WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY|2020-21

INEQUITY BY DESIGN
Can design create a more equitable world?

At the dawn of our republic, the leaders who were elected to the Indian
parliament composed of jurists, freedom fighters, rights workers, artists and
important literary figures and individuals who had a long history of working at the
grassroots. They recognized the fundamental dichotomy of our republic: a
primarily rural-agrarian society on a path to become a human-resource
superpower. In the seven decades since independence, our realities have not
changed drastically. While on one hand, we boast space-research, nuclear
power, economic formidability, open markets, capitalism, commerce,
urbanization and building boom, on the other, we continue to live in a society
with grave humanitarian issues – poverty, hunger, malnutrition, low literacy rates,
a cruel caste-system, a crumbling public-health system, endemic corruption,
excesses and violence by the police and authorities, a broken criminal-justice
system, a compromised free-press and continuing stifling of freedom of free-
speech and expression by the state. The promised gifts of modernism, democracy
and capitalism seem to be reserved for a few privileged and the ability of people
to be upwardly mobile in order to claim an equitable stake in the economic
prosperity of India seems to be diminishing.

In the past year, a global pandemic has ensured that we witness the
deepening of fault- lines in India – a stark reminder of the inequalities and
fissures in our social fabric.
Images of migrants lining up for a seat on the bus, being lathi-charged and
being desperate to return to the hinterland are much too familiar. In lieu of the

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY | 2020-21
RUDIMENTS
 WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY|2020-21
pressing and urgent questions presented to us by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is
important to pause and reflect on the critical issues that plague our lopsided
society. Nowhere are the fractures of inequality more visible than in our cities.
While on one hand, the urban centers of India are magnets for human influx,
on the other, they are the most visible arenas for our differences to manifest. For
example, in the most physical terms, slums and shanty-towns represent the
housing crisis and the issue of un-equal distribution of urban space in India. In
more intangible realms, the access to basic facilities and resources – water,
electricity, sanitation, education, healthcare and public-transport becomes
increasingly challenging as one moves lower in the economic ladder. Even
something very fundamental – the ability to enjoy the city in its public open
spaces (an access to leisure) is reserved for the more privileged in our society.

While class and economic stature is one factor of consideration as we discus

inequalities, there are a multitude of areas of schism that prompt a bias: gender
(men, women, LGBTQ), age (for children and for the elderly), physical and
cognitive ability (differently abled, autistic, dyslexic) and a plethora of barriers
that one has to confront on an everyday basis. In recent times, we have also
witnessed many civil movements that are a reaction to societal inequality –
Black Lives Matter, The Global Climate Movement, The Movement, The
Movements against NRC and CAA in India, Pro-democracy Demonstrations in
Hong Kong and many more. A key question to architects and designers is:
How can architecture / design help humanity move towards a more equitable
future?

In the 1970s and the 1980s, there was a fierce debate in the public realm led by
architects of the likes of Charles Correa, Christopher Alexander, Kengo Kuma,
John Habraken and Muzharul Islam in favor of better housing, transport and
public amenities through design. Projects like the PREVI in Peru and the Belapur
Housing in Navi Mumbai are great examples of this thought process. As India’s
economy opened up to global capital in the early 1990s, there was much
optimism about the ability of our citizenry to partake in the wealth that was to
be created. However, twenty years since, we still struggle to provide for the most
fundamental resources and services to our citizens. It is also important to note
that today, more and more firms / studios are looking at collaborative work as
the future of design. The idea of design has also moved from a tool to solve
problems to a conceptual process that creates opportunities!

The challenge for the Writing Architecture trophy for 2020-21 is to make a case
for / against the idea of architecture / design as an implement of positive
change. How can we, as creative professionals be more empathetic towards

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY | 2020-21
RUDIMENTS
 WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY|2020-21
the large issues that challenge our society and how can we confront them
through our work? Participants are encouraged to seek case-studies in good
social-design to support their arguments. It is also important to realize that all
acts of design / architecture / planning have political and social implications.
How will we be able to create a better future where all our fellow citizens are
able to access opportunity in a more equitable way and where design plays an
important role in enabling them!

The essays can be between 1500 – 2000 words and can be illustrated with not
more than 10 images with supporting captions. Each essay must have an
editorial title and must make arguments clear in favor of OR against the
postulate of this brief. The participants are free to cite references and support
their arguments through properly credited external sources.

GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Failing to comply with any of the guidelines may lead to disqualification at the
discretion of the executive council.

