A Spherical Dilemma

 Today while sitting in my office in the afternoon session, I was sketching or to be precise doodling a sphere. Looking at that doodle a specific word got created in my mind, I titled it "A spherical dilemma" (obviously there is a spelling mistake in the title). 

 I had no idea what it meant or why that particular phrase popped into my mind. So as a habit, I went to ChatGPT to check if there was such a phrase in usage.

I got this reply from ChatGPT

"The term "spherical dilemma" is not a well-known concept, so I'll provide a general interpretation based on the words themselves. A dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, and it often implies that each option has its own set of drawbacks or challenges. Now, let's consider the addition of "spherical" to the dilemma. Spherical typically refers to something shaped like a sphere, which is a three-dimensional, round object. However, without more context, it's unclear how this term specifically relates to the dilemma.

If you have a specific context or scenario in mind, please provide more details so I can offer a more accurate and helpful response. Otherwise, if you meant something else by "spherical dilemma," feel free to clarify, and I'll do my best to assist you!" 

So, I now know that such a word is non-existent I still wanted to understand why I came up with the word I again asked ChatGPT 

" You - use spherical dilemma as a metaphor in a sentence

ChatGPT - Amidst the complexities of balancing work, family, and personal aspirations, she found herself caught in a spherical dilemma, where every decision seemed to encircle her with its unique challenges, leaving her uncertain of the best path forward."

Really I did not understand if ChatGPT was kidding me or my mind but, the answer that I received was exactly what I was going through right now. Is it that the ChatGPT could read my mind? or is it that my poetic mind created a specific word very suitable for my situation from its subconscious? 

  

Architectural Dissertation

What is Architectural Dissertation? What does dissertation mean to an architecture student? This is being written to generate spark among student architects to understand the underlying essence of what actually dissertation means. That is why I thought I would take up a series of writings on Architectural dissertation after doing my own basic research and help them handle it well. Hence the first writing in the series is

HOW TO SELECT A DISSERTATION TOPIC FOR AN ARCHITECTURE STUDENT?

To all the students reading this I would like to mention a spoiler, there is no extensive list of dissertation topics in this so if you are looking for ready-made stuff, this is not the place. Here I am genuinely trying to provocate the thought process of an individual student to come up with innovative topics from their own field of interest.

SWOT ANALYSIS

Each individual student, into the fourth year of architecture should have by now identified their own Strength and Weakness in this stream. So take a paper and pen and jot down the same as it should be very helpful to determine your dissertation topic. Some may be strong in design others in theory, some may be good at reading and others good orators. Look into yourself, identify it !!!!     

INTROSPECT!!!

Once done with introspection try and identify what are your opportunities and threats in architecture. What field will help you achieve success and what might not. So it would be more of a self-analysis.

Fig 1.1. SWOT (Source:  https://blog.webico.vn/phan-tich-swot-va-lam-sao-de-ung-dung-mo-hinh-swot-hieu-qua/)

Once you know have an idea of your strengths and weaknesses I would suggest the next step which you should take would be is

BRAINSTORM

Brainstorming is an individual/group creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by individual/members. (Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming)

Brainstorming is a technique used for lateral thinking, which I guess could be used here too for the benefit of students. You could start brainstorming individually and jotting down (mind-mapping) the entire field which fascinates you, interest you or you feel you could contribute to. 

Fig 1.2. Brainstorming (Source:http://welonthouden.eu/nieuw/category/blog/)

If one finds it difficult to brainstorm individually you can discuss with your friends or family. Nagging them for something good should do them no harm. On the contrary, they would be more than happy to help you. If you want it to take it a step further you could brainstorm with your faculties, which actually is not a very bad idea. As a faculty they know your strength and weakness already, brainstorming should make you come up with stronger areas of interest.

IDEATE!!!

Once you have all your ideas/topics of interest with you now do extensive research on them.

RESEARCH on AREA of INTEREST

The easiest way to start with research in your area of interest is by visiting your own college library and going through the previous dissertation reports done by your seniors. You might find that the topics which you had in mind where already taken up and researched on so you will get an direction on what new you can research in that direction.

EXTENSIVE RESEARCH!!!

Fig 1.3. Research (Source: https://elearningindustry.com/10-online-research-tools-every-online-learner-know)

Then look into books, journals, periodicals and magazines find out what all has been studied on topic of your interest, this will give you a skeleton work for your dissertation topic.  Attend seminars, workshops and conferences on related topics where you will meet the so called architectural thinkers, who could give a new direction in area of your interest.

And not the least, discuss with your faculties, the one whom are comfortable talking with, they can guide you well, let you know the pros and cons of your topic of interest and help you choose wisely.

