July 03, 2008

Traces of history can always be found in the remains of old buildings and architecture. And we, in Pakistan, are fortunate enough to have several such structures that have survived the ravages of time and are still standing tall, though in somewhat dilapidated conditions.

The Dabgaran Mosque in Thatta is an excellent example of a structure that has lost its lustre but is still a remarkable piece of human skill and imagination. It was built in 997/1588 by a local governor Khusrau Khan Charkas, a descendant of Changez Khan, who lived during the days of the Tarkhan rule. The interior and mosaic faience revetment indicate definite and unmistakable evidence of the pure and perfect influence of the Iranian art traditions, while the carved stone face of the arches is a masterpiece of the art practiced locally.

The mosque at its prime served as the main congregational place for the city of Thatta. Unfortunately, it is no longer as grand as it was. The entrance gateway and the cloisters, which must have been grand and impressive once, have fallen and disappeared.

The courtyard of the mosque, a rectangle measuring 96ft by 61ft, and the prayer chamber are now enclosed by a modern brick-wall with a five-foot opening in the centre on the east side for entrance. The courtyard has lost its original brick pavement, while the surrounding area, especially towards the east, outside the boundary wall, is overgrown with wild foliage.

The aisle-prayer chamber is, to a great extent, intact and has three compartments divided by two heavy arches. Originally, the opening of the prayer chamber had a low parapet, now fallen and gone. The two side openings still retain the projected horizontal frames. The surface of the exterior was originally treated with thick lime plaster with decorative panels in low recesses.

Inside the prayer chamber the main arch in the central compartment is elaborately decorated with a big panel of yellow sandstone, surmounted with another arched panel of glazed tile mosaics. The individuality of the stone panel has been emphasised by the use of yellow sandstone.

The floral decoration consists of full-blown lotuses, carved in high relief and placed one upon the other. The arched recess is sunk deep into the wall and the blank space on either side of the arch is filled again with small lotuses. The piers of the arched niches are provided with decorative palliates. On either side of the arches are two small arched openings, two feet and four inches wide, penetrating through the wall to provide light and air to the interior.

The comfort levels in the space seem to be well addressed. For example, the thickness of the wall is 20 inches which prevents much of the heat from getting in. The orientation allows the sun’s rays to reach only up to the boundaries of the courtyard in front of the prayer hall entrance even at peak sunlight hours.

The dome has a shape designed to keep the inside air trapped in the interior of building and so reduce the hot air flow. In addition to windows and wide openings, there are ventilators just below the ceiling.

As far as the building materials are concerned, the whole mosque structure is basically built in brick. Yellow sandstone is used in many places and glazed tiles are used on the two piers on either sides of the central opening.

The Dabgaran mosque lends a very impressive look to its surrounding area but is in dire need of repair and preservation. Its structure is still strong enough to give a dependable base for the restorers to work on. In addition, a lower level of artificial energy will be required if the building is brought back to life again and put into use.

Mughal buildings have always been designed according to the needs of the environment. For example landscaping elements like plants, water channels, use of bright colours were all part of the Mughal architectural style. These can be incorporated in order to recreate the grandeur of this historic mosque that is a valuable part of our heritage.