Name of the student Sashwat Ghai

Class/ Section Xth Semester Date:

Section C
Topic of Thesis Urban Renewal Chandigarh
Densification and Urban-Regeneration of the City Centre (Sector 17)
Typology of Thesis Design Thesis

Introduction
Chandigarh was one of the few opportunities that Le Corbusier had to express his desgn
principles. IT created its own virtues and problems. The intent of the study is to align the
regeneration of Sector 17 to improve the

Geography and Location

Rooted in Rurban setting Majuli is a 400sqkm river island located between the mythical male
river Brahmaputra’s ever changing sandbanks in the state of Assam at 26degree 57 minutes N
latitude and 94 degree 10 minutes E longitude. The island is formed by the Brahmaputra river in
the south and the Kherkutia Xuti, an anabranch of the Brahmaputra, joined by the Subansiri
River in the north. Majuli Island is accessible by ferries from the city of Jorhat. It was formed due
to course changes by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries. It enjoys a sub-tropical monsoon
climate, as is found in the other parts of Assam. The climatic conditions prevalent here are
similar to that in the northeastern zones of India, Nepal. Summers are usually hot and have
extreme humidity. The average annual rainfall in the area is around 215 cm.
Politics and Culture
The island, which is the cultural capital of the state has shrunk to by almost 60% of the
1245sqkm area in 1950. A house to almost 1lakh 54 thousand people, it has been a home for
many years to the spiritual guru of Land of Ahoms, Shankardev, the revered Vaishnavite saint
amongst the pantheos of social religious reformers in medieval India. The island had over 65
satras but a large number of them have relocated to mainland after being washed away.
With its declaration as a district in September, 2016, the government of Assam plans to set up a
Cultural University to spread the essence of Satras. with an objective is to disseminate and
advance knowledge by teaching, research and training in various sphere of culture, including
language, literature, visual arts, Sattriya dance, ankia bhaona and mukha(mask) [ CITATION
The171 \l 1033 ]; to promote the ethnic studies that bears upon the living conditions of the
communities of South-East Asia; to serve as a centre for fostering cooperation and exchange of
ideas among the academic and research communities of other institutions and universities of
repute in India and abroad. It also endeavors to promote regional art and culture and develop a
first of its kind cultural, educational, career development cum research hub in the state.
[ CITATION The171 \l 1033 ]
Identity, Refuge and Disaster responsive Architecture
The design of the University intends to be a prototype that uses contemporary techniques to
make the vernacular architecture of Majuli adaptive to the natural disaster (flooding by river
Brahmaputra). The inevitable submerging of the Island in the near future would be centric to the
design technology. [ CITATION DTE16 \l 1033 ]

Aim
The thesis aims to map the anthropometrics of major cultural practices of Majuli and develop a
cultural university that is a reflection of the Majuli satras and promotes cultural education and
spiritual tourism.

Objective
 To provide a teaching, training and research environment in various spheres of Majuli
culture
 To develop center for academic exchange.
 Cohesively incorporate the Satras into the cultural university promoting and preserving
Majuli culture
 To develop university as a prototype for refuge and to withstand/ adapt to natural
disaster (submerging of the Majuli Island as estimated by year 2035).

Methodology

 To understand the culture and practices of existing Satras

 To map the anthropometrics of major cultural practices; dance forms, pottery, art etc.
 To draft the area program based on tribal practices and requirements for university of
culture
 To design a university complex that invites educationists, researchers, tourists as well
as provide job opportunities for local people.
 To design a prototype that can act as a refuge as well as withstand/ adapt to future
flooding/submerging of Majuli Island.

Scope
Out of the original 65 Satras the thesis is limited to only main surviving eight Satras.
Limitation
The thesis is limited to anthropometrical mapping of only major dance forms, art and crafts of
the Majuli culture. The same is included in the area program.