Sarkhej-A Monument of national importance

sarkhej roza Design project :2

Sites at Sarkhej Roja, Ahmedabad Low-budget, need-based interventions based on collaboration with the Friends of Sarkhej Roza and Sarkhej Roza communities.

Site B: Courtyard, intended for income generation for the surrounding community Interventions serving weekly market and regular training activities

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Introduction

Site A: Chikkoo Wadi, a religious ceremonial & social space for Sarkhej Roa community Interventions serving weekly Mannat and Quresh Jamaat Langar, Samuh Lagan activities

Sarkhej Roza

INTRODUCTION

1. INTRODUCTION 2. IDENTIFYING THE NEED 3. A BRIEF HISTORY 4. MAP 5. HISTORY OF SARKHEJ ROZA 6. ARCHITECTURE 7. ENVIRONMENT 8. LUNAR CALENDER 9. EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES 10. OPPORTUNITIES 11. PEOPLE AND ISSUES

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Sarkhej Roza

CONTENTS

Sarkhej Roza

A Brief History

A Brief History

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Sarkhej Roza A Brief History

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Sarkhej Roza

MAP

Map - Geography

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Sarkhej Roza

MAP OF SITE

QUEENS TOMB

Map of Site

ENTRANCE

TOMB OF MEHMUD BEGADA LIBRARY

MARKET PLACE

BARA DARI

SHEIKH AHMAD GANJ BAKSH KHATTU

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MASJID

CHIKKOO WADI

The mausoleum of Ahmed Shiekh Ganj Baksh Khattu and The mosque formS the religious realm of rchitecture. Highly concentrated, heavily insulated and most tranquIl space of the campus.

Architecture

RELIGIOUS

ROYAL SOCIAL

Saints tomb, arcaded veranda on the periphery is filled with people during festival and special prayer days.

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Sarkhej Roza

ARCHITECTURE

The palaces, pavillion and the water tank are reminiscent of the grandeur of the past. Located on the fringe of the campus, the palaces do not disturb the sanctity and the spirituality. The palaces though grand are very simple in their layout and do not impose their existence upon the other structures.

Sarkhej Roza

The rauza (tomb) complex at Sarkhej built at the advent of the Sultanate era is an apt example of the Indo-Saracenic architecture from this region where Hindu and Islamic influences are fused together. Hindu craftsmanship and construction know-how was overlaid upon the Islamic sense of geometry and scale. A trabeated structural system in sandstone with corbelled domes and non structural arched panels as infill testify to its stylization of Hindu craftmen while the reference to square geometric and rectilinear structure grid, floral or geometric patterns in filigree are the consequence of the Islamic discipline of entablature.

Architecture

The fusion and the eventual spatial organization, however, remain very Indian. As a sacred structure of the Islamic faith, the Sarkhej campus observes the tenets of the religion and these notions are reflected in the principles of its architecture. The strongest of these is the aspect of geometry and symmetry. Individual structures are governed by the rotation of the square plan form and are symmetrical along their own central axis. As any depiction of live creatures is forbidden in Islam,the filigree is essentially in the form of square jalis carved in floral or geometric patterns.

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The opaque and transparency gives mystical qualities to light when it comes inside at different angles.The play of light makes the space dynamic because of its pattern and shadows.

Another important feature which jali provides is privacy, a person behind a jali can see outside space but person outside can not see inside clearly.

Panchdhatu-a special five metals amalgated jali has been used in the saints tomb which depicts unification and purity.

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Environment

Jali is one of the most important feature of the Sarkhej roza.Jali is a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of geometry or floral patterns.This technique is mainly found in indian and islamic architecture.Early work was performed by carving into stone, while the later technique of inlay was also employed.

Jali does not secludes a person from a space because of the awareness of the outside world.

We get filtered soft and diffused light which helps in keeping the space cool.

Jali also provides proper ventilation in the space.

