Jawahar Kala Kendra is an arts and crafts centre located in the city of Jaipur. The centre is important not because of the nomenclature but its close association with the city of Jaipur itself. The centre was built in the year 1986 and the construction completed in 1991. The centre was launched by the state government to provide space for the cultural and spiritual values of India and display the rich craft heritage. The centre is dedicated to the late prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru.This cultural centre for the city of Jaipur is dedicated to the memory of India’s great leader Jawaharlal Nehru. Ideas for the building sited in an open field near the university in a new part of the city, formed in Correa’s mind; but it was not until 1986 that the concept for the building was finalised.
CONCEPT:
The centre is an analogue of the original city pIan of Jaipur drawn up by the Maharaja, a scholar, mathematician and astronomer, Jai Singh the Second, in the mid-17th century. His city plan, guided by the Shipla Shastras, was based on the ancient Vedic madala of nine squares or houses which represent the nine planets (including two imaginary ones Ketu and Rahu). Due to the presence of a hill, one of the squares was transposed to the east and two of the squares were amalgamated to house the palace.
Correa’s plan for the Kendra invokes directly the original navgraha or nine house rnandala. One of the squares is pivoted to recall the original city plan and also to create the entrance. The plan of Jaipur city based on the nine square Yantra in which one square is displaced and two central squares combined. the squares is defined by 8m high wall, symbolic of the fortification wall along the Jaipur old city
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