Blog by Elkane Constructions

I am aware of the hurdles confronting the production of architectural magazines in India. For example, I was involved with Gautam Bhatia in some of his abortive attempts to produce a 'serious' journal on architecture. Each attempt faltered, primarily for want of a sustainable financial model. That A+D has managed to survive - and flourish - for 25 years Stands to its credit. It has accomplished this, perhaps, by presenting its contents in a Coffee-table format. Nevertheless, the magazine has published a reasonable content mix, which has contributed to at least some architectural dialogue in the country. This, though not in full measure, is the success of A+D. Each of the three institutions now faces new challenges as they look to the future: circumstances which prevailed when they were established have changed, not least because of their own contributions. But in architectural matters, notwithstanding the shining buildings of Gurgaon, NOIDA, et.al, the issues identified wit...

Nineteen eighty-four Was arguably a Watershed year for Indian arts and letters. Among the significant initiatives that marked the year Were the establishment of three seemingly disparate institutions that re-defined the cultural milieu of the country. In January 1984, the Indian National Trust for Art and cultural Heritage (NTACH) was established; later in July, the first feminist publishing house in India, Kali for women, began its operations, and at the end of the year (November December 1984), the first issue of A+D, was launched. What links them is the fact that they were conceived at the cusp of a transforming India which was shedding its insular worldview with increasing self-confidence and hope - a spirit that permeated all three initiatives. I was also fortunate to have been associated with all three. I am a founding-member of NTACH and have over the years, been a committed protagonist in the conservation studies and seen how it has transformed the conservation scene in ...