Urbanisation taking the sheen off heritage structures, civic bodies not doing enough
Clock Tower at Monda Market (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: The 17 odd historic clock towers in the city, some of them built about 400 years ago in the Qutub Shahi, Asaf Jahi and Osman Shahi eras, are gradually diminishing in importance with the changing urban landscape, said architect Khalid Mohinuddin.
Mahbub Chowk, Raja Shamraj Bahadur Devdi Tower and Fateh Maidan clock towers are almost hidden today due to rapid urbanisation. Clock towers or “ghadi chowks” were an important urban element during the time of the fifth, sixth and the seventh Nizam.
They reflected a British influence, and were designed to help people read time, as many people could not afford a watch in those days. Also, they formed a kind of a recreation centre in the middle of the busy city.
The clocks were mounted at many busy places like chowks, markets, public buildings and gates of palaces. In the earlier days, the city had town criers, bells and gongs to tell people of the time. Later, the clock towers became popular.
Mr Mohinuddin said, “The Raja Shamraj Bahadur Devdi Tower, which was built in Indo-European style, decorated with elephant statues, may not even last till the next monsoons. The city master plan’s road widening project, which is yet to be executed, almost touches the Mahbub Chowk (at the end of Lad Bazaar-Charminar).”
Moreover, 99 per cent of the clocks are not in a working condition. Urbanisation has caused a space crunch and heritage structures are renovated only after they crumble and fall.
Moreover, the GHMC and the HMDA grade the city’s heritage structures according to size, and not their historic importance and value, he added.
“Afzal Gate and Badi Chawdi police stations no longer exist. There is no light at the Purana Shehar, and the politicians are fighting to change the name of parks,” he said. The open space around the towers were meant for people to relax. Clocks mounted on the palace gates and other royal entrances served as a status symbol.
A recent addition to Hyderabad is the People’s Plaza (at the Necklace Road). But if the concerned authorities construct a clock tower as a landmark, it will keep people connected with history,” believed the architect.
Clock towers in city: A trip down memory lane:
1 The original design of Charminar did not have a clock. However in 1889, the clock was mounted on Charminar by Salar Jung as a gift to make the monument more functional and friendly. Wahid Watch Company maintained it and the clock was wound every alternate day. Dur-ing Mahboobali Pashi, there used to be two lamps on both the sides of the clock.
2 Not many know of the sundial clock (a devise that tells the time as per the position of the sun and seasonal assessment) located in Macca Masjid. The sundial is believed to be constructed by Aurangzeb. It is at the entrance of the Macca Masjid and the year in which the sundial was constructed is inscribed on it.
3 The five-storeyed Mahbub Chowk, built between 1874 and 1877, in English style, initially did not have a clock. It was gifted by Asman Jah in 1892 and is believed to be the first tower in a public place.
4 Raja Shamraj Bahadur, who was in charge of the office of revenue, mounted a clock on his main gate. The clock which faces the main road is in Roman English, and the one facing inside is in the his native language.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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