Study of political memorial inserts in the urban
fabric of Trivandrum
Author: Gautham Sajish
Department of Architecture
College of Engineering Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram, India
gauthamsajish@cet.ac.in
Abstract— Political memorial inserts integrated within the city
have their place in the collective memory of the people. They
are physical settings to express pride in the nation built by
political elites by showcasing an event or a person. Political
memorials should have a story to tell to the public how people
accept them to their day-to-day life depending on the
axiological function. Political memorials are inserted in
important nodes and in parks which may or may not be
accessible to the public, anyway, there is a need to understand
whether these forms of power are for the people or not. The goal
of this research is to value and understand the relevance of
memorial inserts in the city fabric.
The role of memorials in the collective memory and cultural
identity of the city is valued through its spatial and political
aspects. If these memory spaces are designed for the public, the
quality of public spaces or equity in space decides how people
view the places. In a capital city, the political party in power
can misuse this method of commemoration to reflect the
ideology of a person or political group in public spaces. Always
there is a group who are against the commemorated figure, so
there is a need to discuss the subject with the public. The
distinction between memorial and political memorial inserts is
highlighted in this study. History and culture of positioning
memorials in important nodes of Trivandrum for some political
reasons are also identified. This study explores various spatial
and political factors considering the positioning, power,
meaning, and visual dimensions of political memorials when it
is inserted in a city like Trivandrum for the people.
Keywords—component; formatting; style; styling; insert (key
words)
I. INTRODUCTION (HEADING 1)
Public memorial landscapes play their role in
commemorating an event or a person through its physical
form within the city. Places of memory are often preserved
by the urban planner or designer to contribute to the identity
of the city. It is the responsibility of planners to handle
memorials in urban terms. They are inserted in the urban
fabric to transfer information about the history, national
identity, and ideology of a person or an event.
Various statues and monuments that are part of the urban
memorials represent a landmark for each city and create a
connection with the surroundings. The planning and
Author: Assistant Prof. Alok Dinesh
Department of Architecture
College of Engineering Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram, India
line 4-e-mail address if desired
arrangement of memorials especially in the case of capitals,
significantly shape the representation of a nation, urban
places giving them not only historical but also conceptual
meaning. In the democratic traditions of national
development of memorials is complicated. Each monument
has its origin in creating the urban identity and integrating
them into the daily lives of citizens. Memorials have the
potential to reproduce or transform social and spatial
relationships within cities. (Jashari & Veliu, 2019, pg 1)
Trivandrum city Capital of Kerala is well known for its
culture of placing monuments in urban spaces like
junctions, crossroads, and major nodes. Different scales and
hierarchies of memorial landscapes can be identified and
those which directly interact with users are very few. Most
of the memorials erected are for individual persons that too
for political leaders who dedicated their lives to the freedom
movement and people who fought for democratic rights.
The ideology of freedom within a democratic society is
transferred within these memorials or monuments for future
generations to remember.
The identity of a city and the power of a nation is expressed
through the mnemonic function of monuments or statues.
There is a need to understand various dimensions and
factors when a memorial is integrated within the urban
fabric. Political memorial spaces designed for the public in
cities showcase power, unity, identity through political and
spatial dimensions.
This paper explores the concept of sense of place in political
memorial landscapes of Trivandrum and analyzes memorial
with elements when it is integrated into the urban fabric
with this concept.
II. METHODOLOGY
The methodology for the study is as follows which includes
various steps from identification of topic and need for the
study, formulation of aim, objective, scope & limitation, data
collection which includes both primary data collection and
secondary data collection. The secondary data included the
study of memorial spaces and their various types. Later the
study focuses on only political memorial inserts and to
understand their role in urban landscapes. The study of
political memorials then results in identifying various
components that define a political memorial in an urban
space. Spatial and political factors of the political memorial
are inferred from the literature study. The primary study
includes collecting data about the political background,
history, and culture of inserting memorials in the urban fabric
of Trivandrum. Marking memorials and identifying
memorials for the primary case study is the next step. The
selected memorials are valued along with the identified
parameters from the study part.
