RESEARCH PAPER

KOTHIS OF PATNA (18TH -20TH CENTURY)

SUPRIYA KUMAR
THIRD SEMESTER
SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE
 RESEARCH PAPER | SUPRIYA KUMAR

CONTENTS

CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... 1
.................................................................................................................................................... 2
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 3
AIM OF THE RESEARCH PAPER.......................................................................................... 3
OBJECTIVE .............................................................................................................................. 3
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS ................................................................................................... 3
METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................... 3
STATE OF KNOWLEDGE ...................................................................................................... 4
RATIONALE FOR SELECTION ............................................................................................. 4
1.INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 4
1.1 Patna During arrival of Britishers ............................................................................... 4
1.2 English establishments as a trading Company ............................................................ 5
1.3 Establishments under Company rule ........................................................................... 5
1.4 Mutiny of 1857 ............................................................................................................ 5
1.5 New Capital Era .......................................................................................................... 6
2.TYPOLOGIES THAT EMERGED DURING COLONIAL PERIOD .................................. 7
3.PRESENT CONDITION ........................................................................................................ 7
4.HERITAGE ECONOMICS .................................................................................................... 7
5.TOTAL ECONOMIC VALUE............................................................................................... 7
6.ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................. 8
CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................... 8
BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................... 9

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Figure 1: British India Map, Patna City Plan showing Bungalows,Race Course and Institutional buildings(1924)

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(Source: https://www.antiquemapsandprints.com/british-india-patna-city-plan-railways-buildings-race-course-ganges-
1924-map-174223-p.asp)

ABSTRACT

The historical backdrop of Bihar shows a rich culture acquired from different traditions and
origin of and extraordinary identities and a few religions. This research paper investigates the
real typologies of Palaces in Patna, their development and the purpose for their debasement.
The Research paper manages the investigation about the distinctive Kothis that are now lost
and having no impression in this modern era and some are in frail condition that if not taken
consideration will be lost. From the theory of Mrs. Kamini Sinha we can quantify almost ten
no. of Kothis inside the city limit yet as per different sources we can discover right around fifty
Kothis that was established yet now we cannot discover them either the utilization has changed
or the condition is corrupted.
When Patna was a wonderful city with old structures from government
cabins to private houses, kothis and chateaus, specking its lanes, adding to the appeal of the
city. With the progression of time such huge numbers of them are lost. The land blast and quick
urbanization has managed an extreme hit to the city's legacy. Individuals' carelessness and
government's aloofness lessened the city to a bundle of erratically manufactured tall structures
with no stylish sense. Without a safeguarding strategy and a few legacy properties in Patna are
battling a losing fight against innovation, offering approach to elevated structures. Financial
aspects of Heritage assumes a critical role.

AIM OF THE RESEARCH PAPER

To understand the major typologies of Kothis in (Patna), their evolution and reason behind
degradation and approach to Restore or revitalize the Kothis in future.

OBJECTIVE

 To quantify and qualify the Kothis of the time period.

 To identify the area location of these Kothis.
 To explore the typologies of Kothis and their evolution.
 To identify and analyse the reason behind degradation.
 To explore the approaches to restore these structures

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

This research paper deals with the Kothis of 18th to 20th century of developed area of Patna
during Colonial period.
This paper only explores the Kothis of colonial period from 18th century to 20th
century without listing each and every Kothi.

METHODOLOGY

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STATE OF KNOWLEDGE

According to the author of the books which take us to a journey of Patna city which is a legacy
of a continuous inhabitation of more than 2500 years and contributed to become a city of trade,
art, culture and knowledge. (Sahay, 2016) Their construction after the European fashion shows
that they were destined for foreigners. The Patna which was the primary residential area of
Patna during 16th and 17th Century when European traders rented inside the city walls which
continued through the centuries with the same pattern. The pre-existing city marks Patna’s
difference from the presidency cities, where such urban development only occurred in relation
to a colonial presence. For Patna, the company’s residential areas lay in Bankipur, but
warehouses and several other trade-related structures lay closer to the city walls, in well-
established closer suburbs such as Gulzarbagh. During the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth
centuries, Bankipur, Frazer road became a locus of residential, religious, civic, and
governmental activities for European colonists in Patna. According to the author, Patna became
a dual city, with Bankipur and Frazer road serving as the British residential area and the walled
city of Patna serving as the black town. (O'MALLEY, 1924)
The author of the thesis describes the situation of Patna and Bihar. During Munnings as he was
assigned responsibility for planning the New Capital Area of Patna. He was assigned to design
a completely new city of Patna, its Secretariat and Government House, numerous large
residences and smaller officers residences, and many educational and medical buildings. That
was the phase that colonial influence was setup in Patna. (Roberts, 2013)

