Goals

The goal of the project was to represent Indian unity in diversity.

Research

The project began with understanding the Devnagri script anatomy. 

Understanding the anatomy of the Devnagri script helped to figure out the letterforms of Hindi. It also helped to draw parallels between different Indian regional languages like Bengali, Tamil, Tamil, and many others. 

As the next step, newspapers of different Indian regional languages were collected. I chose newspapers to create the typeface because it is a medium that highlights Indian diversity. Also, the idea was to see the alphabets of different Indian regional languages on the folded newspapers.

Outcomes 

The newspapers of Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and Bangla were folded to make vowels in Hindi, which were then digitized. vWhen looked closely, the letters of different languages can be seen on the folds of the Hindi vowels.

Above are the Hindi vowels which represent Indian unity in diversity through a typeface- Ekta.

Ekta- A Typeface made up of 11 vowels in Devanagari Script (Devnagri, is a left- the to-right writing system used in the Indian subcontinent ) by folding newspapers of different Indian regional languages, like Malayalam, Tamil, and Bangla.

Conclusion

The Ekta Typeface project not only celebrated India's unity in diversity but also served as a visual representation of the country's rich linguistic landscape. Through typography, cultural exploration, and the power of symbolism, the project exemplified the ability of design to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and stimulate conversations around complex societal topics. It showcased that every fold in the newspaper represented a piece of India's cultural mosaic, contributing to a larger narrative of harmony and coexistence.

Project Extension

Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of goddess Durga. Every year the festival is celebrated throughout India with devotees offering prayers. Pandals are the structures that are set up across cities to venerate the goddess. This year I got an opportunity to work on designing the 40th Durgotsav space for ‘Kali Bari’ Mayur Vihar Phase I, Delhi. This year the pandal witnessed around 10, 000 people starting 1st-5th October 2022. The theme was ‘Hindi Hai Hum Watan Se, Zubaan Se Nahi’’ - ‘ Hindi is from our country, not from our tongue’. 

This Project and its concept is an extension of my projects, ‘Ekta- A Typeface’.

We put up our decorations to celebrate the inclusivity of all Indian languages and rejecting the imposition of Hindi as our only language of discourse.

As a part of the team of volunteers, I worked on making panels of 11 scripts for the Pandal Space. These panels were put across the space to showcase the similarities in the Indian regional languages.

Another part of the project required me to write poems and phrases of famous Indian regional writers on Indian postcard letters. These letters were then displayed, and the devotees were asked to read them aloud. The money collected from selling these letters was given to the drum players who came from Bengal, India.

I also helped the team in making the installation of paper plates that symbolized that Hindi helps us bring food to the plate, but only the mother tongue gives it the taste. 

Conclusion

Designing the Navaratri pandal for 'Kali Bari' Mayur Vihar Phase I showcased the potent combination of artistic expression and cultural celebration. The project reinforced that art and design can serve as catalysts for change, advocating for important social values and encouraging dialogue among diverse communities. Successfully addressing these challenges resulted in a visually captivating and thought-provoking space that engaged festivalgoers and sparked conversations around a crucial social issue. It stood as a testament to the ability of festivals and public spaces to convey messages of inclusivity, unity, and the celebration of linguistic diversity.

Reflections