The city of waterfalls, Ranchi has always been defined by its soothing zephyr, sweeping canopies, and a striking red soil which carries the fragrance of its rich cultural identity. The city is shaped by its unique dual heritage: its ancient indigenous roots and its later history as a tranquil colonial summer capital. However, as the time is progressing the skyline is aggressively pivoting towards concrete high rises and imposing glass facades. Ranchi’s heritage is slowly withering and a silent crisis caused by unbridled urbanization is unfolding at a rapid pace. The city is rapidly overwriting its own identity, leaving its tangible architecture and intangible cultural fabric fading into memory.
Fading History and Rituals
A more poignant loss than the city’s skyline is the slow erosion of the heritage of indigenous communities, that played a pivotal role in establishing the fabric of the vernacular architecture in the plateau. The rich culture of the Mundas, Oraons, Santhals and many other communities is inherently ecological; their history is not recorded in grand monuments rather is lived through an intimate relationship between the land, the forests and the water.
The ecological heritage is fracturing as the urban sprawl swallows the green cover around the city. The sacred groves where the indigenous people of the plateau worshipped their supreme deity, Singbonga, under the shade of Sal trees are increasingly encroached upon by the real estate developers. The ancient groves are cleared to provide land for series of apartment complexes. The damage these developers are causing are more than ecological; it is the severance of an ancestral pipeline.
Furthermore, with the increased popularity of modern architectural practices, the traditional techniques and practices are vanishing. The oral histories, the folk arts, the understanding of local flora and fauna are being replaced by urbanism.
Traces of Summer Capital
Ranchi served as a sanctuary for the British administration of the undivided Bihar and Odisha province for over a century. Its elevated topography and cool climate made it an ideal summer capital. In this colonial era, the city saw a unique blend of the vernacular materials and the colonial practices. Sprawling colonial windows, lime bricks and mortar walls, large verandas, high ceilings, and red-tiled roofs were designed to merge seamlessly with the natural landscape. These practices birthed a distinctive architectural practice which became an integral part of Ranchi’s rich history.
Nevertheless, most of these structures today only exist in old documents and photographs. With the increase in population and henceforth the demand for housing, neighbourhoods like Doranda, Lalpur, Bariatu etc. , which were once defined by these elegant bungalows, have been systematically dismantled to clear the way for concrete high density residential blocks and government complexes.
Although landmark projects like the Audrey House and Ratu Mahal are successfully preserved by the government and organizations by their constant efforts and strong determination , they are rare exceptions. As observed, for every such preservation, dozens of other colonial outhouses, old masonry walls and houses, and the vintage brick facades are quietly demolished, erasing the tangible identity of Ranchi’s history. The traces of the once popular summer capital during the era of the colonial rule are vanishing rapidly.
City’s dying soul or the illusion of progress
Development is inevitable, as the capital of Jharkhand, Ranchi will expand to serve the needs of its population. But this expansion trajectory is treating the heritage of the city as an impediment to progress rather than a foundation. The old markets, which were once the soul of the city, holding decades of community memory, are facing severe neglect. Walking through the streets of Upper Bazaar, which once used to be vivid and lively one can feel claustrophobic and congested. The historical structures are decaying under multiple layers of modern fabric and chaotic modifications.
The lack of localized conservation policies and strict municipal framework, these structures are losing their identity. There is no organization in Ranchi that explicitly identifies, protects and provides incentives to private property owners as a result of which, thy are selling their old properties to real estate agents and big architectural organisations because maintaining the properties and preserving them is expensive and futile.
The visual soul of the city is diminishing day by day; the unique vernacular heritage is being replaced by generic concrete rectangles. Ranchi is losing its identity as a part of the Chotanagpur plateau and is at a risk for becoming another concrete jungle with no individuality.
Withering Ranchi: Retaining the heritage
Ranchi’s heritage is still alive in its bustling streets of old marketplaces, old gated communities, temples, museums and the cultural festivals. However, within a decade all this will wither completely replaced by long standing soulless towers, concrete rectangles and lifeless streets. In this grave situation, it becomes the duty of the urban planners to integrate the ideas of conservation and preservation into the masterplan of the city. Notions such as adaptive reuse, green heritage corridors, documenting the data and practices and implementing them into the future plans can prove to be effective in the heritage conservation of this beautiful city.
The city does not need to lose its soul and wither completely; with constant efforts and dedication the city can grow and prosper without losing the very history that makes it whole.
