Research Scholarships
INTACH Awards
INTACH Journal of Heritage Studies
INTACH Scholarship 2017
INTACH UK Scholarship Awardees
Asha Sumra
The aim of the proposal is to understand the contribution of the Basel Mission Tile Industry to the Malabar Coast and beyond. The research will also analyse the built environment of the tile factories and assess their potential for conservation and adaptive reuse.
Dr. Deborah Sutton
The purpose of the proposed research is to consolidate the research already carried out in Delhi. It will also create an interactive, digital map to capture the complexity and abundance of the transformation after 1947. As part of the research, a model will also be generated for the extension of the research and mapping project to Kolkata.
Ruth Clifford
The research aims to assess the effectiveness of two recently developed initiatives in nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in the handloom sector, and to what extent this education enables artisans to design and make craft products attuned to the demands of the contemporary market.
INTACH Research Scholarship Awardees
Antara Sharma
The aim of the project is to determine the cultural landscape comprising thirty six forts/ settlements of “Chattisgarh” (present Indian state – Chattisgarh) under the historic Kalchuri (Dynasty) branches of Raipur and Ratanpur. It will concentrate on the present day Raipur and Bilaspur (Ratanpur) regions and explore the existence of settlements/ forts along life sustaining natural heritage like banks of river Mahanadi, forested lands with natural lakes. A methodology for regulated development in the historic urban landscape of the selected heritage towns/ cities will also be recommended.
Apoorva Pillay
The purpose of this research is to establish Dhar as the ancient planned city of Raja Bhoj, through the planning principles mentioned in his own book, ‘SamranganaSutradhar’, which was written in Sanskrit. The research involves identification of heritage, assigning values to it, assessing this authenticity and integrity, listing of heritage structures based on their values and using this generated data to rediscover the historic fabric with the available on-site evidences and textual references. The formulated document would consist of a detailed listing of cultural heritage resources in Dhar.
Arijit Chatterjee
The study focuses on several heritage water structures found in the Kolar district of Karnataka. Seven kalyanis found in the Shatasringa parvata are identified for documentation and targeted for conservation. The project intends to understand the topographic condition of the Shatasringa mountain range as a settlement pattern spread over seven small villages at different altitudes, each with their own water irrigation systems, which are interconnected by subterranean aquifers. There exists a proliferation of kalyanis within these settlements, and the study seeks to discern their role and the significance of their architecture as a consequence of topography, social and religious factors as well as day-to-day use.
Arunima Shankar
The intention of the research is to document a traditional Islamic settlement and understand the patterns it has adapted to accommodate many livelihoods; during its transitory phase as continues to sustain the growing need for space and shelter. The research will map the historic precinct in order to establish a sense of boundary. Old structures will be identified and documented and studied – construction, material composition and ornamentation to understand art, architectural styles and iconography. Stories and folklores will be recorded and finally the effect of the built environment on the way of life will be understood and analyzed.
Brinda Parth Shah
The aim of the research is to identify and document change in spatial organization related to cultural landscape, construction details and methods of construction in terms of making of a dwelling and its processes in village dwellings due to environmental change. This would further help in identifying methods to sustain villages and their cultural landscapes. A sub-aim of the research is to map the change and to search for reasons behind factors affecting the change. This would be supported by creating drawings which represent the past and the present of the same.
Foram Bhatt
The research aims to decipher the process/ methods for conservation of the urban heritage with the approach of Historic Urban Landscape. It will understand and identify attributes which define the existing approach of historic urban landscape. This will lead to establishment and safe-guarding of values which are significant to the historic city. The research will lead to a sensitive approach using historic urban landscape as a tool to integrate theories and practices of conserving the built environment, and how to conserve the values associated with the historic cities in the process of urban development.
Komal Potdar
The study will establish temple architecture as a distinct typology indigenous to the Konkan region. This will provide a systematic record of the architectural characteristics of the temples and discuss the underlying their compositions and the symbolism embodied in them. Detailed documentation of selected culturally (sacred geography), aesthetically and architecturally (proportions, geometry, construction technology) valuable temples along with study of site, surrounding, material analysis and condition mapping will be done. This will finally lead to a conservation planning manual and database for materials, sourcing to maintain the integrity and authenticity of temple architecture. The study can be further expanded and utilized as a base for research for other districts in the Konkan regions, such as Rathagiri and Raigad which also have a high number of architecturally and culturally important temples.
Madhu Vottrey
The research is aimed at documenting the architectural marvels and the tradition knowledge systems (waterworks) of Bidar. Apart from mapping of heritage components, the research will involve interviews of the people involved in reviving the water system of the region. Post assimilating the data, events with children with respect to the same topic in various schools will be conducted.
Narendre Dengle
The aim of the research is to write a book on History of Architecture, with special emphasis on the indigenous. The texts available on History of Architecture in India are written largely by art historians and archaeologists. They present a colonial point of view and an incomplete picture of architecture of the sub-continent. Thus, the research will uncover the historical significance of architecture in our time and place. This will provide a reliable theoretical basis for the practice of architectural conservation, and locate our architectural heritage in the appropriate context.
N. Lalitha
The research aims to focus on the handicrafts sector in India in the context of the Geographical Indications (GIs) to conserve and promote crafts. GIs in handicrafts, offers a wide range of issues to study. Unlike the individual property rights, GIs is accorded to the association or the community which is engaged in the production of a product that is associated with a particular region. Thus, the central objective of this study is to understand: Adoption of GIs to identify crafts for conservation and promotion initiatives by the artisans, individuals, associations, NGOs, government and other organizations in the two states and the challenges therein.
