CONVERSATION - SITAKANT MAHAPATRA

Sitakant Mahapatra is an eminent Indian poet from Odisha, acclaimed for his introspective and spiritually infused poetry. A recipient of prestigious literary awards, including the Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith, Mahapatra's work explores themes of human existence and societal complexities. He served in the Indian Administrative Service from 1961 until he retired in 1995.

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.