Mahmud Gawan Madrasa

Madrasah, madarasaa, medresa, madrassa, madraza, madarsa, medrese  different spellings and different pronunciations! But all means the same - Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious.

Madarsa is an Islamic educational institution which teaches students to become a scholar.

Many who study in Madarsa end up as imams. The madrasa also resemble colleges, where people take evening classes and reside in dormitories. An important function of the madrasa is to admit orphans and poor children in order to provide them with education and training. Madrasa may enrol female students; however, they study separately from the men.

One such Madarsa is found in Bidar, a small town in Karnataka. Although it is in ruins now, one can imagine how spectacular this structure would have been hundreds of years ago. It is called Mahmud Gawan Madrasa. It is called so because it was built by a noble man called Mahmud Gawan in 1478. 

Presently the southeast part of this wonderful monument has collapsed and what is remaining is still remarkable. This is a wonderful example of Bahmanid architecture. The plan consists of a quadrangle with halls and chambers on the sides. On three sides there are semi-octagonal projections crowned by bulbous domes while on the other side there is the entrance flanked by two minars. The facade is covered of coloured tiles of various designs in a Persian style. This Madrasa was struck by lightning in 1696 and caused considerable damage to the structure. 

 

If we could preserve what is remaining of this Madarsa in good condition, it is still a worthwhile proposition as this wonderful architecture can never be replicated!