NON-FICTION: CRUMBLING HERITAGE
In addition to prominent World Heritage Sites such as Moenjodaro and the Rohtas Fort, Pakistan has some underrated architectural treasures. In her book, Urban Traditions and Historic Environments in Sindh: A Fading Legacy of Shikarpoor Historic City, Professor Anila Naeem, co-chairperson of the Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology, has made an attempt to document just one of these rapidly degenerating heritage sites.
The first chapter presents a chronological overview of Shikarpoor’s (also spelled Shikarpur) administrative history and existing socio-demographic constitution. From the Daudpotas — an offshoot dynasty of the Abbasids — through incoming Afghans and contesting Talpurs, up to colonial British annexation and subsequent post-Partition institutions, this detailed historical account sets the stage for exploring the deeply embedded cultural and institutional particularities of the local context.
Until a few centuries ago, Shikarpoor enjoyed a particular geographic and economic significance not just for the province of Sindh, but also the broader dynamics of the region. Today it sits on the border of Sindh and Punjab, which connects it to other secondary urban centres. It has historically been part of the trade routes that linked Central Asia and Persia to the Indian subcontinent, and its significance as a node in this medieval trans-Asiatic economic corridor is documented in richly annotated maps. Over the years, these economic networks led to the development of a particular urban morphology for the city as a whole, determining the relative positioning, scale and connections within and amongst markets, residential spaces and public amenities.
Shikarpur no longer enjoys the geographic and economic significance it did a few centuries ago. In her book, Prof Anila Naeem explores further avenues of heritage research that can elevate the city’s status
Chapters 2 to 5 provide a detailed inventory of this built fabric of the city. In Chapter 2, Naeem lists existing urban structures such as public parks and gardens, the city’s archways and gates (dars), graves, shrines and a lone pedestrian bridge. Discussions on the various building materials and construction techniques are accompanied by a collection of full-colour maps marking the locations of several of these features. Chapter 3 categorises the dominant building typologies: havelis, bazaars, temples and mosques, as well as landmarks and open spaces. Chapter 4 describes individual architectural elements and motifs used in the construction of the built fabric, from simple terminologies such as columns and courtyards, to more technical descriptions of cornices and cupolas. This chapter is perhaps most useful for students and practitioners within the domains of architectural history and heritage conservation. Chapter 5 presents an original categorisation and analysis of the city’s built form, with comprehensible nomenclature and classification schemes.
The methodical documentation of these chapters leads to Chapter 6, which lists threats to the conservation efforts. These range from neglect and disrepair to commercial encroachment and planned demolitions in favour of new development — sometimes with the complicity of local authorities entrusted with safeguarding those very properties. Here, Naeem also highlights some potential surgical interventions that could be undertaken immediately to mitigate the ongoing destruction or neglect of heritage properties. Chapter 7 then suggests workable opportunities for sustainable approaches to conservation that also engage the local community. It is this chapter that provides the most critical engagement for the reader.