Content…
TRAVELLER’S DIARY
Chandigarh – The City Beautiful
PRIDE OF INDIA
Howrah Bridge and Victoria Memorial
CURRENT AFFAIRS
India and Japan – Tourism cooperation Kerala second top tourism spot
UNWTO Factsheet
FINGER TIPS
Teeth Sensitivity & Care for Oily Skin
SNEAK PEEK
LOCAL FOCAL
Flavours of Dakshina Kannada
Food for Thought
Exploring Food Spots
GREEN CORNER Laurie Baker’s Philosophy of Architecture
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Editor’s Desk
Sub Editor Creative Designer
Mrs. Meenakshi Garg Mr. Raghavendra G
Student Editorial Board
Ms. Manasa Rao Ms. Retnika Devasher
Ms. Merlyn Eapan Ms. Sreya Taraknath
Ms. Sukshma Sharma
Mr. Arko Basu
The first edition of the ‘Hospitality Prism’ for the year 2013
carries a vivid description of the beautiful city Chandigarh. The
land mark of Kolkatta – Howrah Bridge and Victoria memorial
are brought in as pride of India. The finger tips deals with the
teeth sensitivity and care for oily skin. The dietetics students
visit to Hyderabad is covered under Sneek Peek. The
Mangalore-buns and Kundapura-Koli saru, the local cuisines of
Dakshina Kannada are included under local food. The legendary
Architect – Laurie Baker’s Phylosophy of Architecture is covered
in the Green Corner. I am sure all these information included in
this issue would radiate colorful rays from the Hospitality Prism.
- Prof. Y G Tharakan
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Chandigarh – The City Beautiful
Known world-wide as the most beautiful and the most well planned city in India, Chandigarh is an epitome
of great architecture, and a quality of life that is unparalleled. How often do you wonder, if serenity and a
city can go together? With 21 years of living in Chandigarh I can assure you that this concept does exist.
Chandigarh has acquired a unique distinction of being a capital to two states – Punjab and Haryana. The
face of modern India, Chandigarh, is the manifestation of a dream that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru envisaged and
French architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, popular as Le Corbusier executed.
With the numerous trees and plants and the construction that is so well planned that you are awe-struck
by it, Chandigarh is right gotten its name ‘The City Beautiful’. Chandigarh is flanked by Mohali and
Panchkula which together are known as “Tricity”. To talk about the layout of the city, crisp roads cutting
squares are prominent across the sectors, every block having a sector number and this city does not have a
Sector 13, as the number was considered unlucky by the planner. Many newcomers here fall prey to the
“Meet me at sector 13 joke”. The open hand monument is a beautiful work of art adorning the Capitol
Complex – the location of the major administrative buildings of the states of Punjab and Haryana.
Apart from being an architectural wonder,
Chandigarh has a lot to offer. Starting from my
personal favourite the pristine Sukhna Lake where
one can take a boat ride and paddle along the ducks.
A 5-minute walk further down the road from Sukhna
Lake is Rock Garden: built from waste material from
scratch this place is a great example of how one could
protect their environment. Its world famous for its
statues and sculptures built for ceramic. The Rock
Garden was built by a government official called Nek
Chand who started working on it in his spare time. Art and culture can be felt everywhere in Chandigarh.
Museums like - The Evolution of Life Museum, the City Museum, International Dolls Museum are a must
visit while you are in the ‘city beautiful’. There are frequently held exhibitions and performances by
renowned singers, dancers and performance that you could have the pleasure to watch. Sector 17 parade
ground is well famous for hosting such events. You could take a walk on the clean promenades that are on
banks of all roads. But mind you, very rarely will you come across a person on foot because people seldom
walk here. You could even Dial-a-rickshaw here. It might baffle you to know that rickshaws are also
referred as ‘tuk-tuks’ here!
