Architect Gita Balakrishnan set off on foot, from Kolkata to Dhaka to showcase the essence of Unity through Design


Posted November 9, 2022 by walkforarcause

The Walk for Arcause campaign is a way to raise awareness of the impact that good design can have on people’s lives. This walk aims to identify action areas and invite architects to take action by working with communities along the way.

 
After the first edition of Walk for Arcause when Gita Balakrishnan walked a distance of 1700 kilometres from Kolkata to Delhi, she was jointly flagged off by His Excellency, Mr.Andalib Elias, Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner, and Mr.Hermanprit Singh (IPS) Director General of Police, Coastal Security for her second such endeavour, this time across the borders. There were architects, designers, students, fitness enthusiasts at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission from where this 306 odd kilometre walk started.

The purpose of the Walk for Arcause is to bring the focus on architects in the social realm and on Architectural Social Responsibility. Like in the first edition, Gita is carrying with her presentations and flash cards to engage with the local populace that she will meet along the route. Some of these will be curated interactions while most will be spontaneous. “I am excited each day; each moment would be a revelation. I look forward to meeting different people and making their stories part of mine. I fondly recall memories from my previous walk and cannot await to embark upon this new journey. Design transcends national, geographical and cultural boundaries. Through this walk I am trying to encourage valuable exchange between the two countries.”

As he flagged off, Mr.Andalib Elias was enthusiastic about this initiative and said, “Bangladesh and India have the best of relations. The walk 2.0 by Ms. Gita Balakrshinan from Kolkata to Dhaka will help to further strengthen that bonding through people-to-people contact, and collaboration among professionals. Her message on the role good design can play in changing lives is a powerful one, and will have a positive impact on the thinking and action of the stakeholders. We wish her all the best.”

Mr.Hermanprit Singh encouraged Gita with these words “I was present at the flagoff of the first edition and followed the campaign too. Gita has imaginatively brought together two of her passions - running and architecture and is using this initiative to make a larger impact. I wish her luck on this edition too.”

Ethos Foundation, ARCASIA, Council of Architecture (India), The Indian Institute of Architects, The Institute of Architects Bangladesh and iDAC have come together on this Walk 2.0 initiative. Gita plans to reach Dhaka and get together with friends from these different organisations by the 7th of November. The Institute of Architects Bangladesh is celebrating its golden jubilee and there are celebrations planned between the 8-10 November and this walk will mark this milestone as well.

“Design knows no boundaries. ARCASIA strives to give collective direction and representation to matters that affect the architectural profession in Asia and we are truly delighted and excited to welcome and wholeheartedly support Architect Gita Balakrishnan's unique initiative” says Ar. Abu Sayeed Mostaque Ahmed, President of The Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA)

It is a pleasure to have a fellow Architect from our neighbouring country join our Golden Jubilee celebrations all the way from Kolkata, India and that too on foot. Many steps for design and one step closer to unity, we welcome Gita Balakrishnan to Bangladesh and hope this endeavour will strengthen our relationship with the Architectural fraternity in India.
Ar. Mubasshar Hussain, President, Institute of Architects, Bangladesh

Earlier this year, Gita traversed the cultural and geographical boundaries of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana completing a total of 350 hours of walking through 849 cities, towns, and villages arriving in Delhi on the 24th of April. 1700km from Kolkata to Delhi was an opportunity to identify action areas through interaction with communities in villages, towns, and cities along the way and throwing them open for designers to act.

Gita Balakrishnan is a graduate of the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. She completed her practical training at the Centre for Building Performance and Diagnostics at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA. She founded Ethos in 2002 as an initiative to bridge the gap between students and professionals from the ACED fraternity (Architecture, Construction, Engineering, and Design). As one of the four verticals of Ethos and an initiative under the Ethos Foundation, Gita introduced Arcause as a platform for acknowledging, enlisting, and actualizing the Social Responsibilities of Architects, Designers, Engineers, and others associated with the ACED Fraternity. The first and second walk commemorate the milestone of Ethos completing 20 remarkable years in September 2022, and celebrate the spirit and architectural magnificence of India after 75 years of independence.

Ar.C.R.Raju, President of IIA said “Being the national body of Architects in India, the Indian Institute of Architects takes immense pleasure in supporting this endeavour which will bring to light, our profession and our cause. The first Walk for Arcause campaign was an eye opener for many of us and in many ways and we welcome and look forward to the next journey, this time across the borders!”

In the words of Ar.Habeeb Khan, the President of COA, “In the words of Ar.Habeeb Khan, the President of COA, “India's rich traditional wisdom on the built environment is often overpowered by the globalised context. After the revelatory first walk, as Gita Balakrishnan walks again from Kolkata to Dhaka spreading unity through design, the Council of Architecture is excited and looks forward to what this new journey across the borders has in store.”

Activities along the route are designed to spread awareness of design and design as a career choice will be elaborated upon by Gita through her interactions with students at schools along the way. ‘Mera Ghar’, an interactive module for educating laypersons on common building practices will trigger insightful discussions in smaller towns and villages. Certain stretches of the route will be traversed by Gita during the night to emphasise the need for safety in our cities, talking about people’s claim to spaces. All this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of partners Saint-Gobain and K-LITE.
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Last Updated November 9, 2022