Rise and fall of Dr.Sashi Tharoor

I have heard about him earlier as an Indian origin English writer.All that Indian in him possibly was that his parents were Indian.He has spent almost three decades of his career outside India with practically nothing to do with India.
India is such a complex country with different languages,cultures,faiths and so much differences but still with some sort of bond that unites every one in spite of all differences.A person born and brought up in India will naturally find it difficult to understand the diversities and complexities of India.Then how can Dr.Tharoor who lived all of his career life outside India,can understand India?
Possibly due to better personal connections or rapport with people who matter at the top echelons of Congress party he got a seat to contest parliament elections from capital of Kerala,Trivandrum after failing in his attempt to become UN Secretary General.
People in general have so much hatred for politicians of all hue and cry.Naturally Dr.Tharoor who looked new and clean in the political spectrum got elected from Trivandrum as member of Parliament not withstanding propaganda that he does not even know Malayalam the language of Kerala properly,which is true.
With the right connections at Delhi,he could become a Minister at Central government that too with a portfolio which allowed him to do what he was so familiar doing  in all those years in U.N-globe trotting.He was enjoying it thoroughly without bothering much about what he can do for the people of Kerala,whom he might have simply forgotten having became a Member of Parliament in spite of all odds against him.
About a month back I met him in a function conducted by Kerala Management Association.What I could notice is that he talked well in English and he talked fast without bothering much about what all he was talking possibly correcting mistakes with a smile.An Indian politician need to learn to talk carefully weighing each words properly before uttering it.But Dr.Tharoor did not bother about it.Naturally it landed him in many controversies.Luckily he could escape all those through Dr.Manmohan Singh who described comments of Dr.Tharoor as mere jokes.
But when it came to dangling with cash rich IPL cricket ,I could not help suspecting why a so called close friend of Dr.Tharoor has to be there in the deal.So far nobody has explained about the great work she did for IPL Kochi.And why she alone could do such a work which called for free “sweat equity”?
Naturally we poor people at the bottom level without any hope of any political dream wonder what Dr.Tharoor did for IPL,Kochi with the help of his “close friend”
And in the one year of his minister ship at Delhi what did Dr.Tharoor do differently compared to all those not so intelligent educated,capable ministers?
So there cannot be anyone shedding a tear for this fall of Dr.Tharoor from among the ordinary people of Kerala

Trip to Arthinkal beach

On my way back from Mararikulam where I went to assess a house built about three years back,I had chance to once again go to Arthungal beach which is the nearest beach from my native place,Cherthala.This was the beach I first saw as a small kid  during the feast of Arthinkal Church.I do not remember when exactly I went there last.But it must be quite long back as I never had time to go back and see the roaring waves later.This time  our car passed just in front of the beach so I thought of getting down there rekindling old memories.

The house which I went to see was built by an NRI now at USA.He is an Engineer possibly in the IT sector.Even though the house is quite big at about 3000 sft plinth area,nothing is done right for the house during construction.Architectural design and structural design lack more than what it has.There is absolutely no Vasthu compliance.Workmanship is poor.In short it is a good example of  how money can be wasted during construction of house if you do not have proper professional guidance and care.

I will advise him how to do the finishing jobs like painting,clay tile laying on slope roof and may be a bit of interior work.In fact my client even though is educated was ignorant about what exactly professional involvement and guidance can do during design and construction of house.

Even when I reached the beach there was a family who came just to see sea with children running up and down the beach getting excited when waves touch their feet.You can see the pictures.

There were fisher men catching fish from shallow waters,using nets.We purchased few prawns from them at rates much lower than Cochin rates

 

 

Again on square feet cost of construction

Even though I have written about meaningless nature of the term square feet cost of construction several times,I still get queries  asking me about square feet cost

Without any data, without studying site conditions, without at least a Basic Plan, how anyone can simply predict cost of the building?

Constructing a house is not like going and buying something from the market. Even in such a case you cannot tell what will be the cost of 1 Kg rice after an year. Even if you start construction immediately, it may take about an year or more for the building to get completed

If someone has told you that there is a fixed square feet cost of construction anywhere in Kerala, you have to understand that it is a lie.

Even flat sellers who have every parameters of building in their choice and discretion keep increasing price from beginning to completion stage gradually

Term square feet cost is coined by nonprofessional contractors simply to get unsuspecting client to start work with them .After the client starts with them they know how to get increases and revisions in cost and by the time project reaches finishing stage, client will be simply anxious to complete the work and at that time he might have become wiser to know that the so called square feet cost has no meaning. I have built more than 200 houses directly in Kerala and designed much more. Each of these houses when completed have different square feet cost. So I simply do not understand the meaning of this ridiculous prediction of cost.

After the plan is finalised  a professional agency can prepare an engineering estimate for structural work and after the structure is completed an estimate for balance work can be prepared

These are more reliable cost indicators as costing is done using engineering methods.

How I go about designing a house

Every Architect operate in different method or style.In additional to formal training an Architect just like any other creative artist,require creative talent and lots and lots of  commonsense.

When someone approaches me for design of the house I need to hear from him what exactly he is looking for in the house, his limitations , expectations,dreams on the house

After this I have to see the plot,obtain outer measurements of all four sides,directions of each side and position of road access to plot

I may take few days or more to visualise the house suitable for that plot in my mind.Only after the design is clear in my mind, I sit in front of the computer to draw the Basic Plan of the building which gives dimensions and positions of each room or living space and doors and windows only.While designing the house I consider structural engineering aspects and Vasthu aspects also to keep structural cost of the building low and to have peace and prosperity as per Vasthu for those who are going to live in the house.

I do not draw the plan fully.I draw only the outline.My assistants take on  where I leave the work to complete the design and they work on one of the possible elevations for the building later if the client ask for it.

I prefer to do Elevation of the house slowly as the work progresses at site giving me time to think and work out best elevation suited to the building, location and also one which will satisfy  and please my mind.

In the process I may go to uncommon or nonstandard appearance for the building giving more value in appearance for the building rather than the usual techniques based elevation my assistant might have drawn simply to make client happy.A creative work need time, patience and a mind to think and dream differently

But most customers think that Architect can make picture of the house in no time.He can but that cannot be something extra ordinary.Extra ordinary work require time, dreaming and above all a creative mind.

Less than 2000 sft single floor house with four bed rooms

I have written earlier about less than 2000 sft plinth area four bed room two storey house with all bed rooms attached with toilet.This design along with less than 2000 sft four bed room single floor house design suitable for rural areas where land is not a constraint is now ready with me.

This design has two bed rooms with attached dress and toilet.Another two bed rooms which share common toilet very near(almost attached).Other usual additions like separate living,dining,Car porch,sit out,Kitchen and work area is available.Those interested for these designs may write to me to

vhthomas@viruvelil.com