31/10/2025
It is with the deepest sorrow that we bid farewell to Murugesh one of the founding trustees of Centre for Vernacular Architecture.
He passed away two weeks ago on October 18.
He along with late R.L. Kumar, the founder of Centre of Vernacular Architecture laid the foundation for a unique architectural practice that saw building primarily as a craft and not only a business or profession.
A self declared social worker hailing from Khader Sharief Garden one of Bangalore's oldest and biggest "slums", Murugesh was also firmly rooted in his DK anti caste politics. He struck common cause with Kumar, who had come there as part of the CIEDS Collective and its engagement with issues related to social justice and rights of the urban poor. And together along with other friends from the community they initiated Shramik, a cooperative of workers bringing together a pool of electricians, plumbers, masons etc toward building sustainable and dignified livelihoods. It was the OG but vernacular version of the now famous "Urban Company"!
Slowly but surely, despite not being trained architects they started taking on full scale construction projects with clients and friends who dared to trust an idealistic team driven by the vision of Laurie Baker, the renowned architect from Kerala. Many adventures and misadventures later Shramik transformed into Centre for Vernacular Architecture that over time carved out its own name and credibility in its chosen field.
Since he had rejected all other gods for Murugesh work truly was worship. A hard task master he would be up at the crack of dawn, the first to have tea at the local chai shop and arrive at the site much before all the other workers did. Much to their despair and exasperation! He always grumbled at how the more educated clients would get convinced by what Kumar said only because he spoke in English and reject him when he said the same thing in Tamil. But inspired by Kumar’s bravado he too found his own way to charm and convince doubting clients with his own brand of confidence. And together they forged a crusty camaraderie on which CVA got built.
Murugesh, now that you have been reunited with Kumar in the world to which he departed almost 13 years ago am sure you both are hatching plans to rebuild the heavens too! Maybe even turn it upside down!
Be assured that the legacy you left behind will be taken forward, not only by your children, Bhuvana and Dinesh who have followed in your footsteps in terms of design and construction. But also Goutham and Khalid who came as young fresh graduates but are today CVA’s principle architects and trustees whose own formal training was whittled down and reshaped, as much by Kumar’s iconoclastic practices as by the immeasurable wisdom, worth and value of vernacular labour that was your expertise.
RIP Writere!