Chandigarh is also responsible for the birth of the word 'GERI' which basically means patrolling or moving
around in an area. Whenever the students get a time-out from their lecture and busy schedule, they along
Punjab University
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with their friends go around the various city colleges and Punjab University to check out the crowd and
flaunt their ride! My personal favourite “geri route” being sector 8-9-10-11-35
If you are looking to shop in Chandigarh, head straight to
Sector 17. Being the main shopping and commercial centre of
Chandigarh this has something for everyone. When it comes
to accommodation, various types of hotels are available in
Chandigarh depending upon your budget. Luxury 5 Star hotels
like JW Marriott, Taj, Park Plaza, Mount view (CITCO run
hotel) and budget hotels like Lemon Tree , Ashok , Bella Vista,
Homotel ,The Aroma are available. Authentic Punjabi food
like butter chicken, punjabi laccha parathas, chicken tikka and
lassi are served at its best in Chandigarh. Apart from this located in Sector 9, Backpacker’s Café is a good
place to have continental food. A few steps away, is the famous Nik Bakers – a place to have good desserts
and snacks. Sector 35 and 26 is flocked with a huge steam of eating joints which will surely leave you
astounded. Unlike the major metropolitans, where the life literally starts after 10 pm, Chandigarh goes off
to sleep early. The celebrations of most of the occasions generally do not extend beyond 10 pm.
Nonetheless, you can still find a decent amount of people partying in pubs and discs, which has been
increasing gradually.
People of Chandigarh have their main concentration on education. It boasts of many world renowned
educational colleges and schools and to talk about the residents of this city, people of Chandigarh
influenced by closeness of Punjab, are very friendly and warm especially the Chandigarh youth. Although
this city houses a lot of Senior Citizens and Retired army officers, but yet both the generations have a
capable understanding.
Chandigarh is indeed the best of the world because it is not just a local city, it is not just a city of India; it is
a “city of the whole world” I personally recommend all the readers to come and visit and experience the
variety of culture, food and people in the “CITY BEAUTIFUL”.
Retnika Devasher
Rock Garden
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Pride of India Howrah Bridge
Howrah Bridge is popularly known as Rabindra Setu. Howrah Bridge in Kolkata spans over river Hooghly
and is considered to be a marvelous engineering work by the British. The Howrah Bridge is enumerated
amongst the busiest cantilever bridge in the World.
Howrah Bridge of Kolkata carries traffic of around 60,000 vehicles and innumerable pedestrians daily. The
Howrah Bridge links the metropolitan city of Kolkata and Howrah. Thus the Howrah Bridge of Kolkata acts
as the lifeline of this metropolitan city. The Howrah Bridge in Kolkata is one of three bridges on the
Hooghly River. It is in fact the most sentimental landmark as well as a vital identity of the colonial city.
It took nearly about seven long years to construct the Howrah Bridge . The cantilever bridge of Howrah
was completed in 1943. The Howrah Bridge in Kolkata was opened to traffic and public in the same year.
The total expenditure of making the bridge was nearly £2,500,000. The Howrah Bridge of Kolkata was built
by riveting the whole structure without using nuts or bolts. Today, Howrah Bridge acts as the gateway to
Kolkata, connecting the city to the Howrah Station, the main railway stations of the city and the busiest
railway station of India.
The Howrah Bridge is 705 meters long and 97 feet wide. The structure of the Howrah Bridge was built
from 26,500 tons of high-tensile steel, supported by two piers. Each pier of the Howrah Bridge is about 90
meters above the road.
The bridge serves as the gateway to Kolkata, connecting it to the Howrah Station, which is one of the four
intercity train stations serving Howrah and Kolkata. As such, it carries the near entirety of the traffic to and
from the station, taking its average daily traffic close to nearly 1.5 million pedestrians and 1 million
vehicles. In 1946 a census was taken to take a count of the daily traffic, it amounted to 27,400 vehicles,
121,100 pedestrians and 2,997 cattle. The bulk of the vehicular traffic comes from buses and cars. Prior to
1993 the bridge used to carry trams also. Trams departed from the terminus at Howrah station towards
Rajabazar, Sealdah, High Court, Dalhousie Square, Park Circus and Shyambazar. From 1993 the tram
services on the bridge were discontinued due to increasing load on the bridge. However the bridge still
continues to carry much more than the expected load. A 2007 report revealed that nearly 90,000 vehicles
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were plying on the bridge daily (15,000 of which were goods-carrying), though its load-bearing capacity is
only 60,000. One of the main reasons of overloading was that although vehicles carrying up to 15 tonnes
are allowed on the structure, vehicles with 12-18 wheels and carrying load up to 25 tonnes often plied on
it. May 31, 2007 onwards, overload trucks were banned from plying on the bridge, and were redirected to
the Vidyasagar Setu instead. The road is flanked by footpaths of width 15 feet, and they swarm with
pedestrians.
The Howrah Bridge, is the most significant structure of Kolkata, it is well known and can be reached by
West Bengal State Road Transport Corporation Buses, minibuses, metred taxis, auto rickshaws, human-
powered carts, trams and ferries. The nearest Metro Station is Esplanade and the nearest Railway Station
is Howrah Station.
