Dear Friends,
Namaskaram!
Laurie Baker (2 March 1917 – 1 April 2007) was a British-born Indian architect, renowned for his initiatives in cost-effective energy-efficient architecture and designs that maximized space, ventilation and light and maintained an uncluttered yet striking aesthetic sensibility. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and his own experiences in the remote Himalayas, he promoted the revival of regional building practices and use of local materials; and combined this with a design philosophy that emphasized a responsible and prudent use of resources and energy. He was a pioneer of sustainable architecture as well as organic architecture, incorporating in his designs even in the late 1960s, concepts such as rainwater harvesting, minimising usage of energy-inefficient building materials, minimizing damage to the building site and seamlessly merging with the surroundings.
Lauire Baker received numerous awards in his life time, including Padmashri in the year 1990. In 1992, he was awarded the Roll of Honour by the United Nations. In 1988, he was granted Indian citizenship, the only honour he actively pursued in his life. In this issue, we have given some of his quotable quotes.
In happenings section, we have covered (i) Installation of Vermi wash units (ii) Mobile dispensary and Panchagavya chikitsa (iii) Training and Commissioning of bio-methanation plants (iv) Paper presentation (v) ATMA programmes and (vi) Media coverage etc. In addition, we covered Geeta Jayanti, Samartha Bharat Parva and Annual sports day celebrations of Sri Amudha Surabhi SHG Federation.
In the wisdom section, Dr.S.Cromwell Crawford, who worked as a Professor of the Dept. of Religions at University of Hawaii tells us the essential elements for an environmental ethics, Max Ehrmann, Writer of a famous book – Desiderata gives a key for evolution – from knowledge to feeling and then Being and finally Elizabeth Brenner appeals us not to get trapped like a Monkey but be free by “Letting Go”.
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With best wishes
G.Vasudeo,
Secretary,
Vivekananda Kendra – NARDEP,
Kanyakumari – 629 702,
Tamilnadu.
Mobile : 09442646296, 04652 246296 (office)
Email : vknardep@gmail.com
Web : www.vknardep.org & www.greenrameswaram.org