Trivandrum, which is known for its rich cultural and indigenous architectural designs is now loosing its traditional Cityscapes inexpertly. In a panel discussion on 'City and Identity: J.C Alexander's Trivandrum', the three panelists, Dr Ashalatha Thamburan, Ar Kasthuri Rangan and Malayinkeezh Gopalakrishnan equally put forward their concern on modern architecture's negligence of the traditional architecture. Today's cultural and educational parameters of the society are to be interrogated for this conundrum.
Each building constructed on J.C Alexander's supervision, who was the Chief Architecture of Kerala, post-independence, has an identity based on culture and religion. Monetary consideration, lack of sufficient education and unavailability of traditional craftsmanship fosters the nose diving of indigenous architectural designs. On Manoj Kumar Kini, the moderator's question, whether this is a social problem, the panellists replied with a yes and said, it is the whole globalization and liberalisation scenario that hampered this badly.
The session concluded on a positive note and emphasised on the need of creating awareness among the youth and children, by inculcating an interest in them from the young age. This would encourage the youth to take up pivotal roles in bringing up a considerable change, in the cities of heritage that needs to be preserved.