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.
