Memories of Belonging: Images From the Colony and Beyond
The British colonial rulers in India faced significant challenges due to high morbidity and mortality rates in an inhospitable environment. Constructing homes and offices that minimized the risk of disease and discomfort became a major concern. By the late 18th century, the bungalow emerged as a distinct architectural style, catering to various needs.
Specialized bungalows were built for officials on duty in remote areas, such as sub-divisional officers, engineers, and foresters. These included irrigation, canal, forest, and inspection bungalows. The dak bungalow, inherited from the Mughals, served as rest houses along mail relay routes, often with basic amenities.
Despite their simplicity, dak bungalows captivated the imagination of travelers and writers like Francis Younghusband, John Beames, Rudyard Kipling, and Satyajit Ray. They provided essential shelter, albeit sometimes uncomfortable, for travelers, officials, and wayfarers.
Dak and forest bungalows, often located in picturesque settings, could turn eerie at night, surrounded by the mysterious presence of the jungle. Many dak bungalows witnessed tragic events, with illnesses and even deaths occurring far from home.
Rudyard Kipling and Satyajit Ray both found inspiration in the spooky atmosphere of dak bungalows, weaving tales of ghosts and mysteries set in these remote accommodations. Despite their discomforts, dak bungalows played a significant role in the colonial landscape, leaving a legacy of both nostalgia and fear.
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