And finally use internet as a source of research, using it in the beginning would confuse you as there would be too much of data which you cannot comprehend.

ASK the QUESTION

After extensive research you should by now have shortlisted three to five potential subjects of your interest. Now develop the research question for which you will be looking answer for. What do you want to investigate, how could you go about the study, availability of data to support your research, is it going to be quantitative, qualitative or philosophical research questions etc. and so on.

THE QUESTION!!!

Fig 1.4. The Question (Source: http://www.hubresearch.ca/hub-session-forming-the-clinical-research-question-and-principles-of-study-design/)

You should put your strengths and weakness to use here. If you like reading, then you could choose a research method which has extensive readings to do; if you are good at social networking your research could have questionnaires and interviews with people, if you are a travel bug then let your dissertation take you places and so on.

SYNOPSIS

And finally you are now synopsis ready.

Based on your research and question give your interest a suitable title which need not be very specific right now you could be generic and as and when you get into data collection and secondary researches you could go for specific title.

Your research question will become your aim and what are you going to research so as to find an answer for your research question will become your objective.

The scope of the dissertation basically means all those things that will be covered in the dissertation. It defines clearly the extent of content that will be covered by the means of the research in order to come to more logical conclusions and give conclusive and satisfactory answers to the research.

Fig 1.5. Synopsis  (Source: https://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/how-to-write-a-synopsis.html)

And you methodology of course is how you are going to find answer for your research question. And limitation of course is to what extend you would take your study to. Why you could not take it further which may be due to time, lack of necessary labs or quantitative analysis etc.

The synopsis should be at least 1-2 pages and is the starting point of your dissertation.

So that’s all in this series, in the next series I will come up with how you need to go along with your data collection. 

References:

Groat Linda., Wang  David ., Architectural  Research Methods. New Jersey: WILEY, 2013.

Borden Iain., Ray K. R., The Dissertation An Architecture Student’s Handbook. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, 2006.

A Journey to the Holy City

A heavy stomach, a sleepless night spent over submissions leaves you exhausted.  

No  wonder  as  soon  as  I  caught  a  seat  on  the  bus,  along  with  my  friends,  I  drifted  

into  sleep.  But  the  travellers  and  conductor  pushing  and  poking  with  their  bags  

each time they passed along the aisle left me with an irritable sleep.  

  

I  know  travelling  is  about  feeling  –  feeling  the  journey,  the  roads,  the  trees,  the  

architecture,  the  environment  around  you  but  I  think  it  had  to  wait  till  I  got  

refreshed. As the dusk began to dawn upon the  place I opened my eyes to savour  

the  beauty,  earphones  plugged  in  my  ears,  soothing  music  provided  a  perfect  

background. As the outside got dark the bus got lit up. I loved what I saw through  

the  moving  window,  the  building  lit,  colourful  red  yellow  and  green  blinking  

lights  as  if  they  are  getting  ready  for  a  marriage,  the  welcoming  dhabas  on  the  

other  side  with  flashy  lights.  I  have  travelled  through  Kerala  roads  at  night,  a  

monotonous  yellow  light  lighted  them  all  up;  this  was  something  different  here  

in  North,  roadside  lit  up  with  colours  excited  me.    I  felt  the  roads,  the  chilled  

wind  that  touched  my  skin;  I  was  excited  for  this  road  was  new  to  me  and  also  

the destination.  

  

As  the  bus  moved  forward  I  felt  as  if  we  were  going  through  a  dark  tunnel  with  a  

beckoning  light  at  its  end  and  after  a  few  minutes  we  again  encountered  the  

colourful  bride.  Journey  always  brought  back  memories  to  me,  the  memories  of  

the  dear  ones,  the  sweet  and  the  bitter,  staring  in  the  dark  I  speculated  over  my  

future  based  on  my  past  as  if  I  were  some  fortune‐teller.  It  trilled  me,  fascinated  

me.   

  

The  bus  took  a  break  for  dinner  so  along  with  it  my  chain  of  thoughts.  Enjoyed  a  

hearty  dinner  with  the  other  nine  and  savoured  a  hot  tea  to  refresh.  Got  back  to  

into  the  bus  refreshed  to  continue  my  thoughts  and  dreams  until  I  reached  the  

holy city of Haridwar.   

Journeys  always  make  memories  but  also  remind  me  of  my  past  and  speculate  

over my future, it tingles and excites me it make me complete.  

Making Memories

“Moving Inertia” is that what has got me, or is it like I want to get over something  

and  just  need  to  keep  my  mind  occupied  I  have  no  idea.  But  I  know  one  think  for  

certain something is driving me nuts these days. Oh wait a sec!!!!! Something else  

popping  up  in  my  mind…    this  could  be  the  so  quoted  T.I.D.  (This  Is  Delhi)  

phenomenon that is getting on my nerves.   

