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Fresh look at Dholavira

Sathish Moses’ thesis on Dholavira has earned him global recognition

ALL FOR ’ARCHAEO-TOURISM’ Sathish Moses

Sathish Moses’ work on the archaeological significance of Dholavira has earned him international recognition. Every two years, Archiprix International compiles what it judges as the best among graduation projects in architecture, urban design a nd landscape architecture sent in from around the world. Sathish’s research and recommendations on Dholavira have been published in Archiprix’ 2007 edition. He undertook the project as a B.Arch student of the Anna University.

Called “Living Architecture: Into The Future Via The Past”, Sathish’s thesis makes for an interesting read.

It is a serious study about what is known as one of the six sites in India and Pakistan that throw light on the Indus valley civilisation. But it also has the appeal of an extended travel piece. The ruins of Dholavira are located in Khadir Island, part of Kutch in Gujarat. In the first week of December, 2005, Sathish took the Saji Express to Samkhiyari, which lies between Ahmedabad and Bhuj.

Wheels were off-limits for the terrain beyond Kotada, a tribal village 2 km from Dholavira. “So, we hoofed it on the slat flats,” says Sathish. “The residents of Kotada have helped unearth the secrets of Dholovira. From 1991 to 1996, B.S. Bisht from the Archaeological Survey of India used about 600 people from Kotada in the excavation work.”

In the 12 days he spent exploring Dholavira, Sathish has managed to gather a lot of “on-the-field” information about it.

He created a plan of action for Dholavira’s development. He studied three lines of reasoning on it. The ASI wants to further excavate the place and study it.

The Tourism Department of Gujarat wants to turn it into a tourist destination.

He makes out a case for Dholavira as a place for ‘archaeo-tourism’ and his plan factors in the development of places around Dholavira and the engagement of the locals in this process.

Some details about Sathish’s thesis are found at archiprix.org.

PRINCE FREDERICK

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