01 - Architecture is one of the subjects invented and developed over the years of thought process in our society. It is basically related to creating an environment where one can perform certain functions without any hindrance from the forces of the nature, such as wind, rain, fire and sun and also without the fear of a fatal attack either by the rivals or by the wild animals.
02 - Architecture is like the subject of literature. Literature is about the expression of thought in a language, written by using a script. Every language has its grammer and every script has its rules of writing. The idea, which an author desires to convey to another individual, can be properly conveyed only by following the grammer and the rules of the script.
03 - The qualities of any literary work are assessed by the appreciation of the idea conveyed and of the form of the language. The grammer of the language is a system, which assigns a specific meaning to a group of words. The words are coined by individuals to describe or indicate an act or an object or an article. We use the words and groups of words called sentences, which are again arranged in a sequence to convey the desired meaning. By this method, we convert our mental images into a code, a language, which is transmitted to another person, either orally or through writing. It is only when that person is able to create the same images so transmitted; we say that he has understood what we wanted to say. Here the words in a language are like a building material and the grammer of the language is like the technology of using the specific building material. Together it is used for expressing an idea. The idea and the literary form, so expressed, is appreciated and not the grammer or the script of the language.
04 - Architecture is an expression of thought in three dimensions. It includes objects of utility and art. But, in the present day society, most people look to it as an art of decorating a building, with some superfluous objects like statues, raised floral designs or abstract forms, sometimes colours etc. to attract the attention of those passing by it. And this is confirmed by the actions of the so-called present-day architects. The actions of these men have acquired them a status of “yet another worker in the building industry” and that his presence or involvement in building activity is optional.
05 - Initially this subject was divided in two main categories; viz. 'Civil' and 'Military' Architecture. The 'civil' part related to those structures, which were built for individual and family functions, and the 'Military' part was related to fortifications and other structures for providing protection to a group of families or people. It also included the activities related to the design and the construction of structures related to the water storage and its distribution for agricultural purposes and for providing drinking water to the population; and the construction of roads and bridges for providing a transport facility for the movement of men and materials.
06 - This is a subject related to creative activity and therefore, as in every other similar activities, there are two main parts; one dealing with the artistic qualities and the other with the technology. For example, take the case of literature or music or painting. Any work in literature is evaluated on the basis of its quality of ‘expression’, which is achieved by using appropriate words and also by following the rules of the grammar of the language. The theme of a drama, creates a 'feeling' in spectators, a piece of music also creates a 'feeling' in listeners and so also a painting. For the literary expression the language is the medium of expression, for dramatic expression both the language and performers on stage are the mediums of expression, in painting it is the canvass or paper and the colours are the medium of expression.
07 - Each medium has its technology; and any technological mistake mars the beauty of the 'expression'. The same is the case with the subject of Architecture. Here the medium of expression is the building materials, which have their specific technologies. The spaces designed and created by an architect acquire life when they are in use. Like human beings, every building acquires a personality by its functions in the group of buildings, say, in a village or a town. The architectural work is not evaluated simply for the form, but for that individual personality, which it acquires, while in use.
Social Changes
08 - About two hundred years ago some ambitious supervisors, working under architects were directly engaged by military authorities for the design and construction of roads and bridges. These men were required to use some technological formulae while working under architects. On the basis of this technological knowledge they agreed to work for a very meagre fee. Since, they were found to be cheaper and also were ready to take and implement the orders of the military Commandants, the military authorities started appointing such men directly in the place of architects. After working independently, they started calling themselves as 'civil' engineers. Architects were employed only when some important public building was required to be constructed. This relegated the architects to secondary positions.
13 - In view of this background of the present situation in our country, it becomes necessary for all of us to know the Constitutional provisions, which enshrined and protected the fundamental rights of the Sovereign People of India and clearly stated the duties assigned to all public institutions and authorities. Whatever has been stated in the statute book, whether by obtaining our prior consent or not, is our 'desire' expressed in the form of law by our representatives, and is also a direction given on behalf of the people to the persons who have been appointed as public servants to implement it, in letter and spirit, and manage the affairs of this country. If we, the 'Sovereign People' of India, ourselves do not know as to what has been said on our behalf, how can we control the behavior of those who have been appointed by us to perform on our behalf, the respective duties.
(Excerpts from my paper submitted in 1998 to the Council of Architecture, New Delhi at the request of its President Ar. Premendra Raj Mehta)
02 - Architecture is like the subject of literature. Literature is about the expression of thought in a language, written by using a script. Every language has its grammer and every script has its rules of writing. The idea, which an author desires to convey to another individual, can be properly conveyed only by following the grammer and the rules of the script.
