India’s Cultural Architecture and Society’s Role in Shaping It

Abstract

Language is not just the one that is spoken or written; language is how the thought that appears on one’s mind’s eye. Language could be visual and suggestive. Language could be a pattern that is hidden. One such language is the language of architectural forms driven by society and culture, which does not make noise, humbly sits as evidence of the past and spectator of the future. Indian architectural language is so unique and states everything that happened throughout the country’s past, change, growth, and destruction. India always had a very sensitive and constructively established society and architecture. Many religions, caste systems, and much diversity were always present in the country. Though many social evils prevailed at different eras, religions and their philosophies made sure that they would reestablish the society from time to time. Spirituality, as a background process, these changes have always acted throughout its history. All these consequences created India that was there before the British rule. The chapter takes the readers through all the aspects of what shaped India as a country, through its evolution, toward the current state where drastic changes occurred from the perspective of sociology and architecture. The patterns helped guide society without being in the forefront and which helped people in establishing a country called India. Architecture will be shown as the outcome of all of these processes as an unspoken language rather than as a visual language.