Culture Scaping

Bama Ranganathan

Prof. Swaminathan wants to create a culture atlas of Tamil Nadu even as he sensitises the youth to India’s heritage.

Professor Swaminathan is a story-teller of our ancient history. He is best known for what he calls ‘culture-scaping’. He is equally well known for documenting Pallava Art in Mamallapuram.

Swaminathan, after professionally qualifying in mechanical engineering, taught at IIT, Delhi, for more than 30 years.

Swaminathan decided to acquaint the students of IIT, Delhi, with various aspects of Indian culture is an attempt to inculcate an understanding of our heritage, and consequently, a sense of identity. His lectures included themes on Indian music, Sanskrit, ancient Tamil literature, Tamil prosody, development of scripts and Gandhian philosophy. He also helped to set up a centre for arts and culture, called Sudharsanam, in Pudukkottai, his native place.

His major post-retirement activity was documenting the Pallava art at Mamallapuram. A coffee-table book, in English, sponsored by MARG, was published. In addition he has also been conducting guided tours to this heritage site.

He has a favourite topic called culture-scaping. This, according to him is landscaping, focusing on our heritage and culture.

Swaminathan is also interested in the Story of Scripts – tracing the origin of writing in five ancient cultures – Sumerian, Egyptian, Chinese, Meso-American and Indian – and adding Korean script, “the most scientific script of the world.” He has also done extensive documentation about the caves at Ajanta Printing in a resources book detailing every important cave and every significant painting in them. An interactive CD he has prepared offers a virtual tour of Ajanta.

Swaminathan also talks about the physics and aesthetics of Indian classical music. Lecture-demonstration on this subject was a part of a course in Art and Technology at IIT, Delhi, for many years.

Now, his focus is on compiling a ‘cultural atlas’ of Tamil Nnadu. This is an attempt to write the cultural and social history of every village.

He co-founded the Tamil Heritage Group. This is an attempt to raise an army of foot solders of heritage. Among its activities are monthly talks and heritage summer camps for children and residential site-seminars.

Swaminathan is proud of the Meritorious Award given to him by IIT, Delhi, at its golden jubilee celebrations this year. He says, “This is a gesture encouraging my style of pursuing academics.”

His wife, Uma teaches Tiruppugazh to people who are keen, as well as classical music to children. The Swaminathans reside at “Tejaswini”, 30/16, D’Silva Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600004. Phone: 24671501, 94456 06501: Email: aswami99@gmail.com (Courtesy: Mylapore Times)

– Bama Ranganathan

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