Vastu Shastra to be taught at IIT Kharagpur as part of architecture syllabus

The concept of Vastu Shastra revolves around the healthy relationship of nature and infrastructure and till now it did not figure in the architecture and infrastructure syllabi

By: News Desk |
April 17, 2017 11:39 am

India’s oldest and one of the largest higher education institution, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur believes that one can not be a good architect unless one has learnt the basic of Vastu Shastra. So, in order to produce well-rounded architects and restore traditional Indian architect study, IIT-Kharagpur has made ‘Vastu Shastra’ a mandatory subject for architecture students.

IIT-Kharagpur will introduce the basic principles of Vastu to first and second-year undergraduate architecture students from August, while those students pursuing post-graduation or research scholars in infrastructure will get to study the subject in detail. Till now, Vastu Shastra did not figure in the architecture and infrastructure syllabi, as a concept.

According to the faculty members, the architect students are being taught Western concepts. Along with that, they should be taught to conserve ancient architectural traditions.

The Ranbir and Chitra Gupta School of Infrastructure Design and Management (RCGSIDM) of IIT-K held its first workshop on the subject, ‘Vastu in Global Perspective’ on April 16.

During the workshop, Joy Sen, Head of RCGSIDM and a faculty member of the architecture department said, “there is a renewed interest in ancient Indian knowledge across the globe in the changing time. So, it is natural that we will tweak our syllabus to include Vastu in architecture and infrastructure classes.”

Vastu will be introduced in graded modules to UG architecture students, who are taught courses like basic design and history of architecture. At the PG level, solar principles, sacred diagrams, 9 circuit placements or the nabagraha mandal, sacred altars and design semiotics and semantics are some of the things students will be taught.

What is Vastu Shastra?

The term Vastu Shastra is derived from Sanskrit manuals of architecture which mean knowledge of dwelling or foundation of a house. The ancient architectural manuscripts on Vastu Shastra describe principles of design, layout, measurements, ground preparation, space arrangement and spatial geometry.

The concept of Vastu revolves around the healthy relationship of nature and infrastructure. The designs are intended to attach architecture with nature, the relative functions of various parts of the structure, and ancient beliefs utilising geometric patterns and directional alignments.

Ancient Vastu Shastra principles include those for the design of Hindu temples and the principles for the design and layout of houses, towns, cities, gardens, roads, shops and other public areas.

Soon after the news broke about IIT-K introducing ‘ Vastu Sastra’, people took to microblogging site Twitter with their epic reactions. Some Twitterati supported this move, while other slammed it.

Now @chetan_bhagat has another theme in his books apart from sex after having introduced vastu shastra in IIT #vastushastra

— naammeinkyarakhahain (@gumnaamhainkoi) April 17, 2017

#IIT Kharagpur to introduce Vastu Shastra. Already so many admitted in hospitals due to bad vastus.Lost money and peace.Danger color codes.

— ravichandranraju (@ravichandransun) April 17, 2017

There was no outrage when NEET was conducted in #Urdu but now whole secular community is crying on teaching Vastu Shastra in IIT’s

— Prince Singh (@Kabuli_Wala) April 17, 2017

@timesofindia Premier Science Institute and Vastu Shastra….OMG irony

— बकचोद (@bakarchod) April 17, 2017

@IITKgp creates a.#vastushastra course in Arch degree program. 3 cheers for wisdom of vedic Indian science and slap on face of liberal goons

— Ekam_Sat (@Ekam_Sat) April 17, 2017

My wife is a strong believer of Vastu Shastra.

Whenever we have a fight, she lifts a Vastu and uses it as a Shastra.

— VK (@virender4996) April 6, 2017

@timesofindia AIIMS and NIMHANS to start classes for Black Magic as well !!! Vastu Shastra !!!
Btw who’ll hire the faculty and the guidelines ?

— Atulesh Jha (@atuleshjha) April 17, 2017

Excellent move by the IIT to have Vastu Shastra as a part of the curriculum. The science is older than any religion & does good to all.

— VSA (@vsayachit) April 17, 2017

IIT Kharagpur to start ‘Vastu Shastra’ classes for architecture students. Universities to reserve 10% of all seats for cows soon.

— lindsay pereira (@lindsaypereira) April 17, 2017