B. Equity in public memorials
III. LITERATURE REVIEW
Memorial spaces are landscape settings that assist
individuals to remember historical events by displaying
tangible representations in public locations and also places
that limit the entry of the public. Why memorial spaces in
the city? What role do they play in the life of public users?
Who designs these spaces and for whom?
Governments utilize memorials as a tactic to influence
people's national memory [ Shanken, A. M, 2002]. The
active memorial is a landscaped urban environment that aids
in the creation of user-engaged spaces and the preservation
of memories.
C. Political memorials
A. Public memorials
Public monuments can be categorized based on their
content, but they can also be classified based on how they
interact with the public and how accessible they are. The
massive proportion of the traditional memorials especially
enables “remembering”, which is one of the important needs
for the public. However, utilizing memory places and works
could satisfy other needs of the community, such as “using”
and “meeting” and also increasing the affectivity of
memorials (Page & Sherida 2004). Instead of forming or
searching for any criteria or standards in the design of public
memory places, it is necessary that the designer considers
feelings and situations requested to be given in these places,
in order to strengthen social memory.
• Never again: In “present” spaces built with “the
past”, for “the future” emphasis is often put on the
wish that it will “never happen again” (Brett et al.,
2007).
• “The design should aim to create experiences
that help create better citizens” (Brett et al.,
2007).
• Equity in space: It starts in being fair to opening
reasonable spaces to our most needed voices,
those from our indigenous people. The colonial
public park did not, and did not seek to, serve as a
model for an inclusive public sphere; rather, its
evolving forms became yet another weapon of
class division. Jan Gehl’s Public space public life
infer the following factors for quality of public
space: comfort, Inclusiveness, protection,
enjoyment.
The placement of sculptures in monumentally scaled urban
settings along important transportation corridors signifies
their ideological appropriation by political parties. One
person’s hero will be another person’s villain. The process
of selection of subject that is needed to be commemorated
is very complicated and sometimes this process is
successful which contributes to the democracy of the place.
Foreign statues became objects of anger and vandalism as
the national movement grew stronger in India. In
Trivandrum statues of some Dewan, rulers were removed
due to protests from people who were against Dewan rule
and their corruption. The Statue of Ramakrishna Ayar was
removed in 1949, which was in front of the Assembly. He
was working alongside the imperialists against whom the
Indian National Congress was heading the fight in British
India.
The word “data” is plural, not singular. Memorials are
erected for political reasons in public spaces to
commemorate an event or a person with a political
 background. They are inserted in the urban fabric to E. Power in memorials
transfer information about the history, national identity, Memorials and monuments serve a purpose beyond just
and ideology of a person or an event. The identity of the reflecting past beliefs and tying them to the ground.
city and the power of a nation is expressed through the Memorials and monuments are a part of the socio-political
mnemonic function of monuments or statues. process of people reading, writing, evaluating, debating,
performing, honoring, contesting, and healing from
historical traumas in various ways. Political parties or rulers
D. Positioning of political memorial in urban fabric of use this medium to showcase the identity of the nation or
Trivandrum their party. Location, visibility, enfilade, architecture, scale,
The final two chapters of Camillo Sitte’s famous 1889 book, statuary, and spectacular effect are all used to portray power
City Planning According to Artistic Principles suggested that in political memorials.
memorials should be appropriately scaled to their settings and
to the perspectival views these afford to onlookers. F. In political memorial, how does meaning work?
