I hail from the land of rich and diverse culture, INDIA. India constitutes of 28 states and 7 union territories, each of which has its own ancient and unique history. The Mughals, the British, the Portuguese, the French, the Moors and various others who colonized this country have left a mark on country’s wide architectural heritage. Surrounded by water on three sides and crowned by the snow peaked Himalayan range, the country is blessed with flora and fauna and variety of geographical and topographical features like rivers, deserts and mountains, forests. Nature has played its role in making my country a paradise.

Unity in Diversity is a phrase that defines India. With more than 350 languages spoken across the length and breadth of this country, India is a potpourri of various cultures and religion. The exuberant traditions and cultures interfaced with modern technology dictates the lifestyle of the modern Indian cities.

Each Indian city has its own identity. Delhi, the capital of India represents India’s history through the ancient and medieval architectural wonders that are conserved as vital heritage, though the city  has been ransacked and rebuilt several times. Mumbai is the city that never sleeps, a city for all. It is the fourth most populous in the world and also named as the Alpha World City, an important node in global economic culture. It is the commercial and entertainment capital of India. Bangalore is large and growing metropolis. It is known as the Silicon Valley of India. These are to just name a few to display the colorful mosaic of different lifestyles that resonate in my country.

India is an Artists palette with the wide shades of colors, from using an inch of a space to making a living, to creating wonders over large acres of land depending on the lifestyle. The dense population of India makes one thrive for the survival creating chaos. In many cases, spaces in Indian cities represent a theatre, where a story of over the years are said over a period of an hour with changing scenes and backgrounds, playing their vital role as each Urban space unfolds itself through the day and night.

The scope and opportunity for Urban Design in India is vast and so are the constraints. The challenge and underlying chaos along with the vital history, traditions and culture makes India, a solid platform for an Urban Designers work of Art.

Vande Matharam !