THESIS SYNOPSIS
LANDSCAPE MEMORIES, a case of Kerala
Anjali Anoop T PA200115
Guided by Ar. Bobby Sujansinghani Co Guided by Prof. Divya Shah
Masters of Landscape Architecture Faculty of Architecture
Feb, 2017
Landscape memory, a case of Kerala Thesis synopsis, 2017
ABSTRACT “The past lives in art and memory, but it is not static: it shifts and changes as the present throw its shadow backwards. The landscape also changes, but far more slowly; it is a living link between what we were and what we have become. This is one of the reasons why we feel such a profound and apparently disproportionate anguish when a loved landscape is altered out of recognition; we lose not only a place, but ourselves, a continuity between the shifting phases of our life.” (Drabble) Margaret Drabble, 1979, A Writer‟s Britain: Landscape in Literature
Landscapes are not mere assemblage of physical features; rather it reflects human activity and is imbued with cultural values. Elements of space and time are combined. Landscapes evolved over time, and as human activity has changed, they have acquired many layers of meaning. A landscape keeps changing as the culture, climate and natural surroundings change within and around them. The character of the landscape thus reflects the values of the people who have shaped it, and who continue to live in it. Present form of landscape is evolved as a result of human interaction with nature over prolonged time period. The maintenance of cultural diversity and their knowledge increases the capacity of human beings to adapt to change (Maffi). Different cultures interact with nature in different ways and build different relationships with them. A cultural landscape is the combined work of nature and mankind, expressed by a long and intimate relationship between people and their natural environment. The study aims at looking at the landscape memories of Kerala, through a transect study of a typological section, which include all major geographic conditions present in the physiographic division of Kerala. Study of landscape past makes us aware of today and gives clue for future developments. Key words: culture, landscape memory, past, present, future INTRODUCTION Kerala is endowed with an ecologically rich tropical monsoon climate and unique topography that has moulded its diverse and biologically rich ecosystems and life support natural resources. These unique natural systems are the basis of the decentralized and self‐reliant life strategies of a robust society. As the natural systems were diverse and biologically productive, the human communities who evolved survival means that depend on the nature could live sustainably and viably. Their life was austere but luxuriant and their life vision was based on ecological prudence and reverence to nature. People with complex knowledge systems and livelihoods survived on the complex interdependence and co‐operation of several units in the society and ecosystems. The harmony that existed between nature and time‐tested traditions gave each individual the opportunity to be part of some livelihood means. This Anjali Anoop T PA200115
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Landscape memory, a case of Kerala Thesis synopsis, 2017
became the basis of the depth and vastness of the survival wisdom and lifestyle of its people. The stability and sustainability of the society were thus closely linked with the stability and viability of its natural systems. Various Ecosystems found in different parts of Kerala are rich in biodiversity, stability, and evolutionary history. Each species in a natural ecosystem has its own niche which is actually not only their own specialized means for survival but also their role and responsibility in maintaining the stability, integrity, and longevity of the system. The traditional human communities who have evolved through time also follow the same pattern of social organization and complex survival strategies dependent on the natural systems and natural processes. Just as natural systems evolve and flourish adapting to geological, climatic or ecological changes and become stable and capable of supporting more and more evolution of life forms, human communities also evolve complex social organizations and very specific niches that result in the evolution of knowledge systems, skills and livelihood mean. There are memories of landscape linked for each person, which takes him/her back to a beloved space. But now, as there is rapid development happening at all places, there is a missing of linkage between the past and present. And in this missing linkage, we fail to spot our identity. Changes are inevitable and important, and these changes are providing us with „perfectâ€&#x; spaces which most of us enjoy. Looking back to our past, there still exists a nostalgic feeling towards a particular landscape, be it our place of birth, the path we took for our school, the trees which gave us a shaded space to interact with our beloved once, the river we crossed, etc. going back to those time is not what is suggested, rather, to find out changes that has to be curtailed to prevent further deterioration and become like an urban sprawled area, as loss of somethingâ€&#x;s are dearer than achieving some things in life.
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Landscape memory, a case of Kerala Thesis synopsis, 2017
PREMISE
Key plan with the transect line 3
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2 4 Sections showing the evolution of Kerala landscape Source: Author, (Ganesh; Narayanan) 1. According to the findings done by Dr. K.N Ganesh, a famous historian of Kerala, there was only two geographic divisions present for the region; high land and low land. The entire land was covered with thick forest and there were lot of water bodies and wetland areas present. Mid land was later developed by human interaction and modification with nature. Aboriginals settled in the high lands and they were hunters and food gatherers. 2. Later, people started settling in low lands and midlands. Mukkuvar probably migrated from Ceylon and settled in Malabar (Innes and Evans). There were people who started cultivation in midlands. Chera-Chola war alienated the peasants and empowered the Brahmin emigrants as masters of the landed property during 8th C A.D. They introduced: planning, control, measuring systems of land and crops. 3. Along with the exchange of surplus production between geographical zones, knowledge was also transferred. And this was the point where nodes of markets and
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Landscape memory, a case of Kerala Thesis synopsis, 2017
exchange centres developed and people of high land started settled cultivation practices. 4. Hence, there were people living in different zones with different levels of interaction with nature. Thus the story of landscape modification begins....