Victoria Memorial
he Victoria Memorial, officially the Victoria Memorial Hall, is a memorial building dedicated to
Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, which is located in Kolkata, India – the capital of West
Bengal and a former capital of British India. It currently serves as a museum and a tourist attraction.
It is an autonomous organization within the Government of India's Ministry of Culture.
The memorial was designed by Sir William Emerson using Indo-Saracenic style, incorporating Mughal
elements in the structure. Lord Redesdale and Sir David Prain designed the gardens. The foundation stone
of the memorial was laid down in the year 1906. The monument was intended to serve as a tribute to the
success of the British Empire in India.
In the Royal Gallery, oil paintings depicting scenes of Queen Victoria receiving the sacrament at her
coronation in the Westminster Abbey in June 1838; her marriage with Prince Albert (1840) in the Chapel
Royal at St. James' Palace; the christening of the Prince of Wales in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
(1842); marriage of the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) with Princess Alexandra (1863) ; Queen Victoria at the
first Jubilee service in Westminster Abbey in 1887 and the Second Jubilee service of Queen Victoria at St.
Paul's Cathedral, June 1897. These are the paintings of well-known artists in the collection of the British
royalty. The pianoforte on which Queen Victoria received tuition in her childhood and the writing desk and
chair constantly used by her for her daily correspondence at the Windsor Castle occupy the centre of the
room. King Edward VII presented these to the Victoria Memorial. On the south wall hangs of the Victoria
T
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Memorial, the Russian artist Verestchagin's masterpiece depicting in oils the state entry of King Edward
VII, then Prince of Wales, into Jaipur in 1876. Also, in this hall are portraits of Edward VII, as Prince of
Wales, painted in 1863 by Jansen and those of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert when both were young, by
Winterhalter.
The Memorial is the largest repository in India for a visual history of Calcutta. It also has a major collection
of paintings, sculptures and manuscripts from the British period.
The Victoria Memorial Garden of the memorial was exquisitely designed on a total area of 64 acres (0.26
km2) with the building covering an area of 338 by 228 sq ft (31.4 by 21.2 m2). On way to the north gate is a
bronze statue of Queen Victoria by Sir George Frampton, R.A. The Queen is seated on her throne, wearing
the robes of the Star of India. Approaching the building from the south, visitors pass the King Edward VII
memorial arch with a bronze equestrian statue of the King by Sir Bertram Mackennal surmounting it and a
marble statue of Lord Curzon by F.W. Pomeroy, R.A. There are also other statues of various dignitaries like
Lord Bentinck, Governor- General of India (1828–1835), Lord Ripon (Governor- General of India from 1880
to 1884; the statue of Sir Rajendranath Mookerjee, the pioneer industrialist of Bengal is on the eastern
side.
There are twenty one gardeners to maintain the garden and the morning walkers have four associations.
Most of the members of the morning walker associations are the rich and the famous of Calcutta. But the
authority of the memorial has no official link with these associations.
- Arko Basu
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Current Affairs India and Japan held talks to Strengthen Cooperation in Tourism Sector
India and Japan on 12 February 2013 decided to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector and explore the
new areas and opportunities in the sector by working together in different fields like the field of human
resource development, investment in the tourism sector, exchange of tour operators and exchange of
information related to tourism. The decision was made during a meet of the Japanese Senior Vice-Minister
of Tourism, Hiroshi Kajiyama with the Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi in India. The two also
discussed issues related to singing of an agreement.
India and Japan had been an important tourism market for each other in the recent past and Japan
accounts to be among the top ten inbound tourist generating market for India.
Japanese tourists in India in past few years:
Year 2008 2009 2010 2011
No. of tourists 145352 124756 168019 193525
Japanese Tourists in India are interested in visiting to places connected to Buddhism in India. Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had extended a loan of 7331 million Japanese Yen that is
equivalent to 299 crore rupees for development of the Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Development
Program – Phase II. The Ministry of Tourism held road shows in Tokya and Osaka on 18 February 2013 and
20 February 2013, respectively.
Kerala - second top tourism spot
Kerala is the second most popular place in India for Indian travellers, according to a recent survey
conducted by a travel planning website. The state comes second to Puri and is followed by Goa, Tarkarli,
Mahabaleswar, Andaman and Nicobar.