Sarkhej Roza

JALI

Sarkhej Roza

LUNAR CALENDAR

Lunar Calendar

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Sarkhej Roza

STAKE HOLDERS

People & Issues

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AHMEDABAD TIMES

What is happening inside?

Sarkhej Roza

ELECTIONS

People & Issues

1969

Scheme of Bombay Public Section 50 2 members District Judge to manage Religious Trust

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1979

9 members Reservations for Syyeds and Borah

1995

7 members No Reservations Sunni+Ahmedabad+no criminal record

I am paying Rs.1000 – Rs.2000 as rent to the committee.

+

DONATION ????

COMMITTIEE funds

ELECTRICITY Rs40000

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SALARY Rs 20000

People & Issues

RENT Rs 25OOO

Sarkhej Roza

FUNDS

I own this land; it was given to me legally under The Gujarat Devasthan Inams Abolition Act in 1969.

Sarkhej Roza

LAKE

S. G. HIGHWAY

There was a natural flow of water in the lake but because of the recent Gandhinagar highway this flow got stopped and now the lake is dry.

The Ramp which is the property of ASI was broken by AUDA and for that ASi has filed a case against Mr. Abrarali Saiyyed and AUDA under the Lake Interlinking Act.

INTERLINKING

EN

K RO PB

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M

ASI has the monument and area within 200 metres under them, whereas the water and civic ameneties are the authority of AMC. So the two bodies are interdependent and are not able to plan an action.

LAKE

RA

The Makbara Lake behind he monument is also dirty now into algae water, earlier it was connected to Ahmad sar Lake

AD

M AH

ACT

L SAR

E

AK

People & Issues

MAKARBA TALAAB

With water

Without water

Sarkhej Roza

Lake - comparison

People & Issues

Migrating Birds Cultivation Washing Vegetation Hot air Cold air

Sarkhej Roza site Map •S/W winds cools down due to prescence of waterbodies during summer •Prescence of migrating birds •Cultivations of water chestnuts near makarba pond •Activities of people around Ahmad Sar tank

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Sarkhej Roza site Map •S/W wind continues to be hot due to drying up of Ahmad sar tank •Stinking coming from makarba lake due to stagnant water.

•Absence of migrating birds and people‘s activity due to drying up of the Ahmad sar tank.

But living the same tradition again, it got revived on 27th August 2005. The Sarpanch of Makarba Gram Panchayat, Shri Rambhai Bharwad was the Chief Guest of the function alongwith other eminent members of the village. A Quwwali (musical rendition of Urdu poetry) was organized in evening to the joy and participation of eminent citizens and the community around the Roza.

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People & Issues

In keeping with a 500 year old tradition, Janamashtami celebrations were organized at Roza till 1985 when Rath Yatra happened in Gujarat and a lot of eminent Sarkhej personalities died and the event got suspended. Then in the following year in 1986, Ramazan coincided Janmashtami and since then it was not celebrated.

Sarkhej Roza

JANMASHTHAMI

Sarkhej Roza

TOURISM Archaeological and historical sites not only attract tourists but also bind the people together like a string of flowers in a garland. Sarkhej being of prime importance in the context of Ahmedabad brings about the cohesion throughout the country.

Opportunities

But the Tourism Department apparently is not really promotiing this site and hence the development of the monument and the district is indirectly getting affected. The absence of a bus stoppage, the missing signages are few areas to work on.

The Mausoleum behind the Saint‘s tomb that is outside the walls of Sarkhej is not considered as the part of the monument. So neither ASI nor AMC is taking care of that dilapidated tomb and it is not even maintained by the people staying around also.

So it is bringing down the heritage value of the site.

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Sarkhej Roza

FACILITIES and MAINTENANCE TRESSPASSERS

FOUL

FOOD LITTERING

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People & Issues

WATER SCARCITY

weekly

annually

Samuh lagAN The Samuh lagna is held on the Sarkhej campus twice in a year.

