Page 116 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

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no space inside the composition is left vacant, yet the total effect is soothing and
pleasant. The rich red color of the bricks and the survival of the ornamentation for so
long, speak of the high technique used in this monument and represent the apogee of
the Muslim terracotta art in Bengal (fig.2.28).
In the following Mughal period gradual change started to set in the architectural style
and its ornamentation. The traditional building art, evolved in the soil of this region,
creating forms and decoration that suited the local climate and environment was
gradually abandoned as the new conquerors were more prone to follow the building
methods as well as materials of northern India. Though due to the non-availability of
hard materials like sandstone or marble in Bengal, they had to fall back on bricks for
their architectural edifices, yet they brought fundamental change in design and
ornamentation styles. The old terracotta decorations were replaced by plastering of the
walls, with decorative, panels, rectangular and arched frames with foliage and net
patterns etc. all in plaster. Though this developed method of terracotta art gradually
started to be used less and less due to the lack of royal patronage, yet in the far flung
areas this decorative method continued sporadically, the example of which may be
seen on the Atiya mosque of Tangail (1609 A.D). But this lack of patronage after the
Mughal conquest, could not kill the art form altogether, rather it shifted its focus,
found new patrons and started to be used on the Hindu temples that started to appear
all over Bengal from the 16th century onwards. In fact, temples with terracotta
ornamentations in late mediaeval period, retaining the developments of the Muslim
period, constitutes Bengal’s individual specialty, which is not to be found in any other
part of the sub-continent.
Hindu Monuments
The architectural revival of the Hindu community roughly coincided with the
establishment of Mughal rule in Bengal. By the third quarter of the 16th century
Mughals managed to bring the Afghan vassals and rulers of semi independent regions
in Bengal and Assam, under control and gradually a period of peace and security was
established due to the progressive administration of the Mughals. The zamindars or
landlords, be they Hindu or Muslim, became the vassals of Delhi, yet they were left
without interference within their estate as long as they paid their dues regularly and
looked after the welfare of the people. No cases of interference in the internal
administration of the estates during Mughal rule have been recorded. As such
zamindars shared the prosperity of the suba-e-bangala region. Moreover the
opportunity of obtaining high offices in the Govt. particularly in the revenue
department, under the policy of Bengal Governors of the Mughals like Murshid Quli
Khan and the succeeding Nawabs, enabled the Hindus, particularly Brahmins and
Kayasthas to acquire power and wealth which they utilised to create landed property
and indulge in increased building activity. The powerful and semi-independent Malla
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kings of Bishnupur of W.Bengal in India, were mainly responsible for building a great
number of terracotta temples in this region and their achievement helped to spread the
tradition of using decorated bricks on temple walls, throughout the whole of Bengal. 39