Thesis: Shailee Bhagat
Redefining Urban Heritage: The Case of Chauta Bazaar, Surat
Chauta Bazaar, a historic marketplace in the old city of Surat, India, offers a compelling case for rethinking urban heritage beyond the confines of monumentality and visual permanence. For over two centuries, this bazaar has served as a socio-religious and commercial hub, shaped by the intersecting forces of sacred practice, informal commerce, and adaptive spatial use. Its narrow lanes, mix of historic and new shopfronts, and street vending form a built environment that resists conventional heritage categorization, yet reflects a deeply embedded cultural and economic continuity.