Balkrishna Doshi Archives

AWARDS

Balkrishna Doshi : Guru Ratna Award

Balkrishna Doshi nurtured a profound affinity for students and as an ardent learner throughout his life. He consistently ascribed the laurels of his achievements to his venerable mentors, whom he reverentially addressed as gurus. The years spent in the apprenticeship of Le Corbusier and in association with Louis Kahn became Doshi's life-school. In both these gurus, Doshi found distinct characteristics and essential qualities, akin to an acrobat and a yogi. The acrobat symbolizes curiosity and the audacity to explore beyond conventional limits, while the yogi embodies introspection and inner unity. Doshi believed that a well-rounded education requires both aspects - the daring to venture into the unknown and the introspection to find inner equilibrium.

Doshi's vision advocated for a limitless “school without doors” , where learning knows no boundaries. He emphasized the importance of opening not just one door, but many, to diverse avenues of knowledge. For Doshi,learning was always like osmosis, a lifelong activity that can happen if one is open and receptive to the signals of the guru, yet guided by one's own intuition. In his life, 'education implied exposure, assimilation, dialogue, and exploration' - made better when nurtured and shaped by a guru, beyond formal constraints and regimental thinking.

Today in observance of his birth anniversary, we at the Vastu Shilpa Foundation , deem it befitting to inaugurate an initiative that harmoniously echoes his intrinsic values and passions.

In a humble endeavor, we are establishing the 'Balkrishna Doshi : Guru Ratna Award' in his cherished memory- with the intent of bestowing it upon educators who diligently nurture an innate inquisitiveness and intuitive insight in the students within the realm of art, design and architecture, within the Indian subcontinent.

Vision and Values

The complex and exploratory scape of architecture and design education often demands unconventional and fresh approaches in pedagogy and practice, in order to create well-rounded individuals. Many educationists have made significant contributions and left indelible impressions on generations of built-environment practitioners through their unconditional guidance and innovative teaching methods. With every turn in technology and shifts in workings of the world, the role of the educator remains increasingly significant as a foundation for society's progress. For the Guru, notions and approaches to teaching and learning may be varied, but the intentions of creating amiable environments to foster questioning, criticality and experimentation are immutable. In the context of the art, architecture and design education in India, the Award seeks out committed and transformative educators who have ignited several minds. The Award celebrates educators who have nurtured aspirants on their search for meaning, constantly inculcating in them values of service, humanity and progress.

Excellence in Education

The Award honours and cherishes commitment to education and demonstrates excellence in educational service, leadership, or scholarship. In places of learning, the educator can become the centrepoint from and towards whom a web of connections and relationships flourish. In today's world, the educator's views on changing societal contexts, as well as outlooks towards diversity of tools, techniques and working methods are most pertinent. Therefore, the process of 'learning how to learn' is a constant and continuous endeavour, with the educator at the helm. The Guru Ratna Award encourages and champions the values of learning without borders, collaboration and collective sensibility amongst the educator community.

Vastu Shilpa Foundation is proud to announce

Professor Neelkanth Chhaya

as the inaugural recipient of the 'Balkrishna Doshi : Guru Ratna Award' 2023, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to education, innovation, and transformative mentorship.

It is with great reverence and admiration that we recognize Professor Neelkanth Chhaya for his unwavering commitment to nurturing innate inquisitiveness and intuitive insight in students.

Neelkanth Chhaya's tireless dedication to education has transcended conventional boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on countless minds. His journey has been one of transformation, as he ventured beyond the confines of traditional pedagogical approaches to explore the depths of creativity and innovation. For Chhaya, architecture and architectural education are inextricably tied to issues of a 'search for an architecture that is societally appropriate, environmentally responsible and technologically efficient.'

His classrooms have been sanctuaries of exploration, where he has empowered students to question, experiment, and dream beyond limits. Very often, for his students, the 'classroom' has extended beyond walls, by considering the whole of our social and cultural environment as the place of learning. His pedagogy is not confined to the walls of a classroom; they extend into the world, encouraging students to engage with their surroundings, cultures, and communities. Chhaya's approach to places of learning and the acts of teaching and learning has been one of creating deep relations with the world, evolving a wider view of the work at hand and becoming stewards of positive change. His vision integrates architecture's essence with societal well-being, fostering designs that harmonize with both natural and built environments
By encouraging his students to challenge established norms and explore uncharted territories, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of creative disciplines.

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Vastu Shilpa Foundation is proud to announce

Professor Jyoti Bhatt

as the recipient of the 'Balkrishna Doshi : Guru Ratna Award' 2024, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to visual arts and fine arts education.

Jyoti Bhatt, a distinguished artist and revered educator, has had a transformative impact on the art world through his innovative practice and philosophical approach to art education.