Dr. Ravi Ramadoss
The aim of the research project is to formulate a robust methodology assessment on the compatibility interventions for cultural heritage protection, based on criteria and specifications governed by sustainability concept. As the environmental crisis is emphasized by intense climatic changes, new demands on materials and conservation interventions arise, incorporating sustainability to compatibility, requiring reduced environmental loads and low costs during materials production. The basic need in the protection of cultural heritage is identification of historic building materials used in monument. The sustainability and compatibility of advanced materials and technologies for protection of cultural heritage monuments.
Dr. Seema Dave
The main idea behind this proposal is to develop an overall methodology and develop a framework to integrate smart city element into Heritage and Conservation sector. The research will also develop an overall common framework that can be used in both the UK Smart City as well as in Indian cities. Using two case studies in two diverse cities and regions, the study would provide an interesting opportunity to compare and examine the different challenges and scenarios that these regions face. Such diversity would help the study to demonstrate that how a common methodology with technology as a base can be developed and applied to the heritage and conservation sector.
Shalini Mahajan
The research aims to interpret our (built) heritage assets as cultural capital and to develop a conceptual framework for determining the economic dimension of our cultural assets. In this, theoretical concepts of cultural variation will be understood, including the five valuation methods which have been universally accepted – Compensation, Social Cost-Benefit analysis, Stated preference, Travel cost and Hedonic price. The best working valuation method would be determined in the Indian context which will finally expand the notion of ‘cultural capital’ of India.
Shaila Bantaur
The research aims to analyse and understand materials and construction techniques of vernacular houses of Mangalore specially known as Guttu houses. These houses which can be seen in many parts of Dakshin Kannada district are characterized by use of traditional building materials with sloping roof, wooden grills and columns. With time, construction practices have changed and traditional houses are becoming extinct. The proposed research focuses on documenting various typologies of houses with construction materials, and more on opening details.
Dr. Srikumar M. Menon and Dr. Samira Agnihotri
The project is aimed at documenting the oral legends about the origins of megaliths among indigenous people at various locations in southern India and trying to make sense of the occurrence of such stories across space and time. This aspect of megalithic lore holds important clues to the migration and spread of early people in the peninsula towards the end of the prehistoric/ protohistoric period.
S.Udayakumar
The aim of this research project is to bring out the new light of understanding the iron technology through experimental studies. Archaeological data with experimental data will be compared to critically understand the process and challenges in the iron smelting process. The chemical composition and smelting temperature of archaeological materials and experimental materials will also be understood. Using this methodology.
Dr.Thirumalini Selvaraj
Terracotta is a type of clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic, fired at high temperature and processed like a stone. Indian sculpture made heavy use of terracotta from as early as the Indus valley civilization and in more sophisticated areas had largely abandoned modelling for using mould by the 1st Cn BC. Several vigorous local popular traditions of terracotta folk sculptures remain active today and provide valuable clues about their technological ancient civilization besides their documentation. The research aims to characterize materials to identify the raw materials used for making statues by modern methods other than traditional one. It also aims to find the production technology of the statue using advanced analytical techniques by application of nano technology.
Dr. Utpala Desai
The purpose of the study is to document the process of transformation and change and critically examine the history, maturing of the form of Garba and the social undercurrents influencing such changes. The study will answer questions like why and how did the Garba got transformed over time and how devotional dance of agrarian society became the most popular dance of urban Gujarat. It will trace the journey of the dance form from a singing tradition to popular folkdance performed in village squares, to commercial stage performances and finally becoming the state sponsored “Longest Dance Festival in the World” where unified with Ras it is projected as Ras-Garba of Gujarat.
Yashaswini Jayadevaiah
This interdisciplinary research proposes to study the rich archaeological site of Sringaverapurais located on the left bank of River Ganga in the district of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, using remote sensing, GIS, GPRS and computer simulation technology to document and understanding its ancient landscape. The project would cover the extent of the complete landscape and will look into the role of River Ganga, the archaeological remains and also the present excavated flood water harvesting and storage system.
INTACH Capacity Building Grant Awardees
Rahul Sharma
Rahul Sharma has been recreating historic photographic processes for the better part of the decade. In continuation of his practice, this research combines historic recreation, and conservation analysis. More specifically, this research pertains to studying the materials and techniques of the Calotypes of Dr Alexander Greenlaw housed at the collections of the Alkazi Foundation, and the conservation implications thereof; and recreating his techniques using contemporary materials.
Shilpa S. Bramanandan
Rahul Sharma has been recreating historic photographic processes for the better part of the decade. In continuation of his practice, this research combines historic recreation, and conservation analysis. More specifically, this research pertains to studying the materials and techniques of the Calotypes of Dr Alexander Greenlaw housed at the collections of the Alkazi Foundation, and the conservation implications thereof; and recreating his techniques using contemporary materials.
Vijaya Amujure
The aim of the research is to compile all design elements of the monuments in Delhi. The research is inspired from the by the ‘Jeypore portfolio of architectural details’ by Samuel Swinton Jacob (1890 – 1913). The document will not only help the craftsmen to revive the elements in oblivion but will also guide them to get the details right. The document is also expected to help architects, designers who look for inspiration from monuments especially in the heritage driven schemes and otherwise.
