TO INVESTIGATE THE FORCES ACTING AT RELIGIOUS MAGNET - THE SHRINE IN URBAN SETTLEMENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON IMMEDIATE SURROUNDING

Abstract

In this dissertation, the shrine being a socio-religious institution has been focused to find out the forces inducing the expansions, interventions and changes in its built environment. The research ends up with the formulation of a policy framework for proper management and upkeep of the shrines, in order to protect the architectural heritage associated with them. History and historiography of Ṣūfism and shrine has been divided into pre-shrine and post-shrine scenarios to figure out how after the death of a Ṣūfī, his burial place was established as a shrine. The study comprehends the development of shrine in the Islamic world, in Central Asia and finally in Indian Subcontinent. The core part of this dissertation is the study of socio-religious and built environment of the shrine that has re-defined its land-uses in 21 st century. The study further investigates the impact of rituals, ceremonies, beliefs and phenomenon of additions, alterations, and interventions introduced in the built environment of the shrines either by the waqf administration or the mutawallīs. The research, largely based on the first hand information collected from numerous shrines located in the province of Punjab, is further strengthened with the two detailed case-studies: Shrine Complexes of Ḥaḍrat ‘Alī Hujwīrī (d:1072 A.D.) at Lahore and Bābā Farīd (d:1265 A.D.) at Pākpattan. Study of Phenomenology of transformation of built environment based on the development matrix evaluates and analyzes the informal and formal developments carried out by the waqf administration in the premises of the shrine. The critical appraisal of the case-studies identifies the forces controlling the socio-religious and built environment of the shrine and thus deriving the principles for policy framework. Last Part of the dissertation divulges the ideological and administrative forces responsible for bringing out the changes in the socio-religious and built environment of the shrine. In conclusion, a comparison is drawn between the shrine (representative of ṭarīqat) and the mosque (representative of sharī’at), as two of the most sacred places. To protect the architectural heritage associated with the shrines, Punjab Religious Monuments Protection Rules 2010 are proposed as policy framework for the waqf administration.