Memorials, particularly statues, should be placed against an Monuments are man-made structures that are erected to
architecturally closed, symmetrical, and plain backdrop, and endow a location with dominant meanings. They have a
with ample, safe pedestrian space in front of them, to best visual as well as a political purpose. Ruling elites create
allow contemplation of them. Additionally, Sitte noted that monuments to support preferred historical narratives that
perimeter memorial placements and city fabric with highlight favorable events and people while obliterating the
numerous small, irregular plazas both allow for the addition undesirable. Political memorials are playing an increasingly
of numerous later memorials. crucial role in the articulation of national memory and
Jane Jacobs, a well-known urbanist, has stated that the land identity, allowing political elites to establish political
uses that surround parks keep them alive. Mixed land use objectives and legitimize political power. Political elites
generates life in the urban space (Spreinger Paul D, 1992). utilize monuments to express their dominant ideas and
The memorial could be sited in the same location as the beliefs in space. As a result, memorials are biased historical
commemorating event or at a different location (D.H. interpretations that emphasize moments and qualities that
Alderman, O.J. Dwyer, 2009). The meaning of the memorial are important to political elites. This part delves into the
can be expressed through the location of the place. The event meanings of memorials, which are classified into four
or memory of a person can be connected to a location and categories.
when a memorial is designed here it can easily translate the Cognitive function The cognitive function of
idea easily. Zoning should protect all views of important monuments refers to the
historic buildings (Spreinger Paul D, 1992). Sense of type of human knowledge
enclosure is a fundamental requirement for urban open space
they contain as well as the
[Spreinger Paul D, 1992] An urban square may be beautifully
knowledge users have
landscaped as a restful urban park, but it may lack entirely
the peripheral building facades which are needed for a sense concerning monument
of enclosure. The identified factors when the memorial is representations.
positioned are: Axiological function The axiological function
analyses whether the
• Location knowledge is valued
• Land use positively or negatively by
• Sense of enclosure the users.
• Zoning Emotional function The emotional function
• Backround looks at the emotions and
feelings that monuments
evoke.
Pragmatic function/ The pragmatic function is
Activity concerned with users'
actions in monument
spaces.

IV. ANALYSIS LITERATURE AND PRIMARY CASE STUDY
A comparative analysis of seven different literature case
studies was done. The case studies are selected based on how
these parameters are used in these spaces in creating mystical
quality. The case studies selected are
1. The Trafalgar Square, London
2. The Louvre Pyramid, Paris
From the comparative analysis of the above-mentioned
squares with the spatial and political factors derived from
the literature study of political memorials insets, it is
possible to understand the impact of the political physical
setting in an urban context. Positioning, power, meaning,
and visual dimension in the memorial are components of
political memorial inserts identified for the analysis.
Location, Enclosure, land use, Background, accessibility
and linkage are the factors to value the quality of the urban
open space in relation to the component positioning of
memorial inserts. Statuary is a feature to showcase power
in most of the urban inserts from the decision from political
elites under their responsible section of the rule. Location
is another way to make space of insertion more meaningful
when the urban landscape has a political background in the
past. Background setting and the sense of enclosure with
the memorial insert. Visual dimension is a tool to analyze
the space within the memorial. Location, Texture, form,
eidetic organisation, chromatic organization are used to
translate the knowledge behind the memorial and their
composition leads to meaning full open space. Cognitive,
axiological, emotional, and pragmatic functions
Memorials in the urban fabric of Trivandrum
Memorials in Trivandrum are of various scales and forms
and can be classified based on their theme, form, and
function. Memorials were built for a political figure who
was part of Diwan’s rule in the princely state and for
national fame leaders who dedicated their lives to the
freedom of the nation. Then we can see statues of local
ministers and freedom fighters. There is a hierarchy in this
process of placing memorials in the urban fabric of
Trivandrum.
Political memorials in Trivandrum
Memorials and monuments positioned in the urban
landscapes of Trivandrum contribute to the collective
identity of the capital city. Trivandrum capital of Kerala
with many civic infrastructures and other historic buildings
of colonial and post-colonial buildings placed within the
urban fabric of the place. There was a parallel culture of
inserting memorials in the city for showcasing power,
identity, and the history of how the city is formed became
a tool to commemorate. Larger-than-life sculptures of
political rulers are placed in important corners of the city
to tell their political role connected with the freedom or
development of the city. Memorials or monuments in the
form of statues, busts, and memorial parks are positioned
in major nodes, junctions, and crossroads within the major
urban fabric. Spaces for memorials were usually formed
due to excess voids from the road network in the city.
These void spaces are turned into green pocket spaces for
placing statues and some into memorial parks. Location
and statuary are the major factors that is used to showcase
power in urban landscapes.
