IN CONVERSATION - LATE. LAURIE BAKER

Laurie Baker (1917–2007) was a British-born Indian architect celebrated for sustainable and cost-effective designs. Settling in India in 1945, he promoted eco-friendly architecture, emphasizing local materials and traditional techniques. Notable works include the Indian Coffee House and the Centre for Development Studies. Baker received awards like the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan for his contributions. Beyond architecture, he engaged in humanitarian projects, particularly housing for the economically disadvantaged.

Rajiv Mehrotra has been a pioneering Television anchor & reporter in India. Over several decades from the early1970s into the 2000’s, he was host to various programmes on India’s public service television channel – Doordarshan. This included a series of in-depth Conversations in many avatars that featured the best Indian minds and several global personalities. It was the most watched programme of its genre. Many of them are now available online.

His documentary films won more than three hundred global awards, including thirty-three since 1986 from five Indian Presidents. His books have been published globally in 50+ languages and editions. He was elected a Judge of the Templeton Prize for Scientific & Spiritual Curiosity and a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum at Davos. Rajiv was educated at the Universities of Delhi, Oxford & Columbia.

Today Rajiv serves as the Secretary & Trustee of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of HH The Dalai Lama, established with the Nobel Peace Prize. He has been a student of His Holiness for more than forty years.