Breaking Ground: Women Architects Navigating Social Pressures in the Indian Context
Women architects are forging a distinctive route in the fast-paced field of architecture, navigating modern obstacles influenced by cultural norms. Despite societal restrictions, their remarkable achievements, hardships, and revolutionary influence on the architectural scene are rarely recognized. A notable change is occurring in the historically male-dominated area of architecture as women architects not only break through social barriers but also write their own stories, making a lasting impact on the sector. In India, where women architects are having a significant influence despite pervasive social restrictions, this paradigm shift is especially observed. Persistent biases and stereotypes still loom large over the architectural profession, notwithstanding progress toward gender parity.
Balancing Motherhood and Professionalism
The difficult balance between professional duties and societal expectations about family life is one of the particular issues experienced by women architects in India. Sonali Bhagwati is an example of an architect who successfully combines parenting with high-caliber work in the profession. Sonali is renowned for her creative designs, especially in the field of sustainable housing projects, and conservation, and has been closely associated with the restructuring of building bylaws for Delhi. She is involved in the SUO MOTU city projects taken up by DUAC. She has been a Member of the Delhi Conservation Society and conducted heritage walks in the Kashmere Gate area. She has a talent for combining creativity and pragmatism in her works of art. A lot of Indian women architects relate to her ability to strike a balance between the demands of a successful job and parenthood, and she is a great example of defying expectations. By proving that juggling a family and a career is not only feasible but can also produce innovative designs with a beneficial social impact, Sonali Bhagwati’s work has not only transformed the architectural environment but also empowered and encouraged other women in the field.
Mainstream Architecture: Not a woman’s place, Breaking the barriers
Women are rewriting history and dispelling preconceptions in the difficult field of architecture. An industry that has always been dominated by men is navigated by Morphogenesis co-founder Sonali Rastogi. Sonali has had a significant impact on the architectural scene despite criticism, even from her feminist father, because there aren’t many active female architects. Her company, Morphogenesis, has put in place measures that promote a gender-inclusive workplace and was acknowledged in 2019 for paying female employees more than male employees. For women to continue in the field of architecture, Sonali emphasizes the necessity of addressing social constraints and re-examining standards, especially compensation schemes. Even though there has been progress, Sonali draws attention to enduring issues like cultural expectations, women’s safety in urban areas, and the requirement for increased family support. Sonali’s story illustrates a larger trend in architecture, female architects are defying expectations and actively fostering a more welcoming workplace. She is one of the architects who is leading the way in building the route for future generations to face the social challenges of today.
Crafting Architectural Narratives: Gurmeet Rai’s Journey Breaking Ground in the Indian
Leading architect Gurmeet Rai showed a strong interest in craft during her early years in Civil Lines, Roop Nagar. She frequently used clay to make pots, pans, and even electrical devices. The basis for her career in architecture was set by her early fascination with design, which took the form of ceremonial enactments and textile houses. Her interest in ceramics and her thesis, which examined conservation in Jaipur, further influenced her sense of self as an architect. Gurmeet, who got married at the age of 23, balanced her family and her architectural goals with her husband, acclaimed photographer Raghu Rai. Interestingly, she managed to balance work and family obligations while working on the GT road project, even bringing her small kids along for surveys. Projects sponsored by UNESCO for the International Year of Culture and Peace and the GT road were among Gurmeet’s groundbreaking endeavors. She also put together a distinguished advisory board that included leaders such as Vinod Khanna and Dr. Manmohan Singh. Her dedication to comprehending Punjab‘s history and cultural identity resulted in significant undertakings, like the Mughal Imperial Highway and the Grand Trunk Road mapping. Her accomplishments include overcoming obstacles to create a conservation practice and co-founding the Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI) in the 1990s. Gurmeet’s story is a prime example of a female architect shattering stereotypes and making a substantial contribution to cultural preservation in the face of contemporary social pressures.
Women architects are actively changing the story of the profession in India’s dynamic architectural landscape, not just surviving social pressures. Their stories are motivational, as they overcome hardships, defy expectations, and defy constraints imposed by a traditionally male-dominated field. Not only have these female architects established themselves via their groundbreaking work, but they have also become icons for the day when a person’s gender will not be an obstacle to achieving their architectural ambitions.” As architects, we possess the ability to mold environments and stories, surpassing the constraints imposed by society,” says renowned architect Brinda Somaya. These are the perfect words to capture the essence of these female architects who upend deeply rooted social norms with their revolutionary work. In the process of creating a more diverse and inclusive sector, they are dispelling preconceptions in addition to building buildings.
Indian women architects have stories that endure, telling of a journey through history filled with both successes and setbacks. Even so, these architects are defiantly forging on in the face of contemporary social pressures and making a substantial contribution to the field’s evolution.
It is inspiring to remember the words of Sheila Sri Prakash, the first woman in India to open an architectural practice: “Challenge yourself and venture into uncharted territories.” Architects such as these are not just building buildings, but also architects of change, building a future in which talent, creativity, and inclusivity will define the profession rather than gender in the continuing story of Indian architecture.
References:
Mukherji. S(2024). Gurmeet Rai Sangha Architecture of Soul, p.1. [online]. Available at https://www.platform-mag.com/design/gurmeet-rai-sangha.html[Accessed Jan 2024].
Rai.A (2021). “Conservation Architect Gurmeet Rai Sangha in vogue India 2021”[online]. Available at https://anneofcarversville.com/eye/2021/8/7/gurmeet-sangha-rai-vogue-india-august [Accessed Jan 2020]
Butalia. A(2017). In conversation with Sonali Bhagwati, p.1. [online]. Available at https://www.beautifulhomes.com/magazine/lifestyle/features/in-conversation-with-sonali-bhagwati.html[Accessed Jan 2017].
Surface Reporters (2020). “Soali Bhagwati amalgamation of style and Functionality ” [online].Available at https://surfacesreporter.com/articles/51477/sonali-bhagwati-amalgamation-of-style-and-functionality [Accessed Feb 2020].
