A dream set in stone

SIDDARTH, ARTIST

Chandigarh is a beautiful thought  Chandigarh was a new culture introduced to Independent India. Unlike the unplanned towns and villages of Punjab, Himachal and Haryana, people came here live in a newly made setup. The new city attracted writers, painters, theatre actors, directors, architects, etc. It offered possibilities — a newspaper, the Art College, Tagore Theatre, College of Architecture and Panjab University, a modern, super-speciality, medical institute were set up. Le Corbusier was impressed by painter Piet Mondrian’s golden grid and he designed the city and its sectors based on that. 

I came to Chandigarh in July 1976 to study in the Art College, which had one of the finest designed grand museums, having everything from traditional art to modern art paintings, sculptures, etc. I met many artists like Prem Singh, Shiv Singh, Balvinder Singh, Malkit Singh, art critics, painter Ranbir Kaleka and Raj Kumar. I heard about a great poet of Punjab, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, and came across writers and more artists like Nirupama Dutt, Kumar Vikal, Amarjit Chandan, etc. The city was home to many internationally exclaimed artists. Many of these people, like Sohan Kadri and Avtarjeet Dhanjal, who later went abroad to live, felt that after living in Chandigarh western countries were not an alien place to live. During my visits to West, I, too, felt the same. Had I come from any other city of India, I would not felt at home in the West.

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DR VIKRAMADITYA PRAKASH, PROFESSOR OF ARCHITECTURE, University of Washington, Seattle

Chandigarh of my past basks in the lazy light of summer's youth. Long wide roads, with no one in sight, hands off the handle bars of your bike. The best was the intimate friendships we forged, protected from the outside world. In Chandigarh, we slept and dreamt of visions unknown. Sector 17 ruled our world. Panjab University was a dreamscape. Its verdure and cultivated grace amazed us and forbade. Forbidden also were the Girls Colleges, GCW, GCG, Carmel.

We roamed Sector 11, Kaku Shah, the geri route. We had beer on the Capitol Promenade. Nothing that old man Corbusier would have imagined, in that vast wasteland. We could still walk into the adjoining village then, for a 'study'. There are happy memories of moonlight picnics at the 'back' of the Lake, sculling on shallow waters, kindling flames for deep dark nights — such was the life, in Chandigarh.  

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UTKARSH, STUDENT AT UILS, PANJAB UNIVERSITY

Chandigarh, as a city, often gets accused of being slow and is made to look like a refuge for early retirees. I've lived here for nearly 24 years, travelled to cities across the globe and yet, my affection and inclination lie towards the "Open Hand". It prides itself on being clean and self reliant without the hustle bustle that generates a false sense of being busy that most big cities offer. 

I share Le Corbusier's pre-emptive response on a lack of adventure offered by the city when he said, "Thus they keep their distractions on the go to avoid having to face themselves."

Most of us have a sense of loyalty and belonging for where we are born and brought up. Our stories are what we take along on the journeys we make. Home, it seems is a fickle concept these days, we move fast and we travel far. For me, home is where the heart is, and this is where I am.  

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MAHIE GILL, ACTOR

Wherever I go, being a kudi from Chandigarh is a badge of honour that I have worn with pride. Born and brought up in this beautiful city, moving in its well-organised lanes on my scooter are some cherished memories. It was here that I had the luxury of a kitchen garden at my home, a Rock Garden and a Rose Garden in my city. It being a modern city everything fashionable and modern came here first in the region. A city conducive to talent, it has nurtured and inspired so many great minds. Though as a kid I didn't know who Corbusier was but once I did, I couldn’t thank him enough for giving us a city on par with cities around the world in the way it is planned replete with roundabouts. 

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Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra, visual artists

Chandigarh has given us a lot to learn. We both met in Chandigarh at an interaction session at art collage. That's leads us to many good memories. We still remember these lines by Le Corbusier: "I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster, and leaves less room for lies."

Biggest learning for us was his passion. He never stopped himself, he kept doing his work. Chandigarh’s layout was based on the plans he conceptualised in his book La Ville Radieuse (The Radiant City).

Le Corbusier collaborated with architect Charlotte Perriand and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret to design iconic, modernist furniture. He was quoted as saying: "Chairs are architecture, sofas are bourgeois."

It was big learning for us to understand the collaborative process. 

We remember another passionate man from the city, Nek Chand, who never looked back to follow his dream. 

Chandigarh is not city it's an institution of culture. 

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IRSHAD KAMIL, Lyricist & Poet

Chandigarh has been the sole witness of my 'goldenhood' in Panjab University. I feel that my ups ‘n ‘downs and my achievements and disappointments. My creativity and craze still has roots somewhere in the City Beautiful whenever I still find a few hues ‘n’ shades of myself scattered in its different sectors. Chandigarh is like my unfulfilled first love which was taken away from me with the reins of time and destiny. The people, the air, the design and the abundance of this city has a soothing effect on me.