Istanbul time: Located at the junction of Asia and Europe, Constantinople (now Istanbul) was considered one of the most important and greatest cities in the world, and in view of its cultural Given its geographic significance, the renowned French general Napoleon declared, “If the world were one nation, its capital would be Istanbul.”
Here we are presenting an excerpt from the travelogue of Allama Shibli Nomani titled Brief Situations of Constantinople, which will be of interest to you. Allama Shibli Nomani died in 1914. Over a century ago, this travelogue was written.
More about Istanbul:
Constantinople is reputedly the most beautiful city in the world. And the truth is, it doesn’t get much more visually pleasing than that. In this sense, its harbor is called the Golden Horn in English. Somewhere along the banks of the river, there are a series of buildings, and they go away. The land next to the buildings. It is very smooth and clean. Its level is exactly equal to sea level. And there is a strange happy scene.
He can get an idea of the extent of civilization in the city, especially in Istanbul, where there are five hundred mosques, one hundred and seventy-one baths, three hundred and thirty-four inns, one hundred and sixty-four madrasas, ancient five hundred madrasas, twelve modern colleges, forty-five libraries, and three hundred and five There are monasteries and forty-eight encampments. Such is the state of business and abundance of traffic that numerous tramcars, twelve-seaters, underground railways, and minor railways, which depart every half-knee, are constantly in operation. However, the pedestrian traffic on its streets is so dense that it constantly feels like a carnival.
Istanbul time: The bridge that connects Galata and Istanbul charges one penny per person. His daily income is not less than five thousand rupees.
Cafes are plentiful. It will not be less than four or five thousand, in my opinion. Some of them have buildings that resemble royal palaces because they are so magnificent. All kinds of syrups, teas, coffee, etc. are always available in coffee shops. A wooden bridge has been created to connect some of the coffee shops that are situated directly on the river, while the majority are situated on its banks. Coffee shops also provide daily newspapers. People drink coffee and read newspapers. In Constantinople, but in all these countries, coffee houses are considered necessities of life. When my Arab friends heard from me that it is not customary in India, they used to say in surprise, “How do people have fun there?” In many countries, coffee shops function as social hubs where friends can meet and enjoy themselves.
Istanbul time: It is unfortunate that Indians don’t find these items appetizing. They have no idea how crucial these kinds of shared connections are to living a happy life. What impact do they have on health conditions? We also enjoy getting together with friends, usually for a get-together at a friend’s house. However, this approach has two significant drawbacks. First of all, because of the clean, fresh air, entertainment events should be held outside for the sake of people’s physical health. The second serious drawback is that these gatherings are private gatherings, so except for backbiting, complaints, and similar types of language in them, there is no mention. Unlike coffee houses, where there is no opportunity for such talks due to the general public, in Constantinople and Egypt, I always sat in friends’ coffee houses in the evenings. But I have never heard of such mentions. There was no mention except for fun and banter. And it could not be. One of the great features of Constantinople is that if one wants to see a picture of European and Asian civilizations in one picture, one can see it here. If you visit the bookseller’s shops, there is a very wide shop on one side. There is a stone floor. There are very beautiful glass cabinets. As much as the books are volumes and volumes, they are not insignificant, but generally Mutla and Muzahab. The shopkeeper is seated at the table and chair. A couple of the younger, smartly dressed boys are occupied here and there. You stepped into the shop. A warrior brought a chair and placed it in front of him. and a list of books cited. The price is mentioned in the list. There is no possibility of an increase or decrease in it.
Istanbul time: On the other side, there is an irregular pile of books on the platforms on the side of the road. Payment takes hours.
Istanbul time: In the same vein, both kinds of professional and industrial shops exist. The same goes for general cleanliness and grooming. If you look at Galata, it looks like a piece of Europe. The shops are high and decorated. The roads are wide and smooth. There is no mention of mud or impurity. Unlike in Istanbul, where there is a majority Muslim population, most of the roads are uneven, and in some places they are so uneven that it is difficult to walk. This is probably the first thought that comes to the mind of a tourist when he comes to this city. Why is there so much difference between the two parts of this great empire? So this was the first thought that came to my mind. I did some research and discussion about it. I had little trouble figuring out why the residents were at odds. That is, the bankruptcy of Muslims and the wealth of other nations But apparently this could not be the reason for the unevenness and dirtiness of the roads and passages. I therefore made an inquiry with Hussain Haseeb Effendi, Police Commissioner, a well-known Turkish officer. He said that the taxes in our municipality are very low.
Istanbul time: Many items are exempt from tax. But the European merchants themselves pay much higher taxes than they want. As a result, the municipality has ample opportunity to use this funding.
Istanbul time: I thought it was the same mistake. In relation to which Ibn-i-Batuta has complained strongly of impurity and sloppiness, or now they have this arrangement of cleaning and cleanliness, for which they pay huge taxes. The truth is that decency and cleanliness have emerged as Europe’s modern yeast. The buildings here are completely different from the buildings in India. Houses are generally one-story or four-story. The yard is not absolute. The buildings are all wooden. Large nobles’ and pashas’ palaces are likewise constructed of wood. And this is the reason why there are frequent fires here. No month or week goes by that the fire does not destroy two or four houses. And sometimes the localities are burned to black dust. The Sultanate is making extensive preparations to put out the fire. For this task, hundreds of personnel have been specifically appointed. A very tall minaret is built on which a few employees are always present so that whenever they see a fire somewhere, they can report it immediately. There are other small monuments of this type. Whenever there is a fire, cannons are fired, and firemen from every part of the city rush to the spot with all their equipment. They are ordered to run wildly. Even if someone walks on a path and falls into their trap, there is no blame. I inquired from people why stone buildings were not built. It is well known that cold weather impairs health and causes excruciating agony.
The climate here is very good. Winters are very cold, and sometimes it snows. I have personally experienced the loveliest summertime—it is beyond words. Why, I wonder, don’t our aristocrats here go to Constantinople rather than Shimla and Nainital? The water comes from the mountain. And it is very digestible and pleasant.