Trivandrum first saw a memorial erected for an Indian
through the statue of Diwan Madhav Rao and later this
culture of positioning memorials in the city began then in
the early 20th century. Most of the memorials erected were
during the post-independence period. Political parties
during their reign of rule started finding places to insert
political figures they idolize. Not only states person but
also persons with National identity found places in the city
fabric. There is a collective meaning of the national
freedom movement connected with most of the political
memorials.
To value memorials based on the components of
functioning of meaning in memorials, this research has
produced a questionnaire.
• What historical knowledge do you receive from this
memorial?
• What users' local knowledge is regarding the events
and people commemorated in monuments?
• How do you value this particular memorial or
monument?
• What emotion does this memorial elicit in you?
Political memorials in the city are of different types based
on their setting or the environment they are positioned.
Most of the memorials are in the form of statues in
junctions inserted without any purpose to public other than
their landmark feature. Memorials are identified based on
different setting they are inserted like parks and important
nodes in the city fabric along with their political
background that can be traced. The memorials for the study
include Gandhi park and Statue in Trivandrum.
Gandhi Park is at the prime locality of Trivandrum city
between Chalai Bazaar and Sree Padmanabhaswamy
temple. The visual axis connecting the temple and market
which contribute to the image of the place is maintained in
the design. Land uses that surround the memorial are of
commercial shops, bus stops, and religious centres like
temple. Chalai market Kerala’s oldest market is a one stop
solution for shopping. On the other side there is East Fort
with a road that extend to the Gopuram of the temple
complex with shops on both side of the road. The
background of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi is a copy of
the East Fort structure but within proportion to the height
of the statue. The image of the statue along with the
background talks about the history of Gandhi’s visit for
celebrating temple entry proclamation.

Gandhi park is one of the most active parks in the city

Memorial Park is positioned in the heart of the city and also
in a node of historical importance connecting two main
tourist destination of the city. But the memorial is not
visible while walking through the city fabric enveloping it.
Identity of the East Fort is reflected in the image of the
statue erected on one side of the park.
fabric. A survey is conducted based with park users to
understand its role and relevance in the city. First a set of
questions is planned to understand the type of users and
their intention of visit in the park. Most of the users are
within the city and among them a lot of visitors come here
for relaxation after spending time in other places near the
memorial. In the second part of the survey questions were
framed to understand the cognitive function, axiological
function and emotion produced by the memorial space.
Most of the users feel proud of this memorial space in the
city.

First a set of questions is planned to understand the type of

users and their intention of visit in the park. Most of the
users are within the city and among them a lot of visitors
come here for relaxation after spending time in other places
near the memorial.
 Both statues are located in Trivandrum’s most iconic place
where Secretariat building is situated. Madhav Rao’s statue
erected during the rule of British India outside the Secretariat
complex since it was impossible to insert a structure of any
Indian inside a civic space under the control of British. Later
after the Independence, statue of Velu Thambi who was also a
ruler of 19th century saw its place inside the complex which
mark how power is shifted from a colonial period to a
democratic nation.

This results how it respond to axiological function that it is read

positively in the minds of the people. But user knowledge about
the political history is poor and it can be concluded that the park
failed to translate knowledge within the memorial. Meaning of
the memorial is limited to the name Gandhi Park and the statue
of Gandhi positioned centre visually.
Madhav Rao was the subject of Trivandrum's first statue—
apparently the first statue of an Indian in South India. A life-
size bronze copy of his figure stands in Main Road, directly
across from the Secretariat he built. The well-known
Trivandrum junction acts as a focus point for directions, with
buses designated as either travelling through or not passing
through "Statue Junction." A committee was constituted in
1956, under the presidency of the (then) Chief Minister, a
Congressman, to raise a statue of Velu Tampi, the Dewan-
martyr of 1809. Velu Tampi (1765-1809), Dewan from 1804 to
1809, an aristocratic Nayar from south Travancore who led a I. INFERENCE AND CONCLUSION
failed revolt against British dominance and committed suicide
Memorial inserts in the urban fabric of the city was not always
rather than be captured.