Puri being a holy destination and visited mostly by pilgrims, the survey results indicate that Kerala is the
most sought after tourist destination. The survey of 10 million people also found that Kerala is the top
destination for single travellers.
It is followed by Goa, Ooty, Andaman, Nicobar and Coorg. Another significant finding is that Kerala has the
highest diversity of travellers, with people visiting here from over 1,300 different cities.
The survey also found Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram is the second most visited place by kids this
winter. Bandipur National Park is first and Rajasthan, Ratnagiri and Murud too are popular.
Kerala may attract tourists from the rest of the country but Keraliites, the survey found, prefer not to
travel much themselves. Citizens of Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Delhi were more
adventurous.
- Sharath Kumar
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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WTO Fact Sheets International tourism to
continue robust growth in 2013
UNWTO welcomes the world’s one-billionth tourist
International tourist arrivals grew
by 4% in 2012 to reach 1.035
billion, according to the latest
UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.
With an additional 39 million
international tourists, up from 996
million in 2011, international
tourist arrivals surpassed 1 billion
(1.035 billion) for the first time in
history in 2012. Demand held well
throughout the year, with a
stronger than expected fourth
quarter.
Asia and the Pacific (+7%)
South-East Asia, North Africa (both
at +9%)
Central and Eastern Europe (+8%).
A British tourist visited Madrid,
Spain on 13 December has been
revealed as the symbolic face of the
one billion international tourists
travelled in 2012. The tourist was
welcomed by the Minister of
Industry, Energy and Tourism of
Spain, José Manuel Soria, UNWTO
Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and
the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella,
at an event in Madrid’s Museo del
Prado, held to celebrate a record
one billion international tourists in
2012. The event, part of the
UNWTO One Billion Tourists: One
Billion Opportunities campaign,
recalled how tourism can create
billions of opportunities for growth
and development around the world.
- Chirag Wagale
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Finger Tips Teeth Sensitivity
Care for Oily Skin:
Oily skin is a result of overactive oil producing glands in the
skin
This makes the skin thick and greasy
Symptoms to look for:
Blackheads
Whiteheads
Pimples
Skin spots
Natural home remedy using apple and honey:
De-seed and crush 1 apple
Add 4 tbsp honey
Mix well
Apply on the face
Wash it off after 10 min
Natural home remedy using ice and milk:
Dip 1 cube of ice in milk
Rub the ice on the face
Keep dipping the ice in the milk and rubbing on your face for
5-10 min
Teeth Sensitivity:
Teeth sensitivity occurs if the protective enamel around the teeth
gets eroded and nerve endings under the teeth get exposed
Symptoms to look for:
Sharp pain on eating, drinking something cold, hot, sweet or sour
Pain on contact with air, while breathing through the mouth
Causes:
Using hard-bristled toothbrush
Brushing aggressively
Plaque or bacteria in mouth
Teeth whitening products
Natural home remedy using mustard oil and rock salt:
Take 1 tbsp mustard oil
Add 1 tsp rock salt
Apply on teeth using your index finger
Massage gently
Leave it for 5 min
Rinse mouth with water
Natural home remedy using salt:
Take 1 glass lukewarm water
Add 2 tsp normal salt
Mix well
Rinse mouth with this solution once in the morning and once at
bedtime
Tips:
Brush gently
Hold brush like a pen, rather than a weapon
- Deepti Hiremath
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Sneak Peek The IDA Golden Jubilee Experience, Hyderabad
On the evening of 29th November, 22 excited M.Sc. DAN students left with their faculty for the Golden
Jubilee conference of the Indian Dietetics Association (IDA) held at Hyderabad. The theme for the
conference was Indian Diets and health: In Retrospect and Prospect. The Kachiguda express from
Bangalore reached them to Hyderabad. The first day of the conference started with registration followed
by inaugural session. Workshops on statistical methods, Entrepreneurship and Dietary survey methods
gave an insight into their practical applications. The prominent people in Nutrition industry added more
knowledge to the workshop. Guests speakers, who were researchers in the medical field gave an update
about the latest developments in Nutrition therapy. The major topics for discussions were Indian food and
diet in retrospect – Social, Cultural and Policy Perspectives, Indian Diets and Future Challenges, Diseases
and Diet, Changing Nutrition and Food Safety scenario in India, Promoting Nutrition and Public Health –
Role of Industry and Nuances in the practice of Dietetics.
NIN made all the arrangements for the pleasant stay of the participants. To sum up the dietary needs and
nutrition values the participants were all excited by the taste and flavor of famous Hyderbadi Biryani.