It involves multiple couples getting married in the same day sequentially, and the cost of the celebrations involved gets shared and heavily subsidised as a result. It happens in Chikoo Wadi inside Sarkhej Roza and is an event taken care by Hussani Charitable Trust.

Qureshi Langar The qureshi jamat at mirzapur holds the langar every Thursday at the roza. The responsibility of this service has been handed over from generation to generation since 1850. The commitie is presently handled by Niyaz Patan(president), Yusuf Bhai(secretary) and Azeez Bapu. This is a sunni committee whose fund comes from the members of the qureshi community residing in mirzapur. Every Thursday they spend around Rs.5000, feeding 3000 people.

CONVOCATION Darul Uloom Shaikh Ahmad Khattu Trust ( Madarsa), is a school established by the Sarkhej Roza committee in the year 2000. There are preachings of Quran in the Arabic medium. A monthly rent of the land under the trust is paid to the Sarkhej Trust. Their convocation happens once in every 2 years in the Sarkhej Roza premises inside Chickoo Wadi in front of all the Sarkhej Roza community people.

Ramdaan Ramdaan brings in the month of fasting when the langer remains suspended throughout, and people visit Sarkhej Mosque.

PICNICS Sarkhej Roza gives a nice domain to people for recreation. Hence we see a lot of people coming there for picnics and family supper.

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MANNAT When the people wish for something and their wish gets fulfilled, they organise the event to thank god, this event is called mannat where people gather in Sarkhej to celebrate.

Rajab It is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajab is to respect. This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam in which battles are prohibited. In Sarkhej Roza, there are devotees from all over India who come to pay their love for the sufi saint in this month of Rajab.

Janmashtami

In keeping with a 500 year old tradition, Janamashtami celebrations were organized at Roza till 1985 when Rath Yatra happened in Gujarat and a lot of eminent Sarkhej personalities died and the event got suspended. Since then it was not celebrated but it got revived on 27th August 2005.

annually

daily

PRAYERS Namaz/ Salah is the practice of formal worship in Islam. Salah consists of the repetition of a unit called a raka‘ah consisting of prescribed actions and words.

These are measured according to the movement of the sun. These happen near dawn (fajr), after midday has passed and the sun starts to tilt downwards / Noon (dhuhr), in the afternoon (asr), just after sunset (maghrib) and around nightfall (isha‘a). Maghrib is the evening ritual which has the maximum number of people for prayers.

Events and Activities

Cultural performances Under the ASI ans Sarkhej Roza committe, the cultural and religious sanctity is preserved by organising cultural programmes and workshops in Sarkhej Roza which brings in all classes of people in the site to celebrate its heritage.

Tourists Tourists have always been attracted to archaeological sites of historical importance, perhaps Sarkhej Roza been the centre for tourist attraction in Ahmadabad occupies it with an ever green assemblage of devotees.

Sarkhej Roza

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Sarkhej Roza

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES CHIKOO WADI Convocation

Once in two years Between the months of Ramzaan and Shawwal.

Population: - 100-120 Students - Teachers - Parents - Representatives of Darul- Uloom Khattu Trust

Sufi Performances on stage

July - August

Temperature: Max - 32˚c Min - 26˚c Dominant Wind Direction: SW to NE

SHADE / SEATING / PERFORMANCE

Rajab

Sufi Performances Once in a year May - Jun

Temperature: Max - 40˚c Min - 27˚c Dominant Wind Direction: SW to NE

Convocation function

BAD ODOUR FROM MAKARBA LAKE

S E

W N

-Junk -Plint arround the trees

Plinth arround the cheeku trees used by people to rest

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Sarkhej Roza

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES CHIKOO WADI Daily Activities

Afternoon-Evening

People having lunch and resting under cheeku trees UTILISATION OF SHADE AND THE PLINTH

2.4m 0.6m

CLEAN SPACE

Children picking cheeku fruits

Isolated entrance and hence not noticed.

