Abstract:
Baba Chamliyal, a sufi shrine situated just 250m from the India-Pakistan border in
the Samba district of Jammu & Kashmir, stands as a beacon of shared culture and
history. The shrine is divided between India and Pakistan where the part of shrine
having body of baba lies in the Indian side and the part with the head of baba lies
in Pakistan. This shrine doesn't just represent the joint cultural heritage of the two
countries, but it also echoes the heartaches and memories from the time when India
and Pakistan were split apart. This research delves deeply into the layers of Baba
Chamliyal's history, assesses its present condition, and explores its potential as a
bridge for unity and friendship. Our primary interest is to discover how the thoughtful touch of design and
landscape architecture can amplify the beauty and significance of such places. By
doing so, they can become not just attractions for tourists, but also symbols that sow
seeds of peace and mutual respect. While borders often make headlines for tensions
and conflicts, places like Baba Chamliyal tell us a different, more hopeful story. They
remind us that there's a shared past and that perhaps, there can be a shared future
too. One of the central aspects of our study is to shed light on the unspoken
importance of sites that are witnesses to a shared heritage. Through a mix of in-
depth analysis, on-ground observations, and lessons from similar sites, we aim to
articulate how spaces like Baba Chamliyal can act as platforms. They can foster
conversations, ease existing strains, and encourage cooperative efforts between
nations that have historically been at odds. With this research we hope to
underscore the often-underestimated role of cultural landmarks in mending international relations and drawing attention to the immense potential of these shared sites.