RATIONALE FOR SELECTION

Patna lost most of its iconic sprawling Kothis that were adorned by front lawns or gardens to
building booms and in the present time the pace of this loss has gained speed. As real estate
prices hit the sky, even private heritage structures either made way for high-rises or area
obscured by apartments erected in front of them in areas which once were their gardens and
some are drastic woeful fate. The fate of instead of moving toward a holistic growth plan where
old and new can co-exist in harmony, the old buildings are being demolished due to ignorance.
The research gap that is missing in the books, journals and thesis are economic factors that
played a crucial role in the real estate land boom.

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1 Patna During arrival of Britishers

The Britishers came to Patna in early seventeenth century as the East India Company for
trading. They stayed and eventually gained political control with the winning of the battle of
Plassey in 1757. They stayed in Patna for nearly three hundred years. During this period they
contributed to the city by building mills, factories, godowns, residences, offices, markets and
universities, e.t.c, economy, commerce and education. Apart from the Britishers there were
other European trading companies like Dutch, French, Danes, Portuguese and Armenians who
came to Patna during this period and made their own contributions to the city. As the British
East India Company strengthened its political hold on the city the other European, Dutch and
Danish companies were either seized or lost their connections from the city.

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1.2 English establishments as a trading Company

Britishers started setting factories and agencies all around India of which one place was Patna.
The site of the factory is marked by thee present government printing press, Gulzarbagh. In the
early eighteenth century the company bought land in the west of the city which today known
as Bankipur. Mostly these were the areas that were developed and new residences, mansions
were constructed.

1.3 Establishments under Company rule

After the Company got Political control the number of Europeans started growing in the city.
English did not wanted to live in the old city due to congestion and unclean environment so
west of the old city that is Bankipur started developing. This growing settlement started to grew
on the both sides of the main road parallel to Ganges. The bank of the Ganges dotted bungalows
of Europeans. With the growing political role the company needed its official structures such
as residences, offices for the growing population so these structures came up in Bankipur area.
The Lawn was established by the Commissioner of Patna, Metcalfe. Until the
end of the century lawn was the nucleus around which city was developed. Surrounding the
lawn residences of the officials emerged of which some still exists but taken over by the
government for the quarters of the government employees.

1.4 Mutiny of 1857

The administration of the India was passed in the hands of the the Britishers with new
development of the city. There was change in development as railways was introduced with
railway lines in the South of the City. New policies were made for education of general mass
which led to establishment of new schools and colleges. In early nineteenth century, with the
growing role of new government offices and institutes, inflow of all types of people was seen
to serve the institutes which was one of the reasons behind rise in residential and kothis in the
old city and bankipur. In the second half of ninteenth century there was growth towards western
part of the city. By the early twentieth century the area between Gandhi Maidan and the railway
station started developing. By 1909 the road linking Bankipur and station started establishing
new bungalows and residences of Zamindars and barristers.

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Figure 2: Patna town city plan and Environs, sketch map C1885 old antique vintage plan chart
(Source: Antiqua print gallery/Alarmy stock photo)

1.5 New Capital Era

The work of designing was handed over to an Australian Architect Joseph Fearis Munnings
Power Adams and Munnings for the time interval of 1912 to 1918.New bungalows for the
officers and the quarters for the staff were designed. These residences established in Bankipur
area. In the first half of the twentieth century plenty of residences emerged in the western part
of the city. With that simultaneously new development was taking place in the Bailey road with
new style of architecture.

Figure 3: British India Map, Patna City Plan showing Bungalows, Race Course and Institutional buildings (1924)
Source: https://www.antiquemapsandprints.com/british-india-patna-city-plan-railways-buildings-race-course-ganges-1924-
map-174223-p.asp

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2.TYPOLOGIES THAT EMERGED DURING COLONIAL PERIOD

The architectural contribution to the city of Patna by the Europeans was on both building and
area level and this proves that there are different typologies of colonial architecture in the City
that is, Haveli’s of local Nawab’s adopting the European style of architecture. Kothis,
Bungalows, Residences and quarters adopted Gothic architecture or Palladian concept of
Country houses in small scales.

