CBSE Class 12 History Notes Colonial Cities Urbanisation Planning and Architecture

Colonial Cities Urbanisation, Planning and Architecture

Key concepts in nutshell

Sources :- ( I ) Records of the East India company.

( ii ) Census reports

( iii ) Municipal reports.

• The urban population increased from about 10 % to 13 % during the period 1900-1940.

• During the end of the 18th century Madras, Bombay and Calcutta had developed into important ports.

•The ruling elite built racially exclusive clubs, race courses and theatres.

• The development of new modes of transportation such as horse drawn carriages, trams, buses etc. facilitated peoples to live at distant place from the places of their work.

•The rulers everywhere try to express their power through buildings. Many Indian adopted European styles of architecture as symbols of modernity and civilisation.

 The settlement of the local peoples were named “Black Town”. A fortification was built around the “ White Town” to separate it from the “ Black Town”.

Difficulties in collecting datas :-

(i) Peoples were unwilling to give correct informations.

(ii ) Figure of mortality and diseases were difficult to collect.

Ports :- Madras, Bombay and Calcutta

Forts :- St. George in Madras and Fort William in Calcutta.

Question and Answer

Question. To what extent are census data useful in reconstruction patterns of urbanization in the colonial context ?
Answer. Census data are very useful in reconstructing pattern of urbanization in the colonial context.
(i) These data are useful of know exact number of population as well as the total population of white and blacks.
(ii) These data also tell us upto what extent total number of people or total population had been affected adversely by the fearful or deadly diseases. 
(iii) Census data provide us complete information about total number of different communities, their language, their works and means of livelihood as well as about their caste and religion also.

Question. What were Civil Lines during the colonial rule?
Answer. After the Revolt of 1857British attitudes in India were shaped by a constant fear of rebellion. They felt that towns needed to be better defended, and white people had to live in more secure and segregated enclaves, away from the threat of the “natives”. Pasturelands and agricultural fields around the older towns were cleared, and new urban spaces called “Civil Lines” were set up. White people began to live in the Civil Lines.

Question. Why did the records of the colonial cities were preserved?
Answer. (i) Tow know the change of population.
(ii) For reconstructing the history of growth of the colonial cities.

Question. Write a common characteristics of the three colonial cities Bombay, Calcutta and Madras ?
Answer. The English East India Company established their administrative and trade centres in these cities. Ports developed near these cities.

Question. Write the names of any three hill stations established by the British in India?
Answer. Shimla, Mount Abu and Darjeeling.

Question. What were the new kinds of public places that emerged in the colonial city? what function did they serve ?
Answer. (1). By the 18th century , madras, Calcutta and Bomaby had become important points and cities. The settlement that came up here were convenient points for collecting goods. The English East India Company built its factories (i.e. mercantile offices) there and because of competition among European companies fortified there settlement for protection. In Madras, Fort St. George, in Calcutta Fort William and in Bombay the Fort marked out the areas of British settlement which were known as ‘White town’. The Indian Merchants, artisan and other women who had economic dealings with Europeans merchants lived outside their fort. These forts in settlement of train own known as ‘Black Towns’. 
(2). After 1850s cottons mills were setup by Indian merchants and enterprenants in Bombay and European – owned jute mills were established in Rishra (1855) on the outskirts of Calcutta.
(3).Kanpur , Specializing in leather ,wooden and cotton textile an d Jamshedpur , specializing in steel were prominent.
(4). In 1864 Viceroy John Lawrence officially moved his councils to Shimla

Question. Why were the hill stations developed in India by Britishers ?
Answer. 1. Need of British army.
2. Strategic places of Army.
3. Cool climate temptation for Britisher.
4. Free from epidemics.
5. Healthy climate
6. Home away home for Britishers.
Any five points are required

