TCG: How do you feel upon your appointment as the first Vice Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University?
Dr. Padmavathi: I am honoured. I would like to share with you the noble intent of this University first. Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University was formed to conserve our ancient fine arts, nurture and re establish them. Exodus of students in to engineering and medicine drew concern among the seers in field of education who immediately proposed to start a University to revive art and architecture.
It started in 1990 and there was no looking back since then. Architecture has always been there in our country as a profession and culture too. In addition to our country’s art and architecture we have also studied Egyptian, Roman, Grecian and Islamic architecture. This is a part of world heritage. Our temples are living proof of this.
Yet, the necessary awareness and urge to preserve/conserve the same is lukewarm in us. Universities have to teach architecture in a systematic and planned way.
By ‘planned way’ I mean a planning that includes urban, rural, regional and spatial planning too. There are some universities like School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi and Vaastu Kala Academy which focus on planning and architecture only. But in India it is the first time that the Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken a decision to start University planning, architecture and fine arts all under same roof. In addition to the regular B.Arch, which is a five year course (includes internship and dissertation) we also have other bachelors, masters and short term diploma courses here. Short term courses like PG Diploma in arts, interior designing, etc are for those who wish to become teachers too. Urban Planning we have here involves a lot of expertise in geographical and information systems.
TCG: What are your responsibilities as a Vice Chancellor to this University?
Dr. Padmavathi: It is a new University; it’s indeed a huge responsibility to establish and keep up the name and the standard. It’s not just to keep the wheel turning but to bring it on par with other deemed Universities both in India and abroad. To develop it academically, financially and in terms of quality is my dream and vision. My association with this University is from the year 1977, where I joined as a student and stayed on. I then pursued my bachelor’s degree in Architecture passed out in distinction after which I moved to Virginia Tech to pursue my masters in planning. To get a higher on the ladder, I did my doctorate; I also had a penchant for studies. On academic staff scholarship I was the only person selected in 1990 and went to London to do my doctorate. I took up a lot of projects with passion and here I am! Probably the government thought it is high time I am honoured with this Post!
TCG: What is the prerequisite for a student to enter BE Architecture?
Dr. Padmavathi: Students must have completed plus two from any curriculum, with maths background. They also need to take NATA or National aptitude test in architecture. NATA can be taken any number of times in a year. This means if a student gets less score he can retake the test to improve his score by re-registering for the NATA by paying fees again. However NOT the best score BUT the average of the scores is taken into consideration. For example a student scores 80/200 marks in the first attempt and 110/200 marks in the second attempt his over all score is (80+110)/2 = 95 marks. NATA scores are valid for 2 years. The test contains 2 sections. Section 1 is online computer adaptive test for 100 marks. Test Duration 90 mins. Section 2 is paper based test. It has 2 parts. Free hand and theme sketching is mandatory. Each carries 50 marks. Total marks are 200. Minimum qualifying marks are 80/200. Centers at Andhra Pradesh are JNTU College of Architecture, Hyderabad, Andhra University, Vizag, Venkateshwara College, Tirupathi and SVR College, Vijayawada.
TCG: What are the other essentials a candidate needs to possess to enter in to architecture?
Dr. Padmavathi: Basic knowledge of graphics is a must. NATA score specification as I said earlier and more than 50% in maths. Only students with genuine interest come in to architecture. Candidates need to have aptitude for drawing, sketching, aesthetics, understanding scale and proportions, mental ability, reasoning and architectural awareness. I would like to add that students today are joining the ‘bandwagon’ of sought after and lucrative courses without bothering to find out what is their line of interest. They need to be a little more speculative about what they want before jumping in to any field. I think parents must also provide a wise guidance rather than going with the general opinion. This is one field I can surely say will give professional as well as creative satisfaction. It gives a vast scope to research, in fact there are candidates going into doctoral studies, deep in to the subject.
TCG: Do you think architecture has any thing to do with the infrastructural growth of the country? How?
