33 : The Story of Modern Indian Architecture with Amit Srivastava

““Constant conversations are happening, and parallel streams coexist until one stream takes off and becomes mainstream.””

This week, we discuss global history in our conversation with Amit Srivastava, Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide, on post-postcolonial history and historiography in the Indian Ocean context. Discussion topics include: history of the modern architecture of India, globalization and contemporary South Asian architecture and infrastructural history versus 'big-name' architectural history.

Timestamp Outline

1:53 Book: India: Modern Architectures in History by Amit Srivastava and Peter Scriver
4:56 Micro-narratives to tell the story of Modern Architecture in India
7:35 Edwin Lutyens, Arthur Shoosmith, and St. Martin’s Garrison Church in Delhi
10:50 “Constant conversations that are happening, and there are parallel streams that coexist until one stream takes off and becomes mainstream.”
13:23 1947 after Independence in the Nehruvian period and the microhistories of Habib Rahman, chief of Central Public Works Department, and others
15:00 The Architect’s Act of 1972 and a shift in architecture towards the private sector
18:02 Critical turn vs Cultural turn
19:34 Birla Institute of Technology in Pilani, Laxman Chitale (architect) in Bangalore, and a regional boost through architecture
22:07 A conversation between regions and the center: housing, Dudhsagar Dairy complex by Achyut Kanvinde, the “White Revolution”, Matrimandir in Auroville
25:01 The “Cultural Turn” in the 80s and a changed Indira Gandhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), “Festivals of India” and the tourism industry
29:01 A global cultural turn towards neoliberalism in the 90s
31:51 Building construction in the contemporary world and its historical moorings
34:12 Materials and construction: not just economic constraints, but about “the things we celebrate”
35:55 Construction history conferences
38:07 The cultural introduction of new materials in construction
40:12 Materials and the modern humanities conception of “progress”: glass, steel concrete, etc
41:55 Postcolonial industrialization and opportunities for construction companies like Larsen and Toubro
44:02 Ahmedabad Mill Owners Association and globalization
46:22 “Southeast Asia” vs “Far East” vs “Pacific Rim” vs “Indian Ocean Rim”
50:05 Relationship of India and Africa through trade connections and colonialism