Question. Assess the impact of health and defence needs on town planning in Colonial Calcutta.
Answer. In 1756, Sirajudula the Nawab of Bengal sacked the small fort which the British traders had built to house their goods. Consequently when Sirajudaula was defeated in the Battle of Plassey, the British built a new fort. Fort William could not be easily attacked.
Around Fort William, a vast open space was left which came to be known as the Maidan or garer-math. This was done so there would be no obstructions to a straight time of fire from the Fort against an advancing enemy army. Soon the British began to move out of the Fort and build residences along the periphery of the Maidan. This was how the English Settlement in Calcutta started taking shape. The vast open space around the Fort became Calcutta’s first significant town planning measure.
Lord Wellesley was concerned about the conditions that existed in the Indian part of the city the fith, overcrowding and the poor drainge. He wrote a minute (an administrative order) in 1803 on the need for town planning and set up various committees for this purpose.
It was believed that creating open places in the city would make the city healthier.
Consequently many bazaars, ghats, burial ground and tanneries were cleared or removed.
After Wellesley’s departure, the Lottery Committee carried on with the work of Town Planning. In its drive to make the Indian areas cleaner, the committee cleared the river bank of encroachment and pushed the poor to the outskirts of Calcutta.
The outbreak of cholera and plague epidemics in the 19th century gave a further impetus to town planning.
The government believed that there was a direct link between living conditions and the spread of disease. Densely built up areas were regarded as insanitary as it obstructed sunlight and circulation of air.

Question. What was the condition of the cities during the colonial rule in India?
Answer. 1. New class of laborious poor and workers were emerging. Rural labourers were migrating to the cities for employment. Many were migrating due to the attractive city life.
2. Colonial rulers conducted surveys. They collected the statistical datas and published the governmental reports time to time.
3. Maps of Madras, Bombay and Culcutta were quiet different from the old ons. Architecture of the buildings were changed.
4. A large number of labours were coming to the hill stations where plantation of tea and coffe were done.
5. There were a number of opportunities for women in the cities. Some social reformers supported women educations which was opposed by the orthodox opposed it. Gradually the participation of women in public places increased.
They entered into the new occupations of the cities as maid, factory labourers, teachers, actress etc.

Question. How did prominent Indian merchants establish themselves in the colonial city?
Answer. Prominent Indian merchant establish themselves in colonial city in different phases.
They establish themselves in all the three metro colonial cities i.e., Madras (Channai), Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata).
First of all these Indian merchants tried to establish their relation of the agents of the company. As there all colonial cities were trade centre and administrative official. Therefore the Indian merchants could easily get establish their relation with the EuropeAnswer. There cities were having different types of comforts such as modern hotels, restaurant, lodging, boarding, transport fancilities, roadways and shipping.
Later on Bombay become a major trade centre of opium with China. Prominent Indian merchant played active role in collecting opium from different places of Rajasthan and Malwa. They use to bring opium on the back of horses, ponies, camels by road transport etc. They use to earn a lot of money as middle man between farmers and companies agents and officials. Not only East India Company but some of the government official and later or other European also participated in illegal trade of opium. The prominent Indian merchant became very rich. They constructed big building in all big cities of colonial period.
As the industrial revolution in England started and expanded.
These colonial cities became entry point for British manufacture goods and for the expert of Indian ram materials (which was to be used in large scale industries and factories of England). The prominent Indian merchant also participated in there trade activities.
The introduction of railways in 1853 meant a change in the fortunes of towns.
Economic activity gradually shifted away from traditional towns which were located along old routes and rivers. Every railway station became a collection depot for raw materials and a distribution point for imported goods. For instance, Mirzapur on the Ganges, which specialized in collecting cotton goods from the Deccan, declined when a railway link was made to Bombay. With the expansion of the railway network, railway workships and railways colonies were established Railways towns like Jamalpur, Waltair and Bareilly developed.
The Indian merchants included the people of different communities and castes such as Parsi, Marwari, Konkani, Arbs, Gujarati. Baniyas, Boras and Jews. Some of the members of this community invested money in modern big industry, shipping and Airlines also. They donated money for construction of inns, wells, tanks, temples, Mosque, Churches and other places of religion and worships.