Sections showing the evolution of Kerala landscape Source: Author (Logan, Malabar Manual) NEED FOR THE STUDY Why past is important? The age old system of every village having a temple, a tank and associated sacred grove explains the ancient method of water harvesting and sharing and may be considered as the backbone of village economy. Significance of past as a part of our identity has reduced. But there was a zenith when the sacred groves were a part of our daily life... all activities which we do whether it is festivals, or day to day giving milk to the serpents (snakes) or lighting the „deepam� (lamp), it was linked to the sacred groves. And the scale of it varied from a small household to a larger settlement (village). These were threads of strong relation which we had to a particular natural setting. Hence, past is important. Why the study of settlements? Transects and nodes are only points in space as far as place is concerned where as settlements are more amorphous and natural in its make. And also there are many stories that interlink. To look at all possibilities, a larger context (settlement) is looked at. It helps to understand nuances of the relations that exist to a certain kind of natural setting. And the derivations from that are most of the time applicable to the general studies. Aboriginals have a certain way of life and we all have evolved from them. So, certain
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Landscape memory, a case of Kerala Thesis synopsis, 2017
rootedness remains. In search of the rootedness we are studying the settlements. General study will not give the exact co relation. RESEARCH QUESTION What are the elements of landscapes which marks a memory in us and why? Is there a need to preserve those elements from past which are strongly related to our memory and identity? How does the landscape memory of a region change? How can those memories be included in the future developments? AIM To study the linkage between landscape narratives from past and present OBJECTIVE
To study the strong ecological and cultural legacy of Kerala To find the significance of traditional landscape practices and its relevance in a modern context. To conduct a visual acknowledgement study for the case.
SCOPE AND LIMITAIONS This study could be conducted in an elaborate scale starting from a homestead level to a larger geographic area. The study here would be limited to house and its surroundings and small community level study through transect method. It may try to be the basis of a starting point for other studies.
METHODOLOGY
Studying entire Kerala landscape within the given time period is not possible, hence a transect method has been used. Typological sections were looked into by studying overall landscape mosaic of Kerala in terms of elements like, coast, backwaters, estuary, wetland, agriculture, rolling hills, forest, mountains. Nodes were selected at three different geographic conditions; high land, mid land and low land. Study based on three different community from the geographic location was done to understand the past and present of the landscape and the connection between nature and mankind. Understandings of the studies are used to project the future landscape scenario. A tribal community, agrarian community, and a fishermen community are studied for high land, mid and low land respectively. Study starts from the micro level of their homestead to a larger level space. Way of living, activities, usage of spaces, materials used, landscape practices, were studied. Inferences and conclusions were arrived from each community study. Past, present and the future of the space are looked into. The study was concluded with an
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Landscape memory, a case of Kerala Thesis synopsis, 2017
inference that, with the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources, traditional knowledge that managed to maintain sustainable levels of living life has been sidelined. And the only way to preserve a memory is to link back to the way of life without denying the fact that developments are important and changes are inevitable.
FINDINGS Based on the study conducted findings were arrived at for each community. For high land, the kuruma tribal community lived very close to nature, utilising the resources wisely with the time tested traditional knowledgeâ€&#x;s. Whatever they consumed from nature was given back through one or the other way. After the colonisation of the settler communities physical characteristics of the locality were thoroughly changed with the introduction of new meanings for the spatial construction. Development of the local infrastructure in terms of the construction of roads, bridges, electricity and public utility Anjali Anoop T PA200115
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Landscape memory, a case of Kerala Thesis synopsis, 2017
centres such as schools and health centres reconfigured the spatial distribution of the communities. The midland culture of Kerala is mostly agrarian. Small groups working in the land collectively perform various rituals and most of them are connected with Mother Goddess concept of fertility ecology. Protection and preservation of the different types of fields and seeds is part of their performances and rites. A number of urs (clans/ group of settlement) around hills constituted a nadu (settlement area) within the kadu (forest) but there was no clear distinction between nadu and kadu as the former remained subsumed by the latter.
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Landscape memory, a case of Kerala Thesis synopsis, 2017
Bibliography n.d. Drabble, Margaret. A Writer's Britain: Landscape in Literature. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1979. Ganesh, Dr. K.N. Interview. Author. 2017. Innes, C A and F B Evans. Madras District Gazetteers. Madras: Superintendent Government Press, 1905. Logan, William. Malabar Manual. India: Government of Madras, 1887. —. Malabar Manual. India: Government of Madras, 1887. Maffi, L. “ Language : A resource for Nature: Nature and Resource.” 1998. Narayanan, Dr.M.G.S. Interview. Author. 2017. Pottekkatt, S. K. Oru Desathinte Katha. India: D. C. Books, 1971. Treib, Marc. Spatial Recall: Memory in Architecture and Landscape. New York: Routledge, 2009. Vijayan, O.V. Khasakkinte Ithihasam. India: DC Books, 1990.
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