● The format of the sheets should clearly mention the name of the trophy followed
by the year i.e. “WAT 2020-21”
● All text should be in English
● Each Unit can send in a total of three (3) entries maximum.
● A maximum of three students can work on each entry.
● The entry should be submitted in the format specified so that the identity of the
team members, the team or the institution they belong to is not revealed to the
Judges.
● The essay must be the sole creation and original work of the team. No
previously published work will be accepted. Any form of plagiarism will result in
immediate disqualification. All essays submitted will be closely checked for
plagiarism.
● In case matter is sourced from anywhere due credit to the original writer should
be given
● The essay shall be approximately 1000 words.
● Submissions should be done by the Unit Secretary in NASA India website before
the deadline.
● In any manner at any time, during or after the NASA WRITING ARCHITECTURE
TROPHY competition period the original author will have no claim on the same
after the entry is sent for the said competition.
● All entries will be the property of NASA INDIA, which will be free to utilize the

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY | 2020-21
RUDIMENTS
 WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY|2020-21
same.
● The shortlisted Entries will be published in NASA India’s annual magazine and
Think Matter magazine with the author(s) name.
● The Decision of the jury shall be final and binding.
● Any misconduct such as exposing identity through college name/ stamp
participant(s) name or college code on the sheets or the video will be
disqualified.

SUBMISSION FORMAT
 The entry code should be used as per the entry code list provided. The entry code
should be placed in bottom left of all pages of the entry.
 The file name, for online submission, should be specified as the entry code for all
files followed by name of document.(Eg: 63WAT000A_Authentication.pdf)
 All submissions automated and drafted in word processing software only.
 The entry should be accompanied by a letter from the HOD / Principal on the
college letterhead with the name(s) of the authors and the institution.
 Margins: 10mm on top, bottom, right and left.
 Font: Any simple and readable sans serif typeface. Font size 12, spacing between
the lines 1.5
 A template will be provided with NASA logo, header and footer which should not
be hindered in anyway.

SUBMISSION REQUIRMENTS
● It is mandatory to produce the original copy of the Authentication Letter for
each entry(entry code should be mentioned if allotted) with the name of
participant(s) and stating the unit will abide by whatever may be the final results
and also agree that this entry is a property of both the institute and NASA India.
● The Authentication Letter should be signed by the Appointed Unit Secretary of
the college for the year 2020-21 on behalf of the HOD/Principal/Director in lieu
of the Covid-19 pandemic.
● It is mandatory for the colleges to produce the original copy of the Declaration
Letter for each entry (entry code should be mentioned if allotted) signed by the
participants stating the work submitted is genuine and they have endorsed
copy- rights for the same and to adhere by all the rules and regulations, jury
process and the results.

○ The author(s) must also state in the declaration that the work is the original

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY | 2020-21
RUDIMENTS
 WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY|2020-21
Intellectual property of the respective author(s) and will be solely responsible
and liable in case the work has violated any copyrighted material, and if
any matter is sourced from anywhere, and credit has not been given.
○ The number of words should be indicated in the declaration by the
author(s).
● The Prize Money Authenticating Letter signed by the Director/ Principal / HOD in
the college letter-head specifying the account details ( Account Name
,Account Number, Bank Name, IFSC Code) in which the money is to be credited
for each entry (entry code should be mentioned if allotted) shall be collected
at a later stage.

PRIZE MONEY
Prize money of One lakh Rupees is allotted to the trophy and it will be divided according to
the number of the Citations and Special Mentions

IMPORTANT DATES

● Release of Brief: 21 October 2020

● Registration Deadline: 10 November 2020
● Queries Deadline: 15 November 2020
● Submission Deadline: 30 November 2020

CHECKLIST FOR SUBMISSION

1. Online Submission
2. Original Copy of Authentication Letter
3. Original Copy of Declaration Letter

OTHER INFORMATION

 Maximum Three (03) Number of Entries Will Be Accepted Per College.

 Queries can be put forward through the trophy page on the
website(https://forms.gle/FGhsW2aZZkMFEYi68)
 Registration should be done by the Unit secretary in NASA India
website before the registration deadline.
 Registration of the trophies will be final and cannot be changed or
withdrawn henceforth.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY | 2020-21
RUDIMENTS
 WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY|2020-21
 All the entries should be uploaded separately during the time of online
submission.
 Late Registration and submission will not be entertained and
henceforth the defaulters shall be disqualified.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

WRITING ARCHITECTURE TROPHY | 2020-21
RUDIMENTS