Navrachana University provost Professor Pratyush Shankar’s latest book “History of Urban Form of India: From Beginning till 1900’s” was unveiled at the Navrachana University campus on Thursday.
Published by Oxford University Press, the book was launched by renowned architect Gurjit Singh Matharoo, recipient of the RIBA Gold Medal, along with Smt. Tejal Amin, chairperson of Navrachana University, and Mayur Gupta, professor and artist.
Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Tejal Amin said, “Prof Pratyush Shankar’s book is dedicated to the power of exploration and understanding in shaping our cities. The book is an endeavour to appreciate the past that shapes our present and future, and an inspiration to explore and reimagine the essence of our urban landscapes.”
Prof Shankar said, ‘The ‘History of Urban Form of India’ delves into uncharted territories and attempts to unravel the complexities of the evolution of our cities. It strives to bridge the gap between the humongous amounts of data available at our fingertips and true understanding. I believe it will serve as a catalyst for further discourse and exploration in urban studies, architecture, and planning.”
In the book, Prof Shankar addresses a critical gap in our understanding of the architectural evolution of Indian cities. While the concept of “urban” is extensively discussed in various academic disciplines such as architecture, planning, urban design, and geography, there remains a notable absence of a systematic understanding of the historical forms of Indian cities. Despite recent advancements in satellite imagery, total station surveys, and other advanced mapping techniques, a strong conceptual model that can help in understanding the patterns in urban form has remained elusive.
During the book launch event, experts in the fields of architecture, art, and academia Gurjit Singh Matharoo, founder of Matharoo Associates, Mayur Gupta, professor and artist and the author Prof. Pratyush Shankar shared their insights and perspectives on urban form and historical cityscapes.
Another highlight of the evening was the exhibition “Recent Trajectories”, a semester-end student project display by Navrachana University’s School of Environment Design and Architecture (SEDA). The exhibition showcases works of various disciplines of architecture and design such as studios, workshops, construction, history, humanities and research, and offers a window into the practice of teaching architecture and design. It also provides a glimpse into the intersection of academics’ professional journeys and their teaching at SEDA.
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