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My journey began in the fields of Auroville, Then
a small village in Tamil Nadu. My father was a farmer and this lead me to work
on the farm and learn the skills involved in this field. In my high school
years Auroville began. A small community then, I made frequent visits to the
community to interact with foreigners. Subsequently, my father started working
in Auroville Amphitheatre construction, which led me to start working there
too, doing the odd job here and there.
I was
gifted at drawing and sketching from a very young age and continued it as a
hobby even later. A friend who enjoyed watching me sketch one day took me to a
architecture firm at Aspiration where Roger and his team were working.
This led me to start my first stint into
architecture. I worked along Roger and the team for 2-3 years learning the
field of design using models and sketches to express one’s ideas. The firm was
called Auroville Future.
After a few years a lot of large scale projects arrived
which the French team could not tackle alone leading to collaborations with planners
and architects from Chennai. I involved myself learning and seriously
understanding the language of the architects- technical drawings. After a feud
between the management and the residents the firm abruptly broke.
With no job prospects, I went back into farming
with a friend of mine. A lot of experimentation in farming, leading to an
understanding of landscapes.
The Matrimandir picked up pace and construction
ensued bringing me back to work at the site for the outer structure in 1980.
Work happened for 9 years, I really picked up the skills to execute a building
from working at the Matrimandir under Piero and team.
In 1990 Roger came back to Auroville and started
working at Bharat Nivas. I joined him,but this time my perspective of the
construction business had changed and differed greatly from Roger’s style of
design. I got into working on using sustainable material and designing
structurally low cost but efficient designs to suite the needs of all members
of society.
A shift in perspective led to leaving Roger and
starting something on my own. Two others joined in Dharmesh Jadeja and Anupama
Kundoo. The firm was called Kolam, which was in business from 1991 to 1996. A
fine amount of very interesting projects was worked on from residences to
offices spaces to commercial units.
As time moved on Kolam slowly came to an end,
after 4-5 years of working, life just changed direction. A new passion came in-
Photography and Videography.
I worked in a commercial film shot in Tamil Nadu
of foreign production. I was assistant art director, the money from this film
and a few new skills were put to test for making a film of my own. The stint
was successful in its own ways, but the profession didn’t bring in enough money
and the passion faded.
The next few years leads to the current times. A
job at the administrative side for 4 years for the working committee leading to
a construction job from the secretariat of Auroville building up to construction
in the bio region and other areas of Auroville brings us to current day Raman
Construction. From 2014 onwards we have been involved in various designs and
construction projects in and around Auroville.
The one
thing I did do throughout my days was that I replied to every calling that ever
came to me. An opportunity was never missed, A passion never resisted.
Website - https://www.rcauroville.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rcauroville/
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/rcauroville/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9o7Cgs0SvG2L3Bwrb_UT8g/featured
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