Analyze the photo below and answer the question that follows.


A building with European medieval architecture in India.
Image by Michael Janich

The building in the photo above is located in India but has European-style architecture. Why?

1 answer

Possible answer:

The building in the photo above, which looks like a castle or a church, has European medieval architecture in India because it was built during the colonial period when India was under the rule of various European powers, including the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, and the British. These colonial powers imported their own architectural styles and cultural norms to India, both to assert their dominance over the native population and to establish their own identity and comfort in a foreign land. Many of these European-style buildings served as administrative centers, military barracks, churches, schools, or residences for the colonial officials and the elite, while others also had a symbolic function of projecting power and prestige. As a result, India today has a rich legacy of colonial architecture that reflects the multicultural history of the country and the ongoing debates about heritage, identity, and modernity.