after SIDR

১. সিডর পরের জীবন
২. সিডরের অভিজ্ঞতা
৩. সুন্দরবনের জেগে ওঠা

Dhaka VISUAL HISTORY OF GLORIOUS PAST

Dhaka- mysterious city of the East founded a capital by Subadar Islam Khan in 1608 (or 1610). The written history is saying so. But what was the look like before the mughal reign, which is very hard to know. Binat Bibi Mosque’s Persian inscription saying that, the mosque was built in somewhat in 16th century. That proves, mughal were not founder of Dhaka city, and also not the first muslims at Dhaka but they are founder of a new Capital of Bengal province- Dhaka.

They are not only create a new era in Dhaka, but also brought their ideas in every sector of daily life activities. Whatever that is food, gardening or structures. Armenian, French, English, Dutch, Persian, and of course Afghans contributed to develop this city as well as local people. But in this story, the focal length is very short and narrow, and all the lights are reflecting on structures. In there existence time in Dhaka every community tried to settled their own tradition on their locality, Such as Armenian Church. English community created their buildings in Gothic style. And at last we see some fusions on styles of structures. The best examples are the Tomb of Mr. Colombo at Narinda Cemetery and Curzon Hall at Dhaka University area. Tomb of Mr. Colombo followed a Mughal-Gothic Style. Arch and designs from gothic and total structures in Mughal style. Then Curzon Hall is blend of Mughal and Victorian style.

In this story I have used some old rare photographs of unknown photographers, Fritz Kapp’s photographs and Sir Chirles D’Oyly’s sketches. Kapp worked as a commercial photographer from the 1880s onwards and had studios in Chowringhee Road and Humayun Place in Calcutta. From the early 1900s he had a studio in Wise Ghat Road in Dhaka. Sir Chirles D’Oyly was the Collector of Dhaka in three different times. I used their works for just a comparison between then and now.

All the structures that are historically important are not remaining now. But some of them standing as ruined or occupied by local people. We should be aware now to protect these monuments, structures and every single part of our heritage. This is just the beginning, and we know, ‘AND MILES TO GO BEFORE WE SLEEP.