Question. Describe the growth of cantonments in India ?
Answer. For the defence of their Empire, the British Government established cantonments at strategic places. They also built cantonment on the borders of the many important native states to check the disturbance in these states and to control the activities of the rulers. In 1765, Lord Robert Clive initiated the policy of building cantonments for British troops to keep them “cantoned ” in one place, to enforce discipline and military way of life and also to keep them in a sanitized environment. During that time there were 62 cantonments in India. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the most important colonies in India were at Lahore, Peshawar, Ferozpur, Agra, Bareily, Jallandhar, Jhansi, Nagpur, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Delhi. The newly established cantonment at Bhatinda is the largest of the 62 cantonments in the country. The Director General of Defence Estates is the apex body of the Defence Estates organization having its offices in various parts of the country. It is entrusted with the task of administration of cantonments and management of defence lands both inside and outside the cantonments.
The cantonments are administered by the Cantonment Boards. The Cantonment Boards are autonomous bodies functioning under the overall control of the Central Government in the Ministry of Defence under the provisions of Cantonments Act, 1924. Cantonment Boards comprise of elected representatives besides ex-officio and nominated members, with the station Commander as the President of the Board. The Central Government provides financial assistance by way of grants in aid to a certain extent to a number of cantonments to balance their budget and for discharging their mandatory civic duties like provisions of public health, sanitation, primary education, street lighting, etc.

Question. What are the different colonial architectureal styles which can be seen in Bombay city ?
Answer. The different colonial architectural styles which can be seen in Bombay city ( A ) The new classical / The neo-classical Its characteristics included construction of geometrical structure fronted with lofty pillars It was derived from a style that was originally typical of buildings in ancient Rome, and was subsequently revived, re-adapted and made popular during the European Renaissance.
1 The Town Hall in Bombay
2 Elphinstone Circle / Horniman Circle
(B) The neo-Gothic
It is characterised by high-pitched roofs, pointed arches and detailed decoration. The Gothic style had its roots in buildings, especially churches, built in northern Europe during the medieval period.
1 The Secretariat
2 University of Bombay
3 High Court of Bombay
4 Victoria Terminus
(C) The Indo-Saracenic A new hybrid architectural style which combined the Indian with the European style. “Indo” was shorthand for Hindu and “Saracen” was a term Europeans used to designate Muslim.
1 The Gateway of India
2 The Taj Mahal Hotel

Passage Based Question

Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follows :-

“Escaping to the Countryside”

This is how the famous poet Mirza Ghalib described what the people of Delhi did when the British forces occupied the city in 1857: Smiting the enemy and driving him before them, the victors (i.e., the British) overran the city in all directions. All whom they found in the street they cut down … For two to three days every road in the city, from the Kashmiri Gate to Chandni Chowk, was a battlefield. Three gates – the Ajmeri, the Turcoman and the Delhi – were still held by the rebels … At thenaked spectacle of this vengeful wrath and malevolent hatred the colour fled frommen’s faces, and a vast concourse of men and women … took to precipitate flightthrough these three gates. Seeking the little villages and shrines outside the city, they drew breath to wait until such time as might favour their return.

(i) Who was Mirza Ghalib ?
Answer. Mirza Ghalib was a famous poet.

(ii) What was happening in Delhi in 1857 and why ?
Answer. After the revolt of 1857, Delhi was beseized by the rebels. But soon it was recovered by the British army.

(iii) Which three gates were under the rebels, while British army was occupiying Delhi?
Answer. The three gates were – the Ajmeri, the Turcoman and the Delhi.

(iv) What was the condition of the people of Delhi ?
Answer. The colour fled frommen’s faces, and a vast concourse of men and women … took to precipitate flight through these three gates. Seeking the little villages and shrines outside the city, they drew breath to wait until such time as might favour their return.

Please click the link below to download pdf file for CBSE Class XII History - Colonial Cities.