From time to time we read "expert's" love and affection for Le Corbusier, and their love for Chandigarh. Some of these "expert" feature repeatedly . I came to Chandigarh in 1970 to study Architecture and retired teaching Architecture. Over the last 40 Years, I heard many a times expert's views. Some of them have same thing to say about Chandigarh. Nothing New has come from them . They talk about harm to heritage of Chandigarh  yet they were not only witness but party to what was happening to Chandigarh  as Chief Architects, Principal's of CCA and LC's time practicing city architects.

We are very eager to get get "Governor's House " built in the Capitrol Complex. This place in books is refered as "Temple Of Democracy" Yet over the years lets say 1955 onwards people of Chandigarh have not developed any love with buildings of it's premises. I a saying this that after 5pm or on holidays I do not see rush of people like at "Rajmarg, New Delhi" near India Gate, Purana Quila or Hauj Khas. Only thing I can say is these marvel of Modern Architecture lack soul. They are just "models" but not part of our lives, our life style. These buildings have not evoked the same emotions as "Hawa Mahal",  "Taj", "Qutab Complex " of our rooted treasure of "living Architecture"  . Today evn Chandigarh as "city for displaced people " has been constrained to develop as per changing times and demands of people. Over crowded  with huge number of automobiles roads of Chandigarh are no more heaven of V7 concept One is scared of ever ready Challaning Traffic police who knows where a motorist has violated but are not ready to make traffic system fool proof.When will this end?  Such hypocrisy of "Chandigarh Experts". Their unconditional love for Le Corbusier who could only speak French during his 2 months contractual stay during the period he was assigned planning of his unbuilt dream. Citie's symbol "Open Hand "  which actually was designed much earlier in 1920s when he had no idea. But we are so touchy about it. His governor palace was against the idea of colonial palaces and slavery which we experienced as 2nd class citizen of British India. It is time to think again the legacy of Chandigarh which had no Soul. Is it right to construct and spend money like Governor's Palace. Our neighbouring country's PM has converted PM house to Post Graduate Higher education Institute as well Governor's  asked to vacate Palatial Governor's house.

From time to time we read "expert's" love and affection for Le Corbusier, and their love for Chandigarh. Some of these "expert" feature repeatedly . I came to Chandigarh in 1970 to study Architecture and retired teaching Architecture. Over the last 40 Years, I heard many a times expert's views. Some of them have same thing to say about Chandigarh. Nothing New has come from them . They talk about harm to heritage of Chandigarh  yet they were not only witness but party to what was happening to Chandigarh  as Chief Architects, Principal's of CCA and LC's time practicing city architects.

We are very eager to get get "Governor's House " built in the Capitrol Complex. This place in books is refered as "Temple Of Democracy" Yet over the years lets say 1955 onwards people of Chandigarh have not developed any love with buildings of it's premises. I a saying this that after 5pm or on holidays I do not see rush of people like at "Rajmarg, New Delhi" near India Gate, Purana Quila or Hauj Khas. Only thing I can say is these marvel of Modern Architecture lack soul. They are just "models" but not part of our lives, our life style. These buildings have not evoked the same emotions as "Hawa Mahal",  "Taj", "Qutab Complex " of our rooted treasure of "living Architecture"  . Today evn Chandigarh as "city for displaced people " has been constrained to develop as per changing times and demands of people. Over crowded  with huge number of automobiles roads of Chandigarh are no more heaven of V7 concept One is scared of ever ready Challaning Traffic police who knows where a motorist has violated but are not ready to make traffic system fool proof.When will this end?  Such hypocrisy of "Chandigarh Experts". Their unconditional love for Le Corbusier who could only speak French during his 2 months contractual stay during the period he was assigned planning of his unbuilt dream. Citie's symbol "Open Hand "  which actually was designed much earlier in 1920s when he had no idea. But we are so touchy about it. His governor palace was against the idea of colonial palaces and slavery which we experienced as 2nd class citizen of British India. It is time to think again the legacy of Chandigarh which had no Soul. Is it right to construct and spend money like Governor's Palace. Our neighbouring country's PM has converted PM house to Post Graduate Higher education Institute as well Governor's  asked to vacate Palatial Governor's house.

  Spirit of Las Vegas

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I recently was in Las Vegas. Stayed right on  "The Strip" and that too in the middle of strip at “Hotel Flamingo". On landing at hotel by late evening flight from Chicago. Time was almost 12 am when checked in.  Late by that time, one generally goes to bed but strange enough everything in and out was sparkling with lights and color. Decided to get into the crowd. What a crowd it was everyone holding a glass of drink in one hand, every face smiling rather happy, excited and an overall aura of being together on vacation. Moving from one architectural marvel to another was an experience. Whether it was Lava Show of the “ Mirage Volcano” or Fountains of “Bellagio” or for real feel of Venice, Italy in the insided ecore of "Venetian" Getting one self photographed with topless was another feature but all for fun . Also whole night music concerts on streets, Magic men, and passing through one casino to another playing with with 5 dollars with hope to win million was another pastime.Really Las Vegas was "City Beautiful "as well "City of Joy"

But when I read news few days back of massacre at Las Vegas from hotel room where about 59 died and over 500 injured made me think what that person was doing with 17 guns in his room and evil deed he was to commit in that lovely city.Can this act kill the spirit of City. I asked myself. Initially there was hesitancy but a firm belief rose over all other things. A “city beautiful” and a “City of Joy” can not vanish with spell like this. Las vegas has capacity to bear this shock and be again what it has brought to its visitors. For that matter even if UP Government does not put "Taj Mahal" on its tourist list has no “meaning” Taj will do the same wonder to its viewers what it has been doing for last 400 years and laugh at narrow mindedness of few . History has its own impact on our lives no matter what one tries to wipe it. What more each Prime minister wishes to address nation from “Lal Qila" built by  Mughal Emperor Shahjahan( An Indianan and a Muslim).

