Panel Discussion
To Be or Not to Be: a Guidebook
Helen Philon, George Michell, Malavika Murthy, Shivendra Urs
Untitled (Durbar Hall, Mysore Palace), T. S. Satyan, Late 20th century, Mysore (now Mysuru), Karnataka, India, 35mm slide film, Image: H. 2.4 cm, W. 3.6 cm; Mount: H. 5.08 cm, W. 5.08 cm, Gifted by the T. S. Satyan Family Trust, PHY.12401-24
Architectural heritage encompasses more than the simple historical value of monuments. The buildings and structures we see serve as windows into the complex histories, narratives and ideas of the period they belong to, holding larger social, artistic and cultural merit. Delving into the context behind them helps us better understand the nuances that informed their making and their evolution over time, presenting layered perspectives of both the past and the present. This approach informs the guidebooks of the Deccan Heritage Foundation that present the rich history, architecture and art traditions of Deccan sites and monuments.
Join us for a panel discussion at MAP as we explore the Foundation’s latest guidebook, Mysuru Srirangapatna, looking at how the book acts as more than a source of information for audiences visiting Mysore. Providing context into the architectural history of the city, the book becomes a way of inspiring an interest within visitors and the local community alike towards the heritage and history of this royal city.
In this session, Helen Philon and George Michell introduce the guidebook and moderate a discussion between the contributors, Malavika Murthy and Shivendra Urs. The panel, looking at the importance and impact of such a text on local communities, will also unpack the problems of preparing a guidebook for a city with such a layered and complex history.
This panel discussion is organised in collaboration with the Deccan Heritage Foundation.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
Helen Philon
Founder-Trustee of the Deccan Heritage Foundation
Helen Philon, is an archaeologist, scholar and lifelong academic with an M.Ph. in Pre-Islamic Art from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
She wrote her PhD thesis on Bahmani architecture in the Deccan at the same institution. Helen has worked in the Middle East and South Asia, travelling extensively throughout these regions, and has published a long list of works on architecture and ceramics, building a flourishing career as a leading expert in her field, in the process.
George Michell
Architectural Historian
George Michell is an architectural historian specialising in the Hindu, Mughal, and Sultanate traditions of India. Together with John M. Fritz, he conducted an exhaustive archaeological survey of Hampi Vijayanagara.
Their jointly authored guidebook to the site was first available in 2003 and is still in print. His most recent publication is Temples of Deccan India, Hindu and Jain, 7th to 13th Centuries with photographs by Surendra Kumar (2021).
Malavika Murthy
Conservation Architect
Malavika Murthy has a master’s degree in Heritage Management and Consultancy from the University of Exeter. Her passion for architecture stemmed from the beautiful city of Mysuru where she is now working as a conservation architect.
Shivendra Urs
Journalist
Shivendra Urs is a Gold Medalist in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Mysore. He has worked for the Times of India and has actively pursued his passion for writing about heritage in distress in and around Mysuru. He has worked as a Digital Communications Consultant and Digital Content Specialist.
