Aesthetics of Postcoloniality: An Insight into Town Planning and Architectural Practices of Madras Under the Colonial Rule

Abstract

This research paper delves into the aesthetics of town planning and architecture during colonial rule in India, with a focus on the city of Madras. The paper explores how the British colonial project enforced segregation based on race, resulting in the creation of the ‘White Town’ and the ‘Black Town’ that fit into the scheme of ‘divide and rule.’ Examining the implications of such spaces and architecture on the treatment of the native population and the postcolonial legacy that persists to this day, the paper highlights how town planning and architectural practices in Madras were used as tools of colonial power-play, enforcing racial divides and socio-political hierarchies. The research also delves into the creation of distinct European spaces, exclusive native neighbourhoods, and caste-specific localities defining the trade of each community with its distinct aesthetic. It also discusses the appropriation of Indian architectural elements in the Indo-Saracenic style by the British, aimed at legitimizing their rule and showcasing their cultural superiority while hypocritically introducing fortifications as a means to reinforce their differences. By analyzing historical accounts, architectural features, and urban planning in Madras, the paper offers insights into how the aesthetics of segregation and appropriation shaped the colonial landscape and continue to influence contemporary perceptions and spaces. It emphasizes the resilience of native aesthetics despite colonization and highlights the complex interplay between the colonizers' control and the colonized's agency in shaping their own spaces and identities. The research concludes with reflections on the lasting impact of colonial aesthetics and the evolving narratives of postcolonial India.