IN-PERSON ISTANBUL HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

The society today is stuck in a loop, precedented by the events of History which seem relatable. The existence of events, incidents are enveloped by architecture in the physical realm; however, its impact exceeds the tangible bounds, making its way to the intangible paradigm. History has always knocked our doors, transitioning through a liminal state, providing a connection between the past, present and the future. The intangibles are reflected through the tangibles, representing time, age, and era; unfolding through narratives and stories. Within the context of the sub-continent, why are the folktales of Heer Ranjha, Sohni Mahiwal, and Sassi Pannu still alive? Why was Anarkali – Sharf-un-Nisa entombed by the Mughal emperor Akbar? There is no logical or rational answer; the rationale is story telling itself but why only these stories became immortal is the core question here. These events serve as a liminal entity between today and what has already occurred. Tragedy is immortal and this allows the historical narratives themselves to speak to us in innumerable mediums, one of which is architecture. Myths – indirect interaction of history with the society – open a window to the past through tales, narratives and stories along with whatever has been created, for example, architecture, that connects our current selves to a time prior to our existence; acting as a threshold. The threshold provides a platform to criticize History; has it always been correct?