- S uk s hma Sha rma a nd Sre ya Ta ra k na th
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Local Focal LOCAL CUISINE
Kundapura Koli Saaru (Chicken curried with tomatoes and a spicy coconut paste)
Preparation time: 45mins
Ingredients:
Chopped onions -2nos
Water -1cup
Cumin seeds -1/2tsp
Curry leaves -10-15
Chopped tomatoes-4tbs
Chicken -3/4kg
Kundapura paste -6tbs
Coconut oil -4tbs
Salt -2tsp
Method: 1. Heat coconut oil in pan. Add cumin seeds,
curry leaves and chopped onions.
2. Saute the onions till they turn light brown.
3. Smear chicken pieces with Kundapura paste
and salt.
4. Transfer the pieces of Chicken and Chopped
tomatoes to the pan.
5. Cover the pan and cook for 15 mins.
6. Serve the hot Kundapura Koli Saru with
steamed rice.
Kundapura paste Ingredients: Cloves - 7nos
Pepper powder - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Cinnamon sticks - 4/5 sticks
Coriander whole - 2 tsp
Red chillies - 4/5 red chillies
Grated coconut - ½
Water - 1cup
Method:
1) Add cloves, pepper corn, cumin seeds,
cinnamon, coriander whole, red chillies and
grated coconut to a pan and dry roast them.
2) Put aside to cool it.
3) Add water and grind together to form a smooth
paste.
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Mangalore Buns
Preparation time: 15-30mins
Ingredients:
Maida -1cup
Ripe banana -2nos
Curd -3tsp
Sugar -5tsp
Jeera seeds -1tsp
Baking powder - ½tsp
Salt -1 tsp
Oil -1litre
Method of preparation:
1. Take a bowl and mash the banana by using the fingers. Add the rest of the ingredients, except oil,
and make a smooth dough with curd as required.
2. Cover the dough and keep it aside for 4-5 hrs.
3. Heat oil in a frying pan on low-medium heat.
4. Make the small balls out of dough.
5. Press the dough in between the palms and make it in the shape of a poori.
6. Drop the round pooris in oil and deep fry on both sides until they turn brown.
7. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.
8. Serve it hot with coconut chutney.
- Sh ine Mi cha e l
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Food Blog China Valley
The start of the new year , the year of the ‘snake’ led us
to dedicate the first edition of the year to Chinese food.
This cuisine has evolved drastically from its origin to now
with people accepting and appreciating the original
dishes. There are many variations of ‘Indian Chinese’
available in the market, but with increased knowledge on
the cuisine people are able to differentiate between
Chinese, Japanese and Korean mainly.
We all love Chinese, it’s our comfort food!! As students it
is an indulgence but an affordable one. So this brings us
to China Valley one of the most “promising Chinese
restaurants” as quoted by one of our friends from
college. So one Sunday evening we decided to try out
this much talked about restaurant located at the corner
of Mandavi Apartments. We reached around 9:00 P.M to
find the place packed to the brim. As we waited outside
for a table we did not waste any time and were asked to
place our orders so that it would be ready by the time
we were allotted a table. To our surprise as promised the
table was allotted in exact five minutes and even as we
waited for a table we were well taken care of.
As we entered the restaurant we were directed to the
floor above. It was a high ceiling restaurant that was
divided in two floors. The climb up the stairs were quiet
scary as the support handle was a little loose and the
stairs were extremely steep and as we climbed we had to
make sure we didn’t hurt our heads. We were allotted a
table in the middle of all the hustle n bustle. As I looked
around I asked the waiter as to what the maroon colour
drink was that everyone seemed to be having, he said it
was the cranberry ice tea and I immediately ordered five
of them for the table. On its arrival I took the first sip n it
felt like cold cough syrup, I did not enjoy it much and the
rest of the gang seem to agree with it, well it seems in
this case going with the crowd was not the right decision.