Chandigarh , experts termed it City Beautiful  in early 70's. some also termed it  " Nice sanitorium" But today it is a" Urban Chaos" by not understanding needs of it's habitants as everyone cries hard in the name of Le Corbusier Many do not understand that city is a growing organism whether planned or unplanned.

Le corbusier defined a 16 km green belt around city which consisted of phase 1 and phase 2 with total 47 sectors in Master plan. City's green belt has been reduced to nil with new towns like Mohali, Panchkula and latest is New Chandigarh in continuation of city grid .Chandigarh has downward gradient from North east to South west direction. Since city's character was in keeping Horizontal sky line , building heights in N-E were kept 2 and half stories and in S-W side it goes up to 5 stories. Also 14 storeys high secretariat and 11 storey tower in middle of sector 17 were part of corbusian thinking.  Fringes of city are still open for high rise development and they should develop as tese would not hamper any city character loss and will solve some increased population problem. Open spaces kept in sectors were also promised to be used for any demand to be met in master plan ,besides these open spaces are not self sustaining and burden on tax payers. 

City's lungs that is leisure valley can be kept in  its original condition and not disturbed.

Real culprit for city is increased ownership of vehicles which not only congesting streets and parking on community land but are also contributing hugely for increased carbon contents. No more it is enjoyable to walk or drive on city's streets.

Doing nothing in terms of urban solution will make city die soon than expected in master plan

Double Trouble

Decision was made. I must start counting my blessings and be content. I was surprised that I had two cars, two homes, two watches and then when things stated revealing, I was astonished most of the things I had were in Double. Somewhere I got into doubt as I had only one wife but then my conscious felt contented, she alone was equal to having more than two. My friends over casual talks also confirmed that having one wife is having more than one in terms of double stresses, double worries and doubled troubles on home front. But that is true only after you are married for 15 years or more. So question asked was to all eligible parties

Like a exam reappear I felt that I keep on failing when so ever I was tested by in the subject “wife”. I have heard that women are difficult to understand like some difficult subjects. Why men cannot understand women? I was told that each successful man has a woman at his back. Does that mean acts of men should be as per dictate of voice from behind? What about fundamental rights, what about being a man enough. I have learnt now all such questions and even thinking ids inviting double trouble in your life sentencing you to without food for at least one week in isolation and no night sleep for days together.

I meditated and tried to find when I was advised twice by my wife and yet I did not follow once.  It came back with striking note. Yes I was not wise enough to act on single call in timeline. I will keep on adding double the Garam  Masala to cooked meals or forget twice to water plants. This spoiled the equation over the time. I became a useless person and was termed lazy and compared to good for nothing.

It is also true all men want to play a double game too. Suddenly after increased girth and weight around waist, men in forty do become naughty but other half is clever enough to see what’s going on and game is always gets disturbed after a first set of flirting around in the night party. Morning brings back deeds account and day starts with sweet good morning said twice but wife gives no reaction and that starts a week long, may be month long offering from husband’s side to please dear wife. Double trouble dust gets settled only with coming of some guest in the house. I have promised now not to play any double game even not to count Double blessings.

Poetry in Architecture becomes plain text

Heritage claims of Le corbusier buildings were not accepted by UNESCO on the advice of ICOMOS which thought he was not the only one responsible for Modren architecture movement. Chandigarh was hoping for it's unesco status on Capitol Complex designed by LC.
Lavishly built with many pits and valleys area was conceived as poertry of a kind of reflections ,views which come unexpectedly,volumes which play high and low music pitch,colors which in it's full and rich application break monotony of building materials.A strange feature of flying bird which looks like Hand "open to recive ,open to give"tops the crown ,spaces which range from corridor spaces ,rampswith punctuated views,rooms with undulating gazing barsporches which go in related module of Human height at least once genrates the same breath which sounds close to when one sees the Taj.
Pity a poetry has been turned down as plain text. pehaps its like a wine which will taste better when it becomes 100 years old. let's live for that

Heritage Of Chandigarh

A person who has Parasmani when touches dirt it becomes Gold.Le corbusier , Pablo Piccaso Van Gough during their life time were strugling strangely after their death where ever they touched anything is proving to be a gold.Chandigarh auctioned furniture , drawings and photographs models have all become Gold at least for western world.A man hole cover , an uncomfortable chair, ill designed houses ,a city which speaks of culturally aloofness yet comfotable enough for those who can afford has all suddenly bracketed into a heritage.Many people including those to identify heritage value wonder what makes a drawing stool being sold for 20000 euros. in the hurry all want city to become a museum forgetting city has to change for changing needs. Thats where city remains alive.Wake up people with heritage city will loose its paradise . Give city a chance to live.