03 - The qualities of any literary work are assessed by the appreciation of the idea conveyed and of the form of the language. The grammer of the language is a system, which assigns a specific meaning to a group of words. The words are coined by individuals to describe or indicate an act or an object or an article. We use the words and groups of words called sentences, which are again arranged in a sequence to convey the desired meaning. By this method, we convert our mental images into a code, a language, which is transmitted to another person, either orally or through writing. It is only when that person is able to create the same images so transmitted; we say that he has understood what we wanted to say. Here the words in a language are like a building material and the grammer of the language is like the technology of using the specific building material. Together it is used for expressing an idea. The idea and the literary form, so expressed, is appreciated and not the grammer or the script of the language.
04 - Architecture is an expression of thought in three dimensions. It includes objects of utility and art. But, in the present day society, most people look to it as an art of decorating a building, with some superfluous objects like statues, raised floral designs or abstract forms, sometimes colours etc. to attract the attention of those passing by it. And this is confirmed by the actions of the so-called present-day architects. The actions of these men have acquired them a status of “yet another worker in the building industry” and that his presence or involvement in building activity is optional.
05 - Initially this subject was divided in two main categories; viz. 'Civil' and 'Military' Architecture. The 'civil' part related to those structures, which were built for individual and family functions, and the 'Military' part was related to fortifications and other structures for providing protection to a group of families or people. It also included the activities related to the design and the construction of structures related to the water storage and its distribution for agricultural purposes and for providing drinking water to the population; and the construction of roads and bridges for providing a transport facility for the movement of men and materials.
06 - This is a subject related to creative activity and therefore, as in every other similar activities, there are two main parts; one dealing with the artistic qualities and the other with the technology. For example, take the case of literature or music or painting. Any work in literature is evaluated on the basis of its quality of ‘expression’, which is achieved by using appropriate words and also by following the rules of the grammar of the language. The theme of a drama, creates a 'feeling' in spectators, a piece of music also creates a 'feeling' in listeners and so also a painting. For the literary expression the language is the medium of expression, for dramatic expression both the language and performers on stage are the mediums of expression, in painting it is the canvass or paper and the colours are the medium of expression.
07 - Each medium has its technology; and any technological mistake mars the beauty of the 'expression'. The same is the case with the subject of Architecture. Here the medium of expression is the building materials, which have their specific technologies. The spaces designed and created by an architect acquire life when they are in use. Like human beings, every building acquires a personality by its functions in the group of buildings, say, in a village or a town. The architectural work is not evaluated simply for the form, but for that individual personality, which it acquires, while in use.
Social Changes
08 - About two hundred years ago some ambitious supervisors, working under architects were directly engaged by military authorities for the design and construction of roads and bridges. These men were required to use some technological formulae while working under architects. On the basis of this technological knowledge they agreed to work for a very meagre fee. Since, they were found to be cheaper and also were ready to take and implement the orders of the military Commandants, the military authorities started appointing such men directly in the place of architects. After working independently, they started calling themselves as 'civil' engineers. Architects were employed only when some important public building was required to be constructed. This relegated the architects to secondary positions.
Political influence
09 - During the British rule in our country, the entire local community, who were traditionally engaged in the activity of design and construction of buildings were ignored and consequently were wiped out economically. Establishment of architects in the society was not encouraged. The entire building activity was brought under the control of engineers in the name of public health and safety.
10 - Some wise men in our society in those days did take cognisance of this situation and started with individual efforts and finance one college of Architecture; but those were the days of subjugation and every activity was subject to scrutiny. The syllabus was so designed that local students coming out from such colleges would be only useful to implement the design and instructions of British architects. Even after independence, the subject of architecture has been given a status of a subsidiary subject under the faculty of “engineering” in all Universities.
11 - After independence, our leaders chose to continue the same old system of British administration and laws. Since they were novices in governing and managing the affairs of such a vast country, they relied heavily on the senior administrative officials for advice. These men were trained to follow orders and were used as slaves for years. The cunning and intelligent among them twisted the Constitutional provisions by putting forward wrong interpretations to suit the whims and corrupt practices of those who occupied the seats of power. This is the basic cause of corruption in high places, which has in the following years percolated to the lowest ranks in the administration.
12 - Except the Indian National Congress, no party was having mass base. None of the political parties could achieve the majority in national elections to Parliament. During all these years, they applied their energies and talent to formulate various strategies to fight and to win the elections. Nobody cared to educate the people about the nature of the Constitution of India and how one should look to the political leaders and what to expect from them. This situation enabled the politicians in power to amend the Constitution and also the laws to suit their political interests and their personal whims, with total disregard to the public opinion.
(Excerpts from my paper submitted in 1998 to the Council of Architecture, New Delhi at the request of its President Ar. Premendra Raj Mehta)