POL HOUSE
(RESIDENTIAL CLUSTER),
AHMEDABAD
The Pol, a small residential unit
consisting of a single street (usually
a dead end street) with a group of
houses is generally protected by a
massive gate at the entrance. They
are densely populated and when
put together they look like a maze
with winding narrow lanes forming
a series of micro- neighbourhoods.
The character of the Pol itself is
defined by the transitional spaces
called ‘Otlas’, a small verandah like
space connecting the house to the
street. Individual houses have a
deep plan with the small side facing
the street.
A pol would get organised generally
by people of the same social group
or community. Thus the city
characteristically grew very
organically into a dense built fabric
not only the culture of the local
people but also the climate it was
set in.
AHMEDABAD CLIMATE
The city is considered to have
summer all the year round. It can be
described as a hot climate with
average outdoor temperatures
between 20°C and 34° C. May is the
hottest month with peak
temperatures rising up to an
intolerable 42°C and January the
coldest with an average day
temperature of 20°C. The city really
never faces winters except a few
months (December, January) when
the night time temperatures reach
as low as 10-14°C. For most part of
the year Ahmedabad is hot and dry,
with tropical rains for only three
months from August to September.
Mild season (November to
February) is within the comfort zone
for most parts of the day.
Ahmedabad is marked by strong
solar radiation throughout the year
and it is understood that solar
control is the one of the most
effective strategies. It is seen that
while the mild season experiences
lower temperatures the amount of
solar radiation received is still very
high especially on the south vertical
face.
From any angle and criterion Pol is
considered as safe and secured
place for living. Geographically, Pol
is such a residential area where
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Harminder Singh/11-4-13/History of culture
uncertainties, especially that of
political nature, do not have any
chance to gatecrashing:
as its topographical structure and its
topotypical construction arc
exceptionally incomparable, which
is discussed in this paper.
Ecologically, a POL is residential
street a narrow lane-having houses
built on both sides of it. It has well
defined boundaries demarcated
through a main gateway, wicket
gate and cluster of houses. Socially,
the Population composition of POLs
is homogeneous along caste lines
having only a limited numbers of
families from other service groups
such as Purohit, Suthar, Valand
etcetera. In some cases,
exceptionally, Pols do have multi-
caste composition with a passages to get in. But there is a
dominance of one caste.
POL Settlement offers many unique
benefits to community, POL gives a
sense or safety. The home is not just
a place to mere live or reside,
significance of POL lies in its
jurisdiction of independency as well
as inter-dependency, different
studies.
SANSKRIT TERM PRATOLI
The word Pol is derived from the
Sanskrit term Pratoli i.e. main road
or highway or royal road. But in
Gujarati Poi means a closed street
with just one main big entrance i.e.
Darwajo or a gate or a street. There
is another word ill Sanskrit Torana
means arched gate or main gate.
Hence Torana is considered as
qeuivalent to Pratolt, which, from
its architectural remains, means an
entrance; but especially entrance to
an entire village town. There are
few remains of Hindola (swinging
cot) like Pratoli. But in specific, to
enter in a community area from a
main gate is called POL.
“Dokabari”
Unique gate of POl known as
“Dokabari” in Gujarati This unique
and matchless characteristic of POL
dues unequivocally indicate or
suggest the absence of other
wicket-gate within the main gate
which is operative during nights
when the main entrance remains
closed.
During the time of emergency of
political upheaval or communal
unrest or any sort of violence there
seems a wicket-gate (Dokabari in
Gujarati) or a small secret gate on
the safer or the other side of the
POL to enter when the main gate
remains closed during trouble-
times. Of course, this is an
exception and not found in every
POL.
“Historic Excavations at
Champaner”
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Information from Excavations :
Excavations at Champaner and
Chandravati suggest that POL is
generally either rectangular or
square in design. In the middle of
the POL there is a wide space
known as chok in Gujarati and on all
sides of it we find construction of
houses. In the chok in some POLs
we also see the structure such as a
temple, a well and Parabadi-
structure on a pillar where grain and
water are placed to for birds.