positioned considering the public users who make the city
Statue of Velu Thambi located inside green space near the front
active. Some memorials like memorial park are open to the
elevation of the secretariat building facing the main road.
public with facilities for interaction, public meeting and play
Symmetrical white background of secretariat with statue of
area. There are memorial parks without access for public
Velu Thambi placed along the center of axis which convey the
located near spaces of power in the city Trivandrum.
idea how important is this statue to that place. The neo-classic
style fence acts as a physical barrier to the Secretariat Park for • Location while positioning political memorials is
the pedestrians and this separation of this space from public one of the major factors while translating the
show the power of this civic space. Statue inside the Secretariat meaning or purpose of the insert in urban fabric. The
complex is surrounded by buildings only on one side which place can have its own historical background
limits the feeling of enclosure in the open space. But the connecting the subject of the memorial and
symmetry in the design of the front elevation add to this feeling positioning political memorials in this particular
of sense of enclosure. landscape can transfer the knowledge behind the
memorial or monument easily.
• Memorials or monuments when positioned in an
open landscape enclosed by building create a sense
of enclosure. Buildings with uniformity in design
within the elevation or with a particular architecture
character enhance the quality of public space and
creates a feeling of focus towards the insert. Most of
the memorial inserts lack this sense of enclosure.
• Background setting of the place where the memorial
is erected also can translate the political background
of the memorial. But not all memorials in the city
 achieve this technique which create a sense of
orientation.
• Space for contemplation can be achieved when
political memorials are inserted in large open spaces
within the urban fabric. But it is possible only if the
open spaces are accessible to public. Accessibility to
the memorial without blocking the pedestrian flow
creates a positive impact for the people. Usually,
traffic limits this pedestrian flow. Even parks
without access for the public still exist in the city.
• Political memorials in Trivandrum show their
power through the place where they are located.
Historically important nodes, civic spaces of power,
institutions within the proximity of urban fabric are
common locations of power in the city where
political memorials are inserted. The form and scale
of the memorial do not become a tool to showcase
the power of political memorials in Trivandrum.
• Memorial inserts in Junctions or crossroads have no
purpose other than their landmark feature. These
memorials are visible within the city fabric
compared to political memorials in open urban
squares or parks.
• Statuary is the only medium in space to showcase
the power of the political party and also the political
figure in Trivandrum.
• Meaning of the memorial and its functioning is the
part that face much criticism in the case of political
memorials in Trivandrum. Memorials here lack
users who come to contemplate the subject of the
user which questions the purpose of inserting
memorials in public spaces. There is a collective
meaning of freedom movement against the British
rule with the majority of inserts in the city. Different
mediums other than a statue for telling the story
behind the subject of the memorial can attract the
public and even tourists.
Conclusion
This research developed a theoretical framework to
evaluate the positioning, meaning and purpose of the
political memorial in urban fabric in a city. It helps in
understanding the role of political memorials with
identified spatial and political factors affecting them.
Visual representation of memorials plays a major role in
the memory of a person and this tool can have both positive
and negative impact to the public. Memorial placed in open
urban landscapes can provide space for contemplation if
we make them active for public while inserting them in
junctions with busy streets. People accept memorial with
pragmatic function and this feature enhance the quality of
public memorials. The cognitive function of the memorial
transfer meaning to the place and translate knowledge to
users about the purpose behind positioning in major nodes
or open ground close to the urban fabric in the city.
Insertion of new memorials with subject of political
background have declined in city fabric. Renovation of
existing memorial parks in the city is seen as a part of smart
city project from the city corporation with better facilities
to attract more public users. Planned positioning of
political memorials in the city fabric can activate the user
flow creating better quality open squares.
It makes the case that memorialization, as one of the
political memorial’s many civic duties, should go beyond
its person-centric focus to honour a wide range of legacy,
including geographic, historical, and intangible forms like
oral traditions and local crafts.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT (Heading 5)
The preferred spelling of the word “acknowledgment” in
America
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