Mr. Aiban S. Mawkhroh, spoke on 'Constancy and Change'
Oral Traditions: Continuity and Transformations, Northeast India and Southeast Asia, Shillong (1st-4th February, 2016);Conference
Description
Mr. Aiban S. Mawkhroh, one among the finest architect of Shillong, sought to explain the social and physical dynamics of a place, its influence on the built form, and explored the constancies and changes in the structures built by the Khasi tribe. He mentioned the religio-cultural changes which took place in the Khasi belief system as it embraced Christianity, and the consequent representation of these changes in the built architecture. The built form not only helps in establishing social identity, but also, as a product of culture, stands in a symbolic relationship with the society. The physical system of the environment life site, climate, materials and construction are themselves choices governed by cultural factors. He revealed interesting aspects where this built form is not only determined by natural forces, like earthquakes, but also influenced by contact and interaction with outsiders. In the Khasi context, this meant the movement of Christian missionaries within the region. Everything in the Khasi hills is determined by the earthquake; the time period is divided into ‘before the earthquake’ and ‘after the earthquake’, referring to the Great Assam Earthquake of 1897.
Project Title
Oral Traditions: Continuity and Transformations, Northeast India and Southeast Asia, Shillong
DOCUMENT TYPE
image
Identifier:
SC_13
Related Term
Oral Traditions
Related place
Shillong
USE RESTRICTIONS
In Copyright
RIGHTS HOLDER
INTACH