Soon arrived our hot soup bowls; we had ordered for
Chicken Manchow and Hot and sour chicken wanton
soup. Both the soups served the purpose of being hot
and spicy but the wantons in the soup were too thick to
digest. We then ordered the house specials which were
the Chicken Saiwoo and the Chicken hot pan, the Saiwoo
was a sweet and spicy chicken which could have been
better if it were crispier but none the less was a very
good dish. The Chicken hot pan was served on a sizzler
plate; it was shredded chicken that had been tossed with
onions, capsicum and garlic. Both the starters are a must
try. We then went on to order our mains which were
Chicken fried rice, Pad thai and Chicken peiking red
pepper noodles. The fried rice was average, nothing
overtly great, the noodles was different though mild
when you eat it but after a few seconds you realise the
spice hitting the back of your mouth. Keeping the worst
for the end the Pad Thai was an absolute disaster,
though it is highly recommended by the staff I would not
agree with that. The peanut sauce was overpowering any
other taste; it was like eating a spicy peanut butter
mixed with flat noodles, a big disappointment. Ending on
a sweet note on recommendation from the manager we
ordered for the Chocolate Volcano which was another let
down as it was a scoop of vanilla ice cream placed on top
of a Choco – pie which is sold loosely outside as well
drizzled with chocolate sauce.
Overall it was a good experience with good food, good
ambience and a little disappointment.
RATINGS
Taste – 7/10 Ambience – 7/10 Value for money – 8/10
- Ma na s a Ra o & Mer l yn Ea p a n
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Green Corner Laurie Baker’s Philosophy of Architecture
Laurie Baker represented a unique tradition of architecture that
blended man and nature. He emphasised local materials and
traditional concepts in constructing dwellings, demonstrating a
strong commitment to mass, affordable housing. Now a Centre
started in his name in Thiruvananthapuram wants to take his work
forward.
There are not many architects who have created an idiom of their
own or left behind a unique architectural legacy that has had a
deep impact on the way people conceive homes and public
buildings. Standing tall among the select few is Laurie Baker, who
was born and trained in architecture in England, but made India,
more specifically Kerala, his home, leaving a deep imprint in the annals of Kerala’s architectural history.
Baker’s body of work is significant both in terms of its volume and sheer diversity and the innovative and practical
concepts he introduced. He designed and built fishermen’s huts, hamlets for forest tribes, chapels and churches,
factories, schools, film studios, orphanages, residences, technical institutes, leprosy homes, a literacy village, hostels,
slum rehabilitation projects, an ornithology centre, government buildings and a museum. He also did pioneering
work in earthquake and tsunami-resistant housing. Kerala alone has over 2,000 Baker-designed projects.
Everything about Laurence Wilfred Baker (1917-2007) was rooted
in the idea of co-existence and love towards all —both animate
and inanimate. Simplicity and truthfulness were the hallmarks of
his life and work. By living out these values, he evolved an
unparalleled approach in the practice of architecture and
redefined the profession. Baker’s philosophy and methodology
have resulted in delightfully built environments, which are
responsive to local climate, use energy-efficient materials,
methods of construction and operation, remain truthful to the
materials and methods used and demonstrate low environmental
impact and admirable cost effectiveness.
Baker preferred locally available and renewable materials and enhanced the efficiency of materials used through
skill-oriented innovations and quality assurance. He always emphasised conservation and management of
vegetation, soil and water. The modest system of functioning that he insisted upon resulted in very low overhead
expenses, which made his services more accessible to the poor and he declared his allegiance to the marginalised
directly through constant interactions, writings and cartoons and indirectly through a sensitive practice of
architecture.
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Baker’s is a mission that calls for perpetuation. One major step in that direction is being taken with the formal
inauguration of the Laurie Baker Centre (LBC) for Habitat Studies at Vilappilsala on the outskirts of the capital city.
To be managed by a governing council chaired by Baker’s wife,
Elizabeth Baker, the not-for-profit centre is being set up at
‘Navayatra,’ the last project that Baker had personally overseen
on a 3.42-acre undulating plot with several Baker-built buildings
and extensive green cover. Originally set up as a learning centre
for children by Baker’s friend and follower Keith Saldanah,
‘Navayatra’ in its new avatar would house the LBC training-cum-
resource centre, a Baker archive and act as the nodal point for
dissemination of the Baker philosophy of architecture. The Laurie
Baker Centre has bought ‘Navayatra’ with financial assistance of
Rs.80 lakh provided by the State government.
The centre conducts regular programme on architectural design and aesthetics with special focus on planning,
design and construction of human settlements for socially and economically disadvantaged groups.
The Centre also promote appropriate technology, especially in construction and public works, including
development of building materials and technology relevant to green architecture, and special programmes on urban
and spatial planning, natural resource management, eco restoration, environmental engineering and management
and alternative sources of energy.
- A N Mo na p p a
Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
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Department of Allied Hospitality Studies
Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration
Manipal University, Manipal – 576 104
website: www.manipal.edu
email: [email protected]
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