KOLKATA: You cannot be a “well-rounded architect” unless you have learnt the basics
of Vastu Shastra — the foundation on which traditional Indian architecture study rests,
believes IITKharagpur.
The country’s oldest and largest IIT will introduce the
rudiments to first and second-year undergraduate architecture students this August,
while those pursuing post-graduation or research scholars in infrastructure will get a
detailed grounding on the subject.
As a concept, Vastu Shastra did not figure in the architecture and infrastructure
syllabi. But faculty members — while looking at re-orienting teaching-learning for the
coming academic session — feel that since students are being taught concepts
prevalent in the West, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be conversant with
ancient Indian architectural traditions. They believe that Vastu studies are not rooted
in religion. Instead, ancient Indian concepts have a scientific basis and introducing
students to these will open up new vistas, they say.
The Ranbir and Chitra Gupta School of Infrastructure Design and Management
(RCGSIDM) of IIT-Kgp held its first workshop on the subject, ‘Vastu in Global
Perspective’, in the city on Sunday, attracting Vastu experts from across the country.
“Times are changing and across the globe there is a renewed interest in ancient Indian
knowledge. So, it is natural that we will tweak our syllabus to include Vastu in
architecture and infrastructure classes,” said Joy Sen, head of RCGSIDM and a faculty
member of the architecture department.
Vastu will be introduced in graded modules to UG architecture students, who are
taught courses like basic design and history of architecture. At the PG level, solar
principles, sacred diagrams, 9 circuit placements or the nabagraha mandal, sacred
altars and design semiotics and semantics are some of the things students will be
taught. “For PG infrastructure course, we will have BTech students from departments
of architecture, civil, electrical, mechanical and even management graduates. So, at
this level, we will have a greater variety to address,” Sen said.
Students will also have to write assignments, projects and tests on the Vastu concepts
taught. “Vastu Shastra has its beginnings in Rig Veda and is scientific in its tenor.
Today, the whole world is looking at green living, thanks to the way we are suffering
due to erratic concretization. The concept of Vastu revolves around the healthy
relationship of nature and infrastructure, hence its modern relevance,” Sen said.