Hence, such open space gives
opportunity for organizing social
and community occasions. Pol- residents are certainly abide by
them and they strictly have to
follow it.
“Significance of Pol design”
“Pol Significance administration”
Hence, similarly it suggests that Po!
is either square or rectangular in Significance of Pol administration
arrangement and within it there are Defaulter is liable to punishment
well-planned houses, roads, holy and unless he pays the penalty till
place, well, space for various kinds then that family is not allowed to
of games, sports, or amusements light a lamp and cook food. This
etc. alteration may take place, one was there in the beginning and no
thing is sure that the bounderies of more now. This punishment was
POL are well demarcated and well then known as ‘Devata Devata
planned. Bandh’ meaning thereby that such
family has no right to put on switch
Houses are found in a row with or make meals. Any how the
many floors. Family lives in an tradition of Pol just helps in carrying
organized way with total harmony, out of mutual give and take
Of course, for this there are definite relations among its members.
rules and regulations and
“Significance Management of Pol (
POLNUN PANCH)

Pol and its security aspect thus lie in

the statute of POL assembly;
POL HOUSE (RESIDENTIAL CLUSTER), AHMEDABAD
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generally known in Gujarati as
POLNUN PANCH. This assembly
regulate the behaviour, manner and
conduct of the members living in
the POL.
When the POL is size is big and
number of houses are more the POL
council is additional separated into
minor but in individual unit each
having its own Leader (Panch).
Democracy in Pol and Leader Panch
Democracy was the basis of all
affairs sometimes helps
transference of work so as the
involvement of as many members
becomes obvious. Well, the size of
Panch and its units varies. The
councils of the small units are called
Small Leader (Nanun Panch).
Member of Pol Council
membership of Pol Council is based
on the duration of a person residing
in the POL and expense of
obligation to the council.
There are two types of membership
(1) For owners and
(2) for tenants.
The tenants are not considered In
the process of decision nor have any
say on enacting ethics at the same
time they are allowed to take part in
any sort of function. The tenants are
expected as obligations and adapt
the rules and regulations of the pol
council.
Activates of POL – Council
1. 1regular the conduct of the
pol-resident
2. 2Determining the rules and
expectations of the council
3. 3 punish those who violated
them
4. provide necessary amenities
such as common latrines,
street lightening, sanitation,
well for drinking water.
5. place for community
gatherings
6. maintain common properties
like temple
7. Utensils for large dinners
8. common meeting place for
large gatherings
9. arrangements of the temple,
10. organise religious and social
celebrations
11. Enact and revise rules
relating to rent' and sales of
the house in the pol.
SECURITY OFFICE (POLIYO)
Poliyo round the clock worker of the
Pol. It was he who guarded the pol
day and night and regulated the
entry of outsiders. He was allowed
to work outside the pol during day
time to supporting his income also
Poliyo’s wife or son readily
available. His other tight duties.
POL HOUSE (RESIDENTIAL CLUSTER), AHMEDABAD
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Equipments of Poliyo
1. Vigil
2. with a Lathi - thick-stick
3. knife
4. torch.
DUTIES OF POLIYO
1. clamp down the shutter and
open the main gate at
definite time
2. watch over the pol during
night hours
3. check that every house of the
pol is properly locked up at
night
4. act as a messanger on
occasions like marriage,
death, birth, community
dinner etc. occurring in' any
members' family.
5. carry out the instructions of
the pol council when it meets
and organises collective
activities and programmes,
6. distribute Datana - a small
thin fresh stick of babul tree
used us tooth brush.
OTHER VIGILANT GROUP AT POL
The life in a pol is well knit, well
connected and well meant. Every
one knows everyone else very
closely. As one enters the pol
quickly one is surrounded by a
group of youngsters and children
asking him to whom do you desire
to meet.
groups of children and young boys
playa vital role in the life of a pol
thereby enhancing the safety and
security of the residents in general.
such groups of elderly persons are
also formed and they inherently act
instinctly as watchful watchman.
young boys relatively remain
watchful for the longer part of the
day, while that or elders do for
shorter periods. While brushing
their teeth with Datana in the
morning hours.
