A glided past

Some histories are strange; they always hide untold stories. In Bangladesh, we often come across Heritage sites or buildings. In most cases the stories of these heritages sites remain unknown. We can just see the presence of them but don't really know the actual history behind these. Several hundred years old antiques and historical buildings of Gour civilization in Chapainawabganj are falling apart into nonexistence due to the lack of interest and indifference of the Archeology Department. Fortunately, one such mosque that was best preserved was Choto Shona Mosque (Small Golden Mosque). The mosque was built during the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah, between 1493 and 1519. The mosque is one of the best-preserved sultana monuments under protection by the Department of Archeology of Bangladesh. Chapainawabganj is rich in heritage sites. It its actually considered an ancient town. Among its vestige notable Muslim archeology is the Choto Shona Masjid (Golden Mosque). The mosque is situated about 3 km south of the Kotwali Gate and 0.5 km to the south-east of the Mughal Tahkhana complex in the Firozpur Quarter. The name of the mosque came from its gilding, which disappeared an unknown time ago. The entire mosque covers an area of 42 m from east to west by 43.5 m from north to south. Originally it was surrounded by an outer wall but now has been restored with a gateway in the middle of the east side for its protection. The massive structure of the mosque is built with bricks and stones, overpowering its superiority in a surreal manner. Around 1897 the southern part of the west wall was destroyed by a massive earthquake. There are five arched doorways in the eastern facade and three each on the north and south walls. Corresponding to the five archways in the east wall there are five semi-circular mihrabs inside the west wall. The stones of most of these miharbs have disappeared which some say was destroyed during the earthquake or disappeared long ago. The interior of the mosque is divided into fifteen units. There are three rectangular units which are covered with chauchala vaults, and the remaining twelve square are covered by inverted tumbler-shaped dome. In a dilapidated condition, stands the royal gallery in its northwest corner which eventually forms an upper floor. The gallery is approached from the northwest corner of the mosque through a stepped platform connected with a doorway. The gallery has a mihrab in front. The mosque is ornamented by decorative stone carving, brick-setting, terracotta, gilding and glazed tiles. The stone carving were chosen according to the time period and spaces. The hanging patterns adapted from the chain-and-bell of the Bauddha and Jaina period. Each of the cutting, edging and designs are exquisite and unique; the spandrels of arches and the spaces above the frames are always dotted with rosettes, an attractive form of designs, but are all carved differently. The interior of the domes and vaults are decorated with terracotta, those of the vaults being copies of the bamboo frames of local huts. A recent excavated part of the mosque is the frontal courtyard which is basically a mosaic roundels in blue and white colours of variegated design. At the east of the gateway there lies stone platform containing two unknown sarcophagi, inscribed with verses from the Quran and some names of God.