Suggested alternative to look at the history of Indian architecture

The history of architecture in India (and probably also in the rest of the world) can be learned by linking it to the geography of that place. What are the determinants of history/ culture/ habitation and architecture? These are very brief statements:

1.       Position of the place on earth is going to determine the dominant weather pattern in the form of temperature (hot/ cold/ warm/ humid/ dry) coupled with wind flow patterns and rainfall/ snowfall patterns.

2.       Topography is going to determine terrain, soil, ground water levels, flora and thus, fauna.

3.       (1) and (2) is going to determine density of population in a given area.

4.       Where have people stayed before man made architecture even came into existence? At least in India, we find such origins in caves (mountains or foothills), forests and near sea coasts or any water body or rivers.

5.       At a time where we didn’t know how to speak and didn’t seem to have scientific temperament, how did we deal with Nature? Through fear. How was fear managed? Concept of God. How was God portrayed? Through mystical idols, flora or fauna or combination of all three.

6.       What was at stake? Survival. What had to be judiciously used? Natural resources like water, flora and fauna. How did we manage to survive? Trial and error and improvising. Thus, all essential response to survival is situated in “geography”.

7.       Since we improvise, we develop methods, concepts to sustain ourselves for generations. Such concepts are formed as beliefs, myths, legends, sayings, stories, factual records and so on.

8.       Thus, history of Indian architecture should be seen along forest belts, mountain regions and along river belts of Ganga, Yamuna, and their tributaries. It should also be seen along peninsular coastline.

9.       The contextual response of Indian architecture is embedded in the following three phenomena: geography, history and philosophy.