I  try  and  get  a  tea  from  our  canteen  and  hope  this  crazy  feeling  would  be  

subdued  by  this  dose.  But  no  way,  its  stubborn!!!  I  run  upstairs  give  a  knowing  

look  to  my  friend,  we  get  our  purses  and  off  we  go  on  an  auto  hunt  which  could  

take us to Red Fort through the congesting traffic on the I.T.O. road at 6:30 in the  

evening.  It  is  a  Herculean  task  to  find  a  auto  with  meter  down,(we  have  got  a  

anti‐corruption  scheme  for  ourselves,  to  deal  the  corruption  in  its  grassroots,  so  

we  gone  only  by  meter‐down‐wala‐auto,  of  course  which  often  leaves  us  

stranded on the hot Delhi roads).  

Now  we  being  no  Hercules  and  fed  up  by  the  heat;  head  for  the  nearest  possible  

metro  station  that  will  take  us  to  Red  Fort.  Oh  oops!!!!!  not  exactly  Red  Fort  but  

Chandni  Chowk……….  Now  we  make  a  rough  mental  map  of  that  part  of  area  

based  on  our  vague  memory  and  hope  to  reach  Red  Fort  in  time  for  the    Light  

and  Sound  Show.    You  know  what  I  really  think,  I  consider  that,  I  have  a  good  

hold on my memory only to be proven wrong later…… Hail me !!!!!!    

Now  Metro  is  a  real  saviour  but…….  Not  the  passenger  crowd  at  the  Chandni  

Chowk  Metro  Station  ………  it  takes  us  more  than  our  onboard    time  to  get  us  out  

of the station and the main reason for that maybe that we are  moving against the  

crowd.  Whatever!!!  And  Somehow  we  get  out  of  the  station  leaving  almost  a  

marginal time for our Light and with sound show only to know that the show has  

really  begun……….  The  show  on  the  street,  you  can  call  it  a  kind  of  light  and  

sound  show  with  sound  playing  louder  with  an  additional  feature  of  human  and  

animated  elements  as  toppings………..  Pushing  our  way  through  the  crowd  or  

maybe,  you  call  it  the  traffic,  panting!!!!  we  reach  the  ticket  counter  only  to  know  

the programme we considered to start at 7:30 is actually scheduled for 8:30.  

Now again it time for us to stare us each other, and we decide that we don’t want  

to  wait  that  long  because  we  are  hungry  and  tired  and  need  to  get  really  good  

food.  So  the  only  the  name  that  pops  in  both  our  mind  is  Sharavana  

Bhavan…………  that  means  we  have  to  go  to  Janpath,  now  metro  is  really  a  fair  

option  to  get  us  to  Rajiv  Chowk  but  at  that  moment  it  doesn’t  seem  fair  enough  

for  us,  we  need  some  rest  after  going  through  all  this!  So  we  get  into  an  auto,  of  

course  with  meter  down,  to  Janpath.  Tragically  (or  may  be  if  you  tingle  you  

lighter side, funny enough) we pass through I.T.O on our way to Janpath.   

We  take  all  the  trouble  of  getting  out  of  hostel  at  6:30,  get  into  Metro,  deal  with  

the  Chandni  Chowk  crowd  only  to  have  a  dinner  at  Sharavana  Bahavan  at  8:30 which  we  otherwise  could  done  without  going  through  all  these  trouble…………  

But  however  the  dinner  was  worth  the  trouble  and  we  really  did  have  a  hearty  

laugh over our foolish unplanned outing.   

But  our  trouble  didn’t  end  there!!!  Because  getting  an  auto  from  Janpath  to  I.T.O  

is  another  Herculean  task  “especially”,  with  meter  down………….  Auto  drivers  

react  as  if  we  are  asking  them  to  drop  us  at  some  hunted  place  when  they  hear   

the word I.T.O.   

“Kidar jaan hai”   

“I.T.O.”

   

They nod their head and say “Nahi!”  

After  almost  10  such  nahi’s  we  get  a  Bali  ka  Bakra  who  can  take  us  to  I.T.O.  and  

with  meter  down!!!  We  spring  into  that  auto  and  now  finally  my  nerves  are  

relaxing  I  don’t  know  what  it  wanted  but  seems  like  it  got  what  it  hoped  for………  

Relaxing  I  muse  over  what  my  friend  just  told  me  “  Maybe  we  have  done  

something  foolish  enough  but  these  are  the  memories  that  will  make  us  laugh  

five  years  from  now”  and  I  believe  that iand I am happy I made one just now.