Cultural perpetuity, literally meaning”attaining a timelessness,” is perhaps unequivocal the most positive word despite its dreary connotations of anticipation and longing. Its unequalled in its universal appeal and one may argue that the cultural perpetuityand the hope of legacy may actually be the blueprint for the future.If we are not future ready we will fade from memory and cease to exist. India, in its multiple thousands of years of existence is an phenomenal example of cultural perpetuity and resilience.
Human beings have always builtin response to a threatwhether it’s environmental, climatic or from their own species.Back when Oscar Newman was the bible for everyone’s Architecture the notion of defensible spaces was not considered as a means to cultural spaces. Now we know that place making, community and preservation and identity are the foundation of individual and national pride and is pivotal to reclamation of cultural pride of Bharat.
The Architecture of fear of defensible spaces is an adrenaline-fueledexploration with perhaps a healthy acceptance of human frailties vis-a vis survival instinct and an unhealthy deployment of segregation, isolation and over indulgence of control. In direct response to this fear-based segregation, surveillance and subversion of human rights- the process of cultural perpetuity is often found in spaces of awareness, connections and communications.
A phenomena of identity and or culture plays a significant role in the use and perception of aggregation spaces whichserve psychological well- being, provide for basic needs in a fair and democratic process and inclusivity and accessibility to All. These are not only global Sustainable goals (SGD) but national goals as well. Cultural perpetuity is created in the accepting Bharat and India in its rural and urban dicotomy and unbiased environments of its characteristic nature without the influence of our past especially our colonial past full of exploitation and subjugation. Instead a, a guiding moral and intelligent principle of integration and assimilation should be conveyed in our minds, our activities, our lifestyle, industry and policy. An organic evolution of Bharat finally free from the scarcity mindset of our past.
Traditional religion lore speaks of ‘Brahma’ the creator becoming enamored with the resilience and replenishment of ‘Prakriti’ that he wanted to possess her and control her as a response to always having everything and never needing anything. This greed powered conquests and colonial attitude has been a very recent phenomena. The true nature of human existence when we started the godly work of settling down, farming and creating communities, is collaboration.
Traditional architecture in India has addressed thesecultural perpetuity human instincts by always incorporating cultural spaces in sacred geometry always. These same sacred geometries is also found in nature and in living in symbiosis with the sustainable systems all around.Our ancestors knew that there is wisdom in nature, in the synthesis, ecological cycles and sustainable principles seen in nature everyday and they incorporated such practices into their daily lifestyles and this eventually got ratified in our culture. Our cultural roots are deeply inspired by the ecological systems, and sustainability of nature itself. Perhaps a story of cultural perpetuity needs to begin at these very roots where we find ourselves looking at nature the way our forefathers did. With reverence, awe and inspiration. Perhaps the best way forward as free India becomes 100 years old is to understand where we have been.
Historically, sacred geometry, Vastu Shastra is studied and as of late revived in our Indian expression of even modern architecture practices. This invocation of reverence, devotion and even humility has always provided for psychological appeasement and esoteric ideals like self-healing/ self -sustenance in humanity. It is the recorded history of Bharat and Hindustan as we know it that may co existed with nature and the divine and gathered to celebrate existence itself as miraculous. A recent revival in sustainability is really the awakening of the wisdom of our ancestors adapted to modern times. It may even be called a celebration of humanity and our greatest contribution to the universe… culture.