PROPER ENTRANCE FOR CHEEKU WADI SUMMER Summer shadows

BAD ODOUR FROM MAKARBA LAKE

Temperature : Max - 44˚c Min - 27˚c Dominant Wind Direction: SW to NE

S E

WINTER Winter shadows

N

Temperature: Max - 26˚c Min - 15˚c Dominant Wind Direction: NE to SW

-Junk -High ground -Low ground -Plinth around the cheeku tree

Picnic - 60-70 people.

Frequent activity.

People on tour halt at Cheek Wadi.

PROPER SHADE AT CHEEKU WADI FOR FULL UTILISATION OF SPACE.

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W

2.4m

Chidren tresspasssing to play games CATER THE NEED

Sarkhej Roza

WATER FLOW DURING HEAVY RAINS CHEEKU WADI

Slant

Slant Slant

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Opportunities

Drain

Sarkhej Roza

CHIKKOO WADI CHIKOO WADI Samuh Lagan

Organised by Hussaini Waqf Committee Twice in one year February and August No: of people: 81 marriages.

100 people invited by every couplefor the ceremony and food

Toilets not functioning.

People defecate around it.

February Afternoon-Evening

Cooking and serving.

Tree provides shade and hence stage is used by women and children for eating.

Temperature: SHADE / SEATING / PERFORMANCE Max - 27˚c Min - 13˚c Dominant Wind Direction: NE to SW

SHADE Women washing utensils.

Bamboo gate .

PROPER PLACEMENT AND FUNCTIONING OF TOILETS AND WATER SUPPLY

BAD ODOUR FROM MAKARBA LAKE

Ticket system for entering Cheeku Wadi where food is servered.

PROPER ENTRANCE FOR CHEEKU WADI

S E

W N

-Serving -Junk -Plinth around cheeku trees

Exist.

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Tent for shade.

Devision for women and EVEN GROUND LEVEL men sitting.

Drums for drinking water and washing hands.

No facilities for water inside Cheeku Wadi.

Sarkhej Roza

CHIKKOO WADI - Paint the wall

Wall:

Entrance:

- Put textile structures for conveying jali on wall -Vegetation along the wall

Permanent: -Steps leading into the wadi -Arch structure

ENTRANCE: Unattractive entrance Does not invite visitors Lack of any particular guide navigating them to the wadi.

Temporary: -Arch structures at the entrance.(during performance)

ISSUES: -Uneven ground at the entrance -The newly constructed walls of Chikoo Wadi do not go with the architectural language of Sarkhej Roza -The cone of view at the entrance of Chikoo Wadi brings in the unpleasant site of the modern buildings across the Makarba. This hinders the landscape of Chikoo Wadi

- Textile gate arch -Arch in form of vegitation

- Landscaping: jali on the end wall to continue the architec ture dialogue

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Sarkhej Roza

CHIKKOO WADI Permanent :

GUIDING THE BEHAVIOR Various events and activities are conducted inside Chikoo Wadi by people coming from different cultural background.

- Add grass with paths / pebels for path

- Audience seat

- Add plinth

- Demarcation of activities by leveling the ground of Chikoo Wadi and creating depressions/elevation. for : cooking (providing stoves), washing (drainage - slant in this area), defecation.

Temporary: - Plinth made from textiles - Seating Arrangement - Using ropes for making stuctures for direction purpose

ISSUES: -No visual communication to people on how to utilize the space, hence it is always left in disarray

- Add landscaping elements,close to the wall

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Sarkhej Roza

CHIKKOO WADI Permanent:

STAGE : Stage constructed inside Chikoo Wadi is not being used for any performances.

The placement of the stage is perfect with the Saint’s tomb the audience.

- Pavement : grass+teracota (or any other)

- Electricity

- Jali wall as backdrop

- Green room

ISSUES: -Does not invite people to conduct any performance -No sitting arrangement for the audience -The long plinth on the side along the entrance path invites people to enter and sit on the stage.