3.PRESENT CONDITION

Patna was an important commercial centre and major trading centre which started the areas in
Patna to became administrative Centre which prompted foundation of new cottages, Kothis and
living arrangements for the officers. Today some of the Kothis, residences and quarters remains
as it was taken care by the caretaker and some of them are in dilapidated condition that is not
taken care by anyone whose owners left it empty and some of them were demolished by the
government to construct new modern structure for the benefit. The quarters that were once
property of officers are taken care as the Institutions are still running properly. Along the
Dakbungalow area, Gandhi Maidan area and Bailey road many bungalows and kothis were
demolished to construct new recreational spaces to generate income.

4.HERITAGE ECONOMICS

Economic factors shape the possibilities of conservation practices in fundamental ways, by

influencing decisions, shaping policy, encouraging or discouraging the use of heritage,
enabling conservation work through financing. Financing, giving incentives to stewardship,
and so on. (Mason, December 1998) Economics of a place or heritage depends on the context and the
interest of individual and heritage value is supported by law. In the real estate there are two
different perspective that is private ownership and public ownership.

5.TOTAL ECONOMIC VALUE

TOTAL ECONOMIC VALUE OF

KOTHIS IN PATNA

USE VALUE NON USE VALUE

DIRECT USE INDIRECT USE OPTION EXISTENCE BEQUEST ALTRUISTIC

VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE

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6.ANALYSIS

CONCLUSION

In the map of 1885 and 1924 we can see the sprawling bungalows and kothis around the
Bankipur area, and surrounding the lawn that is now known as Gandhi maidan..The heritage
structures The state government should encourage establishment of Heritage Hotel
development in Bihar by listing and identifying heritage buildings and mansions to convert
them to Heritage Hotels in order to provide quality accommodation to tourists or Interpretation
centers. This would save the valuable heritage structures and mansions from getting run down
with their quality face inspire and strengthening during conversion to Heritage Hotels.
Economy of Bihar is an integral part of the government of Bihar, because it is, through a
progressive economy that a state can become a progressive state. Thus, the economy of Bihar
highly influences the administrative set up.

Advantages Disadvantages
Less material use (embodied energy) Poor building quality/condition leading to
increased costs
Heritage value/conservation Previous building does not conform to
building regulations – for example, thermal
performance, acoustics, fire
Typically faster than demolition and new Accurate drawings may not be available/lack
build, including time to obtain planning of recorded information.
permission
Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of adaptation over demolition

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Ahmad, Q., ed., 1988. Patna Through the Ages, Glimpses of History, Society &
Economy, Patna, ,. s.l.:s.n.
 Anon., 2000. Challenges for heritage conservation and sustainable development in
the 21st Century, Heritage Economics. Canberra, Australian National University.
 Anon., 2008. Patna, a Monumental History, s.l.: Government of Bihar.
 Anon., n.d. Architect of empire: Joseph Fearis Munnings 1879-1937, A thesis
submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in
Art History in the, University of Canterbury: s.n.
 Anon., n.d. The cemeteries and the suburbs Patna’s Challenges to the Colonial City in
South Asia.
 Brahmali, B. S. &. B., n.d. The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts, s.l.: s.n.
 Brown, R. M., 2006. Inscribing Colonial Monumentality: A Case Study of the 1763
Patna Massacre Memorial, , The Journal of Asian Studies,Vol. 65. 1 Feb.
 Calcutta, U. o., 2015. Calcutta Review 76-77. United States: University of Calcutta.
 Kalikinkar, 1948. The Dutch In Bihar and Bengal M.A., PH.D.,, Patna: University Of
Patna.
 Kumar, A., n.d. A Matter of Rats: A Short Biography of Patna. s.l.:s.n.
 Mason, R., December 1998. Economics and Heritage Conservation: A Meeting
Organized by the Getty Conservation Institute,. Los Angeles, Getty Center.
 Ojha.P.N ed., 1985. Bihar Past and Present. Patna: K.P.Jayaswal Research Institute.
 O'MALLEY, L., 1924. Bihar And Orissa District Gazetteers. Patna: Concept
publishing company.
 Rizzo, I., ed., n.d. Handbook on the Economics of Cultural Heritag. University of
Catania, Italy and Anna Mignosa, , s.n.
 Roberts, H. M., 2013. Architect of Empire: Joseph Fearis Munnings 1879-1937 , s.l.:
University of Canterbury.
 Sahay, N., 2016. Patna : A Paradise Lost Saga of a 2500 Year Old City from
Ajatshatru to Present Day Patna. Delhi: Notion Press.
 Sinha, K., 2001. • Conservation plan for Colonial Heritage of Patna, ,Department of
Architectural Conservation, SPA Delhi, Delhi: Department of Architectural
Conservation, SPA Delhi.
 UD, D. o., n.d. Exploring the ideas of lost spaces in the city of Patna-, s.l.: SPA
Library.

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