ROLE OF WOMENIN VIGILANCE
Many domestics affairs relating to
Pol families arc frequently discussed
and untoward as well as unsociable,
actions are often condemned by a
women folk in the pol during noon
hours in the absence of male
members who are out for work and
children at school and more so they
are free from household activities
especially kitchen duties.
It is this group of women which
most effectively probe into matters
connected with any family in the pol
at the level of personal
conversations and gossip and thus
help eradicating problems and serve
as functional mechanisms for
resolving conflicts. In this way,
almost everyone helps for
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enhancing the safety and security of
the pol by one way or other.
CULTURE AT POL
Festival on different occasion, and
show of ritual and festival that are
observed in the Pol comprise basics
of cultural meeting and ritual
traditions. These basics thus keep
the life of the pol throbings,
thrillings and passionate and
thereby through such festivities the
pol-dwellers have maintain their
neighbour-hood associations and
sense of oneness.
POL HOUSES PATTERNS
The housing model of the pol is
commendable to see. the pol
reveals that the pattern of the
houses was that of a extraordinary
combination of approach and utility
on one side and defence with dead
wall at the end of the street on the
other.
Houses, mainly of them, are multi-
storyed having usually made of brick
and mortar having massaive walls
with use of good timber. Many of
them are ornamented with wooden
carving
RESERVOIR IN POL HOUSE
(TANKUN)
Inside the house mostly one finds
an yard and underneath it a covered
reservoir and it is so arranged that a
rainwater is stored for drinking
purpose.
The pumps were installed for
drawing water from the reservoir
which is called tankun in Gujarati.
physical structure just created out
of stone lime cement wood and
other materials. Here a house is
pregnanat with a social meaning, a
centre of thrills and throbs and a
place filled with fervous and flavour.
BUY OR SELL POL HOSES
Any deal between two parties, i.e.
between the actual owner and the
actual buyers or tenant, but it is also
an application of the rules and
regulations of the pot council the
new-occupant or new-comer.
Behind the this kind of regulation is
to provide more security on one
side and feeling of oneness on the
other.
CONSTITUTION OF POL HOSE
The constitution of the pol council
was written one, was available and
can be had from the records. At
many place by scrutinising the
available records we get the glimpse
of the varied activities that were in
operation under the direct guidance
of Sews-Samaj and Yuvak-mandal.
Organisations like this providing
library facility, materials for
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combating primary illness, vessles
for community dinners, various
items for making decoration - all
these with token rent.
Normally, such organisation have
had their written constitution. They
were maintaining books of accounts
of income and expenditure. Hence,
systematic records were prepared
and kept securedly and excellently.
POL HOSE TRADITION AND
CHANGE
With the passage of time, absence
of danger, reduction of political
upheavalness, decrease of social
and political unstability and more so
with the presence of stable
government, the process of
increasing population took place
which created scarcity of house in
turn. Consequently, the traditional
form and nature of pol became
redundant and its utilitarian
approach and application became
obstructive and worthless.
Hence, the workable constitution of
the pol council demanded scrutiny
and change. The circumstances of
safety and security in city become
favourable. People living outside of
pol also started enjoying safety, On
the whole, the importance of pol
from the safety purview goes on
decreasing gradually.
For this reason, the tradition and
activity of pol can cope up with
evident prominent forces and more
so the traditional nature of pol
could not gel dimmed as well as Just
not to remain at bay from the forces
of change; it was necessary to
welcome new currents.
Therefore, in a way the importance
of pol-living was saved and as and
when demand take place changing
activities become inevitable, In this
way, pol has become known as a
symbol of mixture of old and new,
of tradition.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I Harminder singh wish to express
my sincere gratitude to Dr. Rasesh
Jamindar for teaching this
important course of History of
Culture, I sincerely thank to
Academic Head Prof R.J. Vasavada
for guidance and conducting the
course under the M. Sc.
Conservation at CEPT Ahmedabad.
Last but not least I wish to avail
myself of this opportunity, express a
sense of gratitude and love to my
friends and my beloved parents for
their manual support, strength, help
and for everything.
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