Hitesh’s
family ie. the Sompuraas are famous for their
family tradition of designing temples according
to “Vastu-Shastra” since past 12 generations.Their
ancestors had designed and built great historic
monuments like Somnath Temple, Ranakpur Temple,
and Dilwara temples of Mount Abu hundreds of
years ago.Within their family,the expertise
of Temple Architecture is handed down orally
from generation to generation.Therefore the
Sompuraas do not need the formal education
or a degree of architecture or even a structural
engineer to design and build temples.It is said
that a Sompuraa has Temple Architecture flowing
in his blood and his family members prepare
him since childhood to be a Temple Architect.Therefore,
even today, when a traditional stone temple
is to be built anywhere in the world, a Sompuraa
being a specialist in designing temples is
preferred over an educated architect.
Hitesh still
maintains and refers a 300 year old manuscript
called “Vastu Kaustubh” written by his forefather
of eighth generation Late Shri Ganesh Sompuraa
in the 17th century.
Hitesh’s grand
father and father Late Mr.Hariprasad H Sompuraa
were the leading temple architects of India
who had designed and built many temples in India
like Jain Temple in Thane,Shri Mahalaxmi Temple
at Dahanu and Shri Vallabhnidhi Trust Haveli
in Mumbai.
Hitesh used
to accompany them on site-visits to their temple
projects since childhood.Since the age of 6,
as a hobby,he started making sketches of temples
as per his grand-father’s guidance.
Hitesh belonging
to the Sompuraa family, could also practice
as the Temple Architect without the Bachelor’s
degree in Architecture.
But Architecture
to him, is not just making temples or buildings.But
it is his way of life,a way of thinking.He is
a thinker since childhood.And he wanted to learn
the creative process of how to transform the
ideas floating in his mind into an art form.
He learnt this
creative process while studying Architecture
in Kamala Raheja college for 5 years. During
college years, he would learn Modern Architecture
in college and Traditional Temple Architecture
at home from his family. In college, he planned
Shopping complex,factory,hospital,school, museum,etc.
with the modern style and techniques.
In 1998 he
completed his college studies and got the degree
of “Bachelor of Architecture” from Mumbai University.Then
he built Temples in Pune and Andhra Pradesh.
In 1999,he
traveled in the USA and observed their Architecture.
He observed that unlike European and Egyptian
style,Indian style was absent at the international
level despite its unquestionable merit. During
this tour in the USA,he set his ultimate goal
to make the Traditional Indian Architecture
globally popular and a part of Global Culture
just like Yoga and Meditation.
As a move towards his goal, he revolutionized
the way the Traditional Temples were designed
by using the modern computer technology in this
traditional profession.He made some of the first
computerised drawings,3D models and walkthroughs
of temples on computer.He developed softwares
which can do the complex calculations necessary
for designing temples in seconds on computer
which previously took hours to do manually.
After his father’s
demise in 2005,he single handedly continued
his family tradition of past 11 generations
and designed beautiful temples.
The
Examples are,
Shri Nija Sevashram
Temple in Mumbai which is one of its kind as
it is an abstract form of a traditional temple.
Shri
Madan Mohan Trust Haveli in Balasinor is a path-breaking
example of how the traditional Indian architecture
can be combined with modern style and materials.
The very popular
Shri Mukteshwar Temple in Mumbai was given a
new look by Hitesh in the year 2006 .
He also designs
interiors and makes painitings.
He is presently
designing projects with the leading corporates
& architects of India.Glimpses of his work
can be seen on his web-sites www.Sompuraa.com
and www.Hitesh.org.
He strongly
believes that for a concept to be popular,it
should reach the masses as well in addition
to the class.Therefore he has presented his
subject in various forms of art so that maximum
people can enjoy it.About his subject, he has
made short documentary films,written a book
named “You & Architecture” and some poetries.These
short films,book and poetries present his subject
in a simple, short and interesting way.
He runs an
Art-Gallery which is popular as “Sompuraa Art
Home” in Vile-Parle-East in Mumbai, where he
displays his work namely drawings,models, stone-furniture,
sculptures,paintings and his documentary films.
He lectures in Universities, writes articles
in magazines and hosts exhibitions.
He has been
featured in many newspapers and TV channels.Universities
across the globe seek his guidance regarding
Indian Temple Architecture.
For his special
contribution in architecture, he was awarded
“Salute Mumbai 2005” award by the Honourable
ex-cultural minister Late Shri Pramod Navalkar
in May 2005.
To promote
Temple Architecture, he also participates in
social activities with the Political leaders,film-stars
and spiritual masters.
33 years old
Hitesh is today one of the leading architects
in the field of Traditional Temple Architecture
as he has a rare combination of eccentricity
with professionalism.
He is a simple,humble
and spiritual person.
He believes
in Jesus Christ’s statement,
“Empty thyself
so that I can fill thee” |