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Code: WH_OH_016(a)_AUD_S1(C1)

Relationship, family background & project involvement

Summary:

Architect Nina Chandavarkar recalls architect Tara Chandavarkar from the time she spent with her. She remembers her old-school ways and the way she was disciplined in seamlessly managing her multiple roles in the personal, social and professional space. Nina remembers all the close relationships Tara held up until her death and the various partnerships that sustained her many social initiatives. She recalls a few stories from when a school was started at her house for which she instantly offered up the space,  which was exemplary of why people remembered her as a matriarchal figure who always kept her house open. Her family background included people who were mainly landed gentry in Bangalore. Nina remembers her mother and father as well as the progressive movements within the history of the family. She mentions Tara’s relation to the preeminent Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay as well as the famous guests that frequented her home. Commenting upon her marriage at a tender age to a man from a family of learned scholars, she notes the relationships she cultivated. She talks about  some of her time spent with CNT Architects and Tara’s involvement, as she took on a significant role even with the limited education she held. She dwells on the conversations she had with Tara and the perspective from which Tara talked about her designs, practice, methodologies, etc. She recalls how Tara pushed her to set up her own firm, an advice she says she appreciates in hindsight. While speaking about her work ethics and processes, she expands on her tireless personality and the way she tackled the gender bias at work in her generation, about 50 years back. Moving on to the challenges she faced as a young mother, she talks about the extended house staff that allowed her the time to work. Once she formulated CNT, she recalls how she held a very active role in the firm and notes the important projects that Tara got especially involved with. Moreover, she often  took on pro-bono projects for the underprivileged, which she worked on extensively. Concluding on many other projects she took up, Nina talks about  some of the details which she remembers. 

Practitioner:

Tara Chandavarkar

Interviewee:

Nina Chandavarkar

Interviewer:

Ishita Shah

Duration:

00.37.07

Mode:

Offline

Date:

06/12/2021

Language:
English

Highlights:
(00:04:05:07) Setting up the school for Srishti, (00:07:04:14) Tara Chandavarkar's family, (00:12:00:05) Tara Chandavarakar's initial practice ethics, (00:17:13:18) Tara Chandavarkar as Mother in law, (00:20:05:28) Tara Chandavarkar as a woman professional in a male-dominant profession, (00:24:15:02) Hospitality in professional and personal circles