- lighting structures for night performances - audience seating : charpai, modular

Temporary: - Backdrop - Shade for stage\audience - Back stage

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Sarkhej Roza

CHIKKOO WADI Permanent:

- Entrance of toilet - Additional taps + toilets

- Maintenance : water + toilet

CLEANLINESS MANAGEMENT: There is no system to manage cleanliness inside Chikoo Wadi.

ISSUES: -No bins for collecting garbage -As the toilets are not functioning kids defecate in open -No proper water facilities -There is an open drain outside Chikoo Wadi (towards the Makarba) which creates awful odour

- Storage facilities for temporary structures and ,other cleaning purposes -Elevated garden structures close to the wall

- Strategic placement of garbage bins near the cooking area , wash basin \toilet and one near the shades.

- Close the open drain or trees for odour - Sacred system of tieing threads around trees or jalis

Temporary:

- Reflective surface the walls - Plastic covers for garbage bins : incorporated into the wall

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Sarkhej Roza

CHIKKOO WADI Temporary:

- Dome structure

- Textile structure - Collapsable/ temporary sades :for marriages, picnics,

SHADE: Shades are only provided by tress in Chikoo Wadi. When events are held, people get their own temporary structures.

ISSUES: -As the shades provided by trees change with the sun direction, temporary or permanent structures are necessary - Textile structure-canopy structure provide shade in the open area

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Storage facilities for temporary structures Green room vegetation

Additional toilet /and a blinder

Audience seating area Hand washing area

Entrance with steps and arch cooking(1)and washing dish area

cooking(2) and washing dish area

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Sarkhej Roza

CHIKKOO WADI

Sarkhej Roza

PEOPLE, SPACE AND TIME - OPPORTUNITIES UNUSED SPACE

untapped possibilities...

TORAN “I get orders,

EMBROIDERY , CROCHET “We had craft

workshops at Sarkhej , but we don’t use those skills anymore.”

MEHENDI “This is a hobby and I go because it s free and I can make some POTTERY “We sell to

middlemen.We don’t mind them keeping a cut.

We don’t have the time for retail.”

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money when we get wedding orders.”

TOYS, BALLOOS, EATABLES “We sell outside Sarkhej Roza.

Business is espe-

cially good during Rajab.”

SEWING “I go to Hussaini Waqf classes for the certificate.I go after school .I can work from home if I manage to get orders.”

Opportunities

they supply the materials,and I get paid rs.4 for a dozen torans.

Sarkhej Roza

CLEANLINESS - ISSUE

Opportunities

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MARKET PLACE

Sarkhej Roza

WATER FLOW DURING HEAVY RAINS

Opportunities

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Sarkhej Roza

Structure-permanant Occupiers-change Parmanent souvenier shop

MARKET SPACE

EXIT (during lungar)

Visual Barrier(temporary)

ENTRANCE AND EXIT (for tourist and locals) Parmanent souvenier shop

Parmanent souvenier shop

CHAI STALL

ENTRANCE (Locals)

WORKSHOPS OR/AND REST ROOMS PERFORMANCE SPACE

Suggestion:1 Suggestion:2 Suggestion:3

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Sarkhej Roza

MARKET PLACE ENTRANCE: Attract people

WHY THIS SPACE:

Provides first impression of space inside

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Calligraphy:

Cloth Scrolls:

Could have verses of Quran like they have on walls

Inspired from pilars of the complex Empasises the entrance Builds curiosity Provide directionality

Responses

-

Sarkhej Roza

MARKET PLACE MARKET SPACE: Income Generation Attracting Tourists

Partition: Can be used for display Partition: Allows for display

WHY THIS SPACE: -Already existing infrastructure ie. Pillars(demarcate area for stalls), Plinth

-

Cloth Scrolls: An abstraction of pillars Continued from the entrance

3.92m

0.2m

6m

4.1m

0.2

1.8m required for 2 ppl to comfortably walk comfortablyw alk

4m 0.5

2m

F Flooring: Combination of stone tiles and grass. suitable for walking barefeet and with footwear.

