Visual Culture of Shahpur Jat

Shahpur Jat - Visual Culture :

Being a prospective Interior and Architecture designer, We went to Shahpur Jat with the perspective that it would be very dynamic and a high class looking place. It was pretty shocking to see the exact opposite of what we had imagined it to be.
On the first day we went to Dada Jungi house, a place where maximum designers have their outlets. The interior of shops, cafes and restaurants were very elite and gave a pleasing look but if you would step outside in the lane, you will be disappointed. There was a sharp contrast between the interior and exterior of shops at Dada Jungi house.
The title - "design hub" does not support with the place. This place has its own quirks. It is a hub of all kinds of designers, from top brands to low brands, it has it all. Shopaholics might want to reside there.
But this place is not known to everyone specially because of its location. The first time when we went there we were kind of lost and didn't imagine that a poorly constructed one lane road would lead to it.
And the next hurdle you will find is the parking problem. There is suffcient parking available but during emergency cases, due to the narrow lanes, it would create a chaos. The place is very old and people living there have now endured to the problems and are carrying on with their daily chores.
           
                                                                                                     - Astha Goyal

Socio-Culture of Shahpur Jat

Shahpur Jat - Socio-Cultural Issues :

(shoppers exploring the streets of shahpur jat)

                      Shahpur Jat is an old urban village settlement dating back to 900 years. Over time many generations have witnessed the rise and fall of the settlement of Shahpur Jat. But in recent years Shahpur Jat has been witnessing a significant change in both its social cultural as well as economic set up.
As being told by the residents there, Shahpur Jat came to its name because during one of those years a family of Jats had ended up moving in the area and hence the expansion of the village had begun which basically resulted with the area being named as Shahpur Jat.                                  



According to more sources, the Jat's have been living in Shahpur for more than sixty years now happily and peacefully.
As far as the society's thinking goes, a large number of people as told by the residents there believe that Shahpur Jat is a fully Jat area, which in some ways is true but the area does reside other castes there too which includes Balmiki, Kumhars, Nai's and Baniya's.

(Two jat women sitting outside a store owned by their family)

(Two of many designer stores)

The society also looks at Shahpur Jat as a fashion hub only, its very rare to find someone coming to Shahpur Jat for other purposes rather than shopping at the designer stores.

         

(An old man enjoying a hookah)

  Shahpur Jat is one place which has its own contrasts. On one hand where designers are selling stylish dresses and trendy items on the other hand you will find the place full of women hiding behind their veils as a mark of respect towards their society. You will even find such women owning exquisite design stores but still following their traditions.

(A young bride covering her face as a mean of respect 

                                  towards elder)



The perspective of people towards Shahpur Jat is quiet contradictory, as the residents there believe that Shahpur Jat is their home, a place to reside and carry on with their daily lives at meanwhile for visitors there it is simply just a fashion hub.

For the residents there Shahpur Jat has a lot more meaning and significance, as for majority of the residents currently residing there it is their birth place and a place which for Jaat's especially holds a rich meaningful heritage for them. Shahpur Jat can be a place for all of the ages, as it is a designer hub, it focuses the most on the young audience but there there are a few attractions in shahpur jat for aged people as well, the area can offer historical monuments and small stores which provide enough variety of products to please that age.

 





                                                                                              -  Aparna Sharma.

History and Origin

Most of you must be thinking how exactly did the place start. What was its origin? Where did it come from? I know, A lot of questions right ! Well it was not a designer hub from the beginning.. Every place has a story and this place is from the Mughal period and even before that.

And here's how it all started 

According to the elders of the village, some 10,000 years ago (8000 BC), yeah that long!!, A hindu king found the area where present-day Shahpur Jat is located. But I am sure it was not that long back. Although according to them there was a fort and a palace here, however 5000 years back when Pandavas built Indraprastha, they took the stones of that fort. 

Tomar (Hindu Jat Clan) ruled Delhi in 11th century AD and then in 12th century AD Prithviraj Chauhan was the ruler until his defeat later that century replacing Hindu rule by Muslim.

Allauddin Khilji was the one who found SIRI - the first muslim city in Delhi in 1303. It was fortified, beautiful and prosperous, but the later rulers devastated it by taking the building materials of Siri for the new structures they got built. 

Today only parts of its walls, havellis made with lime and mortar, mosques and some historical remains present in village. About 900 years ago, a Dagar clan from Indri - a village now in Harayana shifted to Shahpur Jat area. 

The fertile land and their agriculture skills helped them accumulate wealth in no time attracting Panwar clan and other castes to the area which by then was called Shah (wealth) Pur (colony) Jat (a clan), meaning the locality of the wealthy Jats and hence the the place was given the name - SHAHPUR JAT.

For 60 years the Jats and Balmikies have been living in this green haven happily and peacefully.

Although the place has its own merits and demerits but people have now accepted the fact

Isn't it marvellous that a design hub was actually a kingdom for Mughals at one time. Today the Siri Fort is still there and shockingly no one vists the place even though its a heritage place and was built almost 10,000 years ago. Because of some rulers the marvellous fort was ruined.

But on a more positive outlook the place is now a designers hub full of designer outlets, cafes, restaurants and various other kinds of shops!

                                                                                      By - Astha Goyal

                                                                                      Source :

http://www.jatland.com/home/Shahpur_Jat        

Shahpur Jat introduction

(Main fashion street : Dada Jungi House's lane)

Shahpur Jat is Delhi in its hybridised best. Ensconced between two of south Delhi's most upmarket areas - Asiad Games Village and Hauz Khas. This tiny piece of urban village has missed the trendy touch of city architecture, yet has managed to capture the essence of a city life like no other. 

Due to the exceptionally low rent in the area and availability of low cost labour, in recent year Shahpur Jat is witnessing a significant change in its social and economic set up. The well - known designers of Delhi have started establishing their own outlets and showrooms in this village. 

(P.1)

Walking through the narrow streets of Shahpurjat, one is surprised to chance upon shops housed in dilapidated buildings, selling exclusive products in innovative designs, everything from shoes and jewellery to clothes and books. Hence, it’s small wonder, that this little corner of south Delhi has become a popular haunt among Delhiites.

Famous for its boutiques offering designer clothes, the market is divided into three broad categories, clothes, accessories and home decor.

(P.2)

(P.1&P.2 : Residential area with stores
on ground level at Shahpur Jat)

Shops like Dastakar have also set their outlet in a corner to earn maximum as Shahpur Jat is quite famous among high society people assisting the low brand shops to earn maximum and increase their profits, But not all the designers are able to avail such opportunities as the lanes are pretty narrow and give an effect of a dead end although a lot of shops are located in the inside lanes of Shahpur Jat.

This is one of the negative aspect of Shahpur Jat which is not only affecting the sellers but also the buyers.

                                                                        By - Astha Goyal and Aparna Sharma

                                                                        Source :

jatland wiki (http://www.jatland.com/home/Shahpur_Jat)