Dr. Padmavathi: Infrastructure development is a very important component of urban planning and architecture. We have excellent paper work but when it comes to implementation we are a little behind. We are more of bureaucrat dominated society. When it comes to development I think its best to leave things to the technocrats. They can know what the best is and how to make it happen, of course with the consent from the government. The very emergence of our university reiterates the fact that people are recognizing the need for true ‘builders’. I can see that happening slowly but steadily. I also think everyone wants to pitch in their bits, like the politicians, academicians, etc, but it is only because of lack of proper coordination that things are moving at snail’s pace. Any way because of a sudden boom in infrastructure, growth is definitely seen, but it is haphazard. The only hope is every market economy has a cut off point, so it has to stop somewhere and restart in a systematic manner. Latest trend is people moving into the suburbs, which spell a new infrastructure again! So this isn’t a matter to worry !
TCG: There seems to a severe lack of space in our cities. How can architecture solve this problem?
Dr. Padmavathi: People migrate into cities for better avenues. Cities are lucrative and happening, who doesn’t want to be a part of the world that is always happening?! Despite the good infrastructure in their towns people still move in to cities but our structure and plan isn’t made that way to accommodate so much population. Monsoon adds havoc to this situation and unless the government takes immediate action things will not get better. We do have the GHMC which are pro-development and pro-infrastructure.
TCG: Do you think IT is threatening all other fields?
Dr. Padmavathi: Information technology is present in every field. I would like to tell you that I have always seen two kinds of students/people in my tenure. The first kind is out and out career oriented for its own benefit. They are not real risk takers. They are intelligent, no doubt, but they will work for themselves. But the other kind thinks at a macro level, as to what it can contribute to the society. Like many students who are with us, who think about contributing something to the environment, pollution and other larger issues. Such people come in to Urban Planning. They device action oriented projects which produce tangible results. This is very encouraging for teachers like us to see noble intentions in students, we are inspired too!
TCG: Your QIP programme is known to be very innovative as it equips your faculty with latest happenings in the field. Could you elaborate on that?
Dr. Padmavathi: Sure. This time under QIP we have ‘retrofitting’ that talk about giving a face lift to the old buildings without completely destroying them. How to adapt the old buildings to new use is what all this is about. For instance the building may not totally lend itself to overhaul, like making it centrally air conditioned, for office space, this is where the ‘Retrofit’ expertise comes in to the picture. This may necessarily be applicable to a heritage building but any old structure. Classic example is that of the Bhaskara Palace retrofitted to CARE hospital.
We encourage the new teachers to think of new issues and how to solve them. Another most important area we focus on is ‘Sculpture in Landscape’, where the artistic abilities along with the intellectual application comes to fore. A classic example for this is the Alankrita Resorts at Shameerpet where you can see the usage of rocks to sculpt the place and beautify it. Every topic or application is unique and inimitable, hence we encourage teachers to be more original and creative that not only gives them satisfaction but inspires students too.
We have architects and experts in this field whose talks as well as work inspire students to seek for higher goals in life.
TCG: What is the inspiration or motivation for the students you provide in this aspect?
Dr. Padmavathi: We have architects and experts in this field whose talks as well as work inspire students to seek for higher goals in life. We have experts like Mr.Anantakrishnan from Mangalore; we have Sangeetha Reddy from Hyderabad, who had done Alankrita. Series of lectures are conducted by them. We have our own students like Sandhyasree Reddy, master’s degree from Delhi University who was instrumental in doing the Lotus Pond in MLA Colony, Banjara Hills too. She thought of the entire habitat of the lake including the migratory birds that visited the lake.
Having a degree in fine arts as well as Architecture is something like having the cake and eating it too! This job surely will not give you any kind of pressure but solace instead and energizes you to work more. Obviously it is not work per se but what you are doing that becomes important. Living examples to the above are our professors, Sreenivas Reddy, Mrs.Anjani Reddy and Stanley Suresh who are great artists and enjoy teaching too.
TCG: Do you think architects are in great demand because of dearth of expertise and sudden demand for them in the field?
Dr. Padmavathi: Architects always have the chip on their shoulder because of the market is always thirsting for them. They are in great demand and we are asked to produce more. Another area that is in great demand is interior designing. There isn’t any formal degree course in Interior Designing that is recognized by any university. Commercial establishments do offer short term courses but that will not suffice the need as theory part or proper subject is not covered in detail.
Architects always have the chip on their shoulder because of the market is always thirsting for them.