SPACE UTILIZATION Storage Area Seating Area Display Area

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Responses

Roof: Provides shade and protection from rain Inspired from the jaali

Sarkhej Roza

MARKET PLACE ROOF: Two layered Octagonal cut outs on the area extending over the path to walk Inspired from the concept of jaali Shadow paterns keep changing with sun angle

Overhead sun

Responses

Morning sun

Evening sun

41º92’

42º21’

TIMING ON 21st JUNE 9:00 A.M.

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12:30 P.M. 4:00 P.M.

PERFORMANCE SPACE

RESTING SPACE, PLAYGROUND

Display of culture Attracting Tourists

Providing alternative space for small picnics Proximity to main entrance Acts as independent space due to alternative entrance Open space to play

WHY THIS SPACE:

-Aesthetic backdrop of Saints Tomb -Can comfortably seat 100 people for small performances

WHY THIS SPACE:

-Aesthetic backdrop of Saints Tomb.

-Can comfortably seat 70 people for small picnics

Sarkhej Roza

MARKET PLACE

Responses

3m 2.5m

Movable (Weight 10 kg ) Adjustable angle (protects from sun at different angles) Collapsible Can comfortably seat a family fo 5

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Sarkhej Roza

IDENTIFYING THE NEED

Identifying the need

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e- Books References

Interviews

Yagnik, Achyut, and Suchitra Sheth.

Ahmedabad: From Royal City to Megacity.

New Delhi: Penguin India, 2011

www.plantarchives.org http://www.sarkhejroza.org/

- Bhavana, Friends of Sarkhej Roza

www.trekearth.com

www.vibrantgujarat.com

Ramagundam, Rahul.

Gandhi‘s Khadi: A History of Contention and Conciliation.

New Delhi: Orient Longman, 2008

www.deviantart.com

www.icograda.org

www.auda.org.in

www.free-clipart-pictures. net

www.littleepottery.com Pandya, Yatin Concepts of Space in Traditional Indian Architecture Mapin Publications, 2005 Alfieri, Bianca Maria Islamic Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent London, Lawrence King Publications, 2000 Balasubrahmanyan, Suchitra, and Sharmila Sagara Ahmedabad 600: Portraits of a City Mumbai: Marg Publications, 2011 David, Robin City of Fear Penguin Global, 2008 Yajnika, A & Sheth, S The Shaping of Modern Gujarat Penguin Books India, 2005

www.clker.com

www.nimatullahi.org

www.lawsofindia.org www.southasiaanalysis.org www.ahmedabad.org.uk www.thesaurus.com www.foga.com www.wikimapia.org www.arcspace.com www.acfindia.org http://www.lissongallery. com/ Video References #/artists/anish-kapoor/ Dir. Shraddha Sakhalkar Sarkhej.

National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, 2010. Film Ritwick Nandi Project Document National Institute of Design: Ahmedabad 600 Joint Studio, Spring 2011 Exhibition Design 2009 Batch Students Workshop Document National Institute of Design: Sarkhej Roja Instant Lighting Workshop, 27-29 March 2011 Tanvi Sonavne Lighting Proposal National Institute of Design: Design Project III, Spring 2011. Videos: Light Painting, Lighting for Namaz

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- Mr. Abrarali S. Saiyed - President of Sarkhej Roza Committee - Yaseen Bhai - Hussaini Waqf Committee - Samath Khan Pathan, secratary to Sarkhej Roza Committee - Haider Ali, fakeer - Teachers of Darul - Uloom Shaikk Ahmed Khattu trust - Mohd. Nizam-ud-Din Malik Hadim ( Chaadarwala) - Local People - Sameena Makrani - Naseem ben - Sameena - Naseem ben - Kiran ben

Bibliography

Book References

Sarkhej Roza

BIBLIOGRAPHY