Colonial Cities: Urbanisation, Planning and Architecture

Due to the economic activity of the English East India Company, the cities of Madras (Chennai), Calcutta (Kolkata), and Bombay (Mumbai) were three of the most important trading centres in the world.

In 1639, company agents established themselves in Madras, and in 1690, they established themselves in Calcutta. When the English king gave Bombay to the Company in 1661, he did so because the Portuguese king had given it to him as part of his wife’s dowry when she married him. In each of these settlements, the Company erected trade and administrative offices to serve its customers. During the middle of the nineteenth century, these little villages had grown into large metropolises, from which the new rulers exercised power over the entire country.

Characteristics of Towns and Cities of Pre-colonial Times

Pre-colonial cities evolved to be associated with distinct types of economic activity and cultural traditions. Towns and cities were frequently defended by walls, which served as a visual representation of their isolation from the countryside.

Urbanisation and prosperity under the Mughals’ rule: The towns during Mughals throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries became well-known for their dense concentrations of people, their massive structures, as well as their imperial splendour and wealth.

• Agra, Delhi, and Lahore were significant imperial administrative and control centres during the reign of Emperor Akbar
• These cities were frequently home to the mansabdars and jagirdars who were assigned territory in different regions of the empire and who lived in these cities as part of their official duties
• There was a fortified palace where the emperor resided, and the town was encompassed by a wall, with different gates regulating admission and exit from the city
• Given the presence of the emperor and noblemen at these locations, it was necessary to provide a wide range of services to accommodate their needs. Artisans created one-of-a-kind handicrafts exclusively for the nobles’ residences
• In North India, it was the imperial officer known as the kotwal who was in charge of the town’s internal affairs and policing who was responsible for keeping the town in order
• The temple was the focal point of life in South Indian towns such as Madurai and Kanchipuram, among others. These towns were also important commercial centres, as well as residential areas. Religious festivals were frequently held in conjunction with fairs, combining pilgrimage with commerce

Changes in the Eighteenth Century

The gradual waning of Mughal power resulted in the extinction of towns that had been linked with their rule. Delhi and Agra, the Mughal capitals, were stripped of their governmental status.

• A growing regional power base was mirrored in the increasing significance of regional capitals such as Lucknow, Hyderabad (present-day Pune), Seringapatam, Poona (present-day Pune), Nagpur, Baroda (present-day Vadodara), and Tanjore (present-day Vadodara) (present-day Thanjavur)
• Migration of different communities: Communities migrated from their old Mughal centres to these new capitals in pursuit of work and patronage. Traders, bureaucrats, artisans, and others made the journey from their old Mughal centres to these new capitals
• Qasbah and Ganj: This opportunity was also seized by some local notables and officials affiliated with Mughal control in North India to establish new urban communities, such as the Qasbah and Ganj, in the region
• European Trading Companies and the Development of Towns in the Surrounding Areas: In the early years of the Mughal era, European commercial companies established facilities in a variety of locations, including: In 1510, the Portuguese arrived in Panaji. In 1605, the Dutch arrived in Masulipatnam. In 1639, the British arrived in Madras. In 1673, the French arrived in Pondicherry (now known as Puducherry)
• Consequences of the Battle of Plassey: Following the Battle of Plassey in 1757, the British eventually gained governmental dominance over the region, which allowed the English East India Company to develop its trading operations. Economic capitals are forming in new locations. Colonial port cities such as Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay rose to prominence as the world’s new economic capitals in a short period of time. They also served as administrative and political hubs for the colonial authority

Records of Urban Colonial Cities 

• Keeping accurate records, conducting regular surveys, gathering statistical data, and publishing official records of their trading operations allowed the British government to manage their economic dealings effectively. The British also began mapping because they believed that maps aid in the study of landscape topography, the planning of development, the maintenance of security, and the estimation of the potential for commercial activity
• From the late nineteenth century onward, the British government began delegating administrative tasks to elected Indian officials in order to provide basic services to cities, and it began a systematic annual collection of municipal taxes
• The first all-India census was done in 1872, and following that, it was conducted every ten years until 1881. (conducted every ten years). However, because of the discrepancies in the data record collected and maintained by the British government, it cannot be relied upon blindly. Because of widespread distrust and dread, many at the time gave evasive responses to government agents
• There were numerous instances where locals provided misleading information concerning mortality, disease, and illness. These were never reported in any form. The reports and records maintained by the British government were occasionally skewed as well. Despite the ambiguity and biasness of the records and data, these records and data were useful in the study of colonial cities

Conclusion 

A variety of characteristics can be found in colonial towns. These were significant from an economic, political, and cultural standpoint, and they demonstrated a distinct national character in the process. They also describe how power was transferred from Indian monarchs to European ruling classes. During the 1800s, the urban population of India remained stable. During the forty years between 1900 and 1940, the urban population expanded from approximately 10% of the entire population to approximately 13% of the total population. Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay all grew into enormous metropolises during this period. They served as points of entry and exit for products entering and leaving the country.