For us at the Foundation, Jyoti Bhatt's life and work serve as a palimpsest and a lens through which to view the evolving art world, and ever-changing currents of art pedagogy in India, of which Bhatt has been a keen navigator. His extensive travels through Indian hinterlands brought significant depth to his image-making, and a lifelong legacy of discovery which also passed down to his students.Through Bhatt's expansive repertoire of prints, photographs and paintings, we witness the artist's "rigorous investment in documentation through vast and varied landscapes, the desire to highlight artistic life and craftsmanship in "Indian" life, and their presence in his oeuvre reveal perhaps an impulse to "turn those fleeting moments into permanent ones."For students, Bhatt is remembered as being 'very thorough in teaching, very thorough as a person…and if one asks him a question, he will try hislevel best to answer it to yoursatisfaction

As an art teacher since 1966, Bhatt played a crucial role in shaping the next generation of Indian artists, emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage in contemporary art practices. In his teaching career, Bhatt says, "I have a policy of not saying no," which encourages students to approach the teacher of their choice with questions and doubts. As a strong advocate for including women in arts education, Bhatt was instrumental in changing perspectives of those around him, to expand art ateliers to encourage more women in art teaching and practice.

As a constant learner himself, he sees his own journey akin to the 'non-linear metamorphosis of a butterfly from a cocoon', unexpected, yet certain. Students are always encouraged to update themselves under his watch but also strike a balance between digital techniques and the works of hand. Bhatt's enduring pedagogic legacy for his long-term students remains his steadfastness 'within his culture and his own locale, while also being extremely aware of what is happening elsewhere and outside that locale.'

His legacy as an educator is reflected in the diverse and innovative approaches of his students, many of whom have become prominent artists in their own right. Bhatt's artistic journey reflects a deep engagement with India's cultural heritage, , making him a key figure in the narrative of contemporary Indian art. His core values, progressive vision and an empathic self-awareness make him one of the most memorable artists and teachers for generations to come.

For several generations of young artists, art critics and collectors , Bhatt's 'intricate symbolism and visual metaphors, his complex narratives and insights into social issues and the human condition' will become a significant reference point.

It is with great reverence and admiration that we recognize Prof. Jyoti Bhatt for his untiring commitment to furthering arts education, his questfor meaning and empathic self-awareness as an artist.

“Right from my childhood I have lived in today. Sometimesin the past, but never in the future.”
- Jyoti Bhatt

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Vastu Shilpa Foundation is proud to announce

Prof. Ashoke Kumar Chatterjee

as the recipient of the 'Balkrishna Doshi : Guru Ratna Award' 2025, in recognition of his outstanding and lifelong contributions to design, craft, and education in India.

A pioneer in the field of design thinking and socially responsive innovation, Prof. Chatterjee has been a driving force in shaping India's design pedagogy and development communication over the past five decades. He has played a key role in advancing design as a practice rooted in empathy, ethics, and social responsibility.

Born on 7 August 1935, Prof. Chatterjee studied at Woodstock School (Mussoorie), earned a BA in Economics Honours from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and received an MBA from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio, USA) in 1957.

His professional journey spans roles in both corporate and public service. From The Metal Box Co. of India Ltd in Calcutta to the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC and the India Tourism Development Corporation, he built a foundation in communication, marketing, and public relations.

In 1975, he joined the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, as Executive Director, later serving as Senior Faculty, Adviser, and Distinguished Fellow until 2000. At NID, Prof. Chatterjee was instrumental in embedding design within development, health, education, and environmental sectors. His guidance helped shape institutions like Shristi School of Design (Bangalore), Royal College of Art (UK), and Kala Raksha Vidyalaya (Bhuj) to name a few.

He played a founding role in the Artisans' Alliance of Jawaja, a landmark initiative in Rajasthan that redefined the relationship between design and rural livelihood as well as embedding craft traditions into dignified, community-centered livelihoods.

His publications include Dances of the Golden Hall, Rising, and Learning Together at Jawaja, alongside numerous contributions to journals on design, craft, development, and education.

Beyond NID, Prof. Chatterjee has served numerous national and international organizations including Unicef, WaterAid (UK), WSSCC (Geneva), Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, and INTACH. He was a key contributor to VISION 21, the 'Water for People' component of the World Water Vision.

He is the Past President and Honorary Advisor of the Crafts Council of India and currently serves on boards of Prabhat Education Foundation, Utthan, Centre for Environment Education (CEE), and several others. His consultancy and teaching continue to influence the fields of craft regeneration, public health communication, ecology, and institutional development across India and abroad.

Prof. Chatterjee's life and work echo Balkrishna Doshi's vision of education as “a school without walls” inclusive, transformative, and rooted in service. He embodies the spirit of the Guru Ratna Award, inspiring generations to approach design as a tool for change and compassion.

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