DESIGNING FOR THE DISPLACED INTEGRATED LIVING AT SAMYELING COLONY, NEW DELHI

Abstract

Various geographical, climatic and social factors have actively influenced man’s consciousness while deciding upon survival strategies. In addition to these quantitative variables, certain political adversities have also been responsible for directing mass movements of people. In this totalitarian age, millions flee their homelands, seeking refuge in foreign societies and cultures to start life afresh. On 31st March 1959 the holy Dalai Lama, flee from the Chinese invasions in Tibet, along with 80,000 of his followers to reach India seeking asylum. Consequently, the Indian government allocated land in various states to the Tibetan diaspora to rehabilitate and reorganize. Yet, still Tibetans struggle to call a place truly home as they clutch feebly onto their pasts. The case of the Tibetan refugees in India is unique among other global migrant groups primarily due to two reasons. Unlike other refugee communities, the Tibetans did not seek refuge individually but as a national polity under a singular leadership of the Holy Dalai Lama (Norbu, 2001). Their traditional beliefs, vivid culture and strong religious beliefs acting as a social glue that continues to drive them to fight for their homeland even after all these years. As refugees, they have channelized these intangible forces of their traditional society into an effective sustenance mechanism in India. Even after all these years, many still envision a “Free Tibet” and this dream is fuelled by their integrity as a national polity, faith in their traditional values and by their closely-knit built fabric that acts as a metaphysical member of the community. Designed collaboratively by the people, their settlements reflect the core traditional values of their community whilst actively adapting to the Indian context. One such settlement is Samyeling Colony, popularly known as “Mini Tibet” lying in the heart of New Delhi. It is a ‘spontaneous’ settlement established on government land with tacit knowledge of the local administrative bodies, but without formal claim to the land. It developed mainly through kinship between the locals. Samyeling has always been dependent on local leaders to access benefits of rehabilitation, cultivating relations of patronage with local Indian political and bureaucratic leaders. Samyeling conditions of statelessness impacts upon its negotiations in claiming its right to the city. The present situation houses a vacuum between the rich socio-cultural heritage and spatiality in the precinct. There is a need to re-programme the colony starting with targeted measures to improve the liveability of the community from a micro to macro level. Most importantly, once the community realizes their more fundamental needs like healthy housing, they will be able to improve upon their other secondary and tertiary needs. The aim of the proposal is to resolve the various bottlenecks identified on site at various levels through design strategies that are respectful to the lifestyle and culture of the occupants in addition to being economic and feasible. The result of which would be an economical, sustainable and inclusive residential development for the community that would provide quality spaces to all (both Tibetans and Delhietes), improve upon the monetary gains of the inhabitants and simultaneously reconnect the settlement within the framework of the city. It would allow them to express their true social and economic potential. Such an intervention could also act as a catalyst for raising awareness in the city regarding the Tibetan struggle and their rich culture, this mass sensitization in a city like Delhi has the possibility to soon penetrate throughout the country and help realize their just cause. Keywords: Tibetan Diaspora, Memory, Culture, Lifestyle, Imageability, Redevelopment, Urban