We had not heard of Frank or Fuller or a motorcycle called Triumph Tiger Cub. We entered the basement of his home- it was his office. This man was gracious enough to take us on an intellectual journey constructing a temple of knowledge for everyone to see. This week we present you with – a Fountainhead of inspiration: acclaimed architect, Mr. Krishnarao Jaisim (Read Krishnarao Jaisim Biography) and his views and opinions on…
Architecture and Vaastu:
Most complicated thing in the beginning! Real vaastu is Vaastu for the environment. In Hindi or Sanskrit we are called vaastushilpis- we sculpture the environment. But money grabbers have banked upon the sentimental feelings of people and have converted it into a consultancy business. They’ve managed to bring in emotions and unreasons, which do not support anything. But as an architect, I have to support everything. They can shift. But I can’t. I am in these premises, standing on a foundation. Whereas, they shift the foundation itself!
<speaking vivaciously >
Many people come to me thinking that I know vaastu and invite me to bless their home. Not that I don’t know vaastu – I wish that I had taken up vaastu! I could have made ten times more money than what I have- nobody can tax me as it’s an art; no one knows what it is!
Modern challenges
If anyone comes with a requirement of building a pyramid, I politely refuse. Going with vaastu is fine as it provides sentimental support. But building according to British design in India is the worst crime. It is a symbol of mental slavery that is still continuing! Look at our government structures in ourcapital city. They all are big disasters! Nothing works. On a lighter note, nothing works, not even the bureaucrats or ministers!
Heritage and us…
Now you are touching the other side. Heritage is us. Part of our culture and ethical values. There I am not building for myself. You have to capture the spirit there, not the built structure. Ancient heritage is unbelievable. You are conditioned from the place you have come; the place you lived in; the heritage that you carry. It’s not a contradiction. You have to get it out from a person. And then you get the objective- to capture the spirit of the heritage. I will not copy the phenomenal architecture of Hampi or Belur or Tanjavur, I will only try to catch their spirits.
Frank Lloyd Wright, the greatest architect to walk on the earth, in 1930’s created architecture which modern crazy architects are trying to emulate in 2013. Those were timeless and these will vanish in 5-6 years. That is architecture. He has captured the spirit, he has captured the nature, he has captured the structures, and he has captured every aspect of architecture we talk about, in those days when technology was tighter, darker!
The Fountainhead
The moment somebody comes to me and says, “It cannot be built”, I say, “It can be built!” They are challenges. We could have become very commercial architects, grown into huge ones. What surprises me is the recognition we get and those who walk in to our office and say that they haven’t seen anything like this. Yes, we may have lost on rich clients, but we always had learned clients’ right from the 1970’s!
How many ashrams are there in India? Some of them come to me for architectural advice. Once I asked one of them very politely why he chose to consult me. He said because I’m the only one around to have the guts to be very honest. Everybody else says-“Yes sir, three bags full sir!” That struck me…
Turning into an architect
I had no goals or ambitions. I went to NDA- National Defence Academy. It was an amazing place. Very soon I questioned my commander on what I was doing there. He was astonished to see a young boy walking up to him! Later he asked me to take a week’s break. I packed my belongings and left the place forever. I preferred turning into a two-wheeler mechanic. I joined Jain College as it was the only college offering me admissions. End of one year in Science, I still wanted to be a mechanic as I was good at it. Suggestions poured in to pursue mechanical engineering in Manipal. I didn’t want to go there. My mother read my pulse and voiced her wish to see me as an architect. Her father was the architect of Mysore palace! Even then it didn’t strike me. I didn’t even know how to spell architecture. My brothers were super-dupers and won gold medals in academics. But I just wanted to finish my academics. My dad promised me a motorcycle, Triumph Tiger Cub. I would be the only owner of this bike in the whole country. I didn’t really care about the course I joined and took up architecture, ignoring its five- year structure!
It was my passport to everything. I managed the first year of architecture with no hiccups. But the 2nd and 3rd years were the transformation years as a British lady walked in to teach. When she left, she called two students from each class. Astonishingly, I was one of them. No one expected me to get invited. She said- “If you put your mind into it son, you’ll be one of the finest.” It sent a chill down my spine. I asked what made her say that and she said that it had to do with the way I looked at aspects differently from other students. She continued:“you don’t care a damn about what I say, you don’t care a damn about what others say. Continue to think. Though, it’ll be difficult!”
Around the same time, my brother presented me with the book The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. That gave me the imagery. Everything that I wanted was here. Somebody had written my Bible. After that I have never been the same!
Ideas: Ideals: India
The period I spent in the Middle-East gave me an opportunity to learn that we have much better architecture! I had also met Buckminster Fuller, perhaps the God of tetrahedron, accidentally in an airport.This man could tell you what to build without any software or without any aids.
India is ruled by fear. If you live accordingly and still things go wrong, they point to karma. People will be happy if I tell them-redo this wall, change that room. A sense of fear- the Indian attitude – is becoming the world’s attitude now. Fear rules which means you’re not on the aspect of rationality, not on the aspect of truth.
Can we know your birth date; we were unable to find them?
How does it matter… you are born… you just simply listen to somebody who says you were born on this day… till you were 3-4, …Do you know when you are going to die!? … Life is us. Brahma the creator is not worshipped. Look at the story we have made. I look at Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance as a totally different transformation and wonderful architecture in space. He is the God of death and look at his creativity…
(He politely refused to answer our question)
I know where my strength comes from. Strength comes from conviction. The mind wants to do it; it wants to outpace what you are thinking. Many people coincidently helped me on the way. Part of divine will. That has been – sort of – the journey…