From our Desk 

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BKA on Traditional Knowledge Systems

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One lingering impact of colonialism has been the blind adoption of western practices. In our pursuit of Westernization, we have lost a precious repository of traditional knowledge. Everything traditional was dismissed as backward and redundant, while modern practices were adopted without regard for cultural context. As a result, the present generation is almost completely unaware of traditional knowledge systems, viewing them as exotic or optional. Sustainability was deeply ingrained in the Indian way of life; it was second nature to Indians. One example is the use of mango wood in funeral pyres across India. Mango wood, rich in sap, burns even when freshly cut. In Gujarat, a particular community still follows the practice of planting a mango tree sapling when a child is born, which can then be cut upon their death.

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Architecture, too, has suffered under the pressure of blind westernization. Traditional knowledge regarding construction methods, practices, and materials has nearly vanished. Knowledge about timber and timber construction deserves special mention here. Ancient architectural texts like Manushyalaya Chandrika and Tantra Samuchaya have been inadequately translated into English, leading to an unfortunate loss of ancient wisdom. For traditions to endure, traditional artists must be provided with work and recognition. Today, society values quantity over quality, and traditional craftsmen are not given the respect they deserve.

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The term “vernacular architecture” itself is a misnomer, often relegated to an elective subject. Moreover, the importance of traditional knowledge systems and their intrinsic relationship with sustainability are often overlooked in architectural curricula worldwide. The solution, however, is not to create a binary of “traditional vs. modern” and pit them against each other. Sustainability must become the norm, with the best practices from each approach identified, isolated, and blended seamlessly. The future of humankind depends upon our ability to make these choices.