Conference Presentations by Sindhuree Iyengar
Bridges around the world have been considered physical and symbolic connectors of places, communi... more Bridges around the world have been considered physical and symbolic connectors of places, communities and cultures. By finding the cross connections between the physical and symbolic meanings associated with the bridges, we explore the idea of the bridge in two ways – the manner in which its identity is rewritten over time and the process by which the bridge, in return, starts to hold a value of its own. Constructed with the basic premise of establishing a physical connection between two points, the (river) bridge very often turns into a 'place' – over time, its weaves itself around stories and becomes a narrative of the past that is yet to be. In this innate quest, whereas very often communities are united and bonds are built, sometimes bridges stand to become the image of the divide as well. In both cases, however, the use of the bridge evolves and it ceases to be 'just a bridge'-it becomes an interactive zone for people visiting it, passing by and crossing it as daily commuters, squatters, hawkers or even a stage or backdrop for social and cultural celebrations/ festivals. In this paper, we take an in-depth look at two bridges in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India – the Purana Pul on the river Musi in Hyderabad (erstwhile Andhra Pradesh) and the Prakasam Barrage on the river Krishna near Vijayawada (in the present day Andhra Pradesh). Through these two examples, we explore the how our relation to the past changes with time and how these bridges have become the canvass for reflecting the changing political identities and iconography – it depicts the nature of the people and their orientation to grasp on to the past or remain in the present.
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Conference Presentations by Sindhuree Iyengar