Mrs. Luebke admires a souvenir presented to her by IIT Madras, 1962

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Administrators , Inaugurations , Visiting VIPs

It is possible that the cover of the souvenir is made from snakeskin, which was legal and in fashion in the 1960s.

From left (seated), Mr. Hans Heinrich von Herwarth (State Secretary) Mrs. Wilhelmine Luebke, Dr. A. L. Mudaliar (Chairman, Board of Governors) and Dr. h. c. Heinrich Luebke (President of the Federal Republic of Germany).

From left (standing), Mr. Y. S. Ramaswamy (Superintending Engineer) and Mr. T. N. Venkataraman (Chief Security Officer, in white uniform) at the event.

Mrs. Wilhelmine Luebke and Dr. Heinrich Luebke first met at a function arranged by the Sauerland Mountain Climbing Club. Wilhelmine Keuthen was a school teacher from Ramsbeck. She spoke English, French, Spanish, Italian and Russian apart from German. She was awarded several awards nationally and internationally. These awards include: Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of West Germany (West Germany), Grand Cross of the Order of Valour (Cameroon), Honorary Recipient of the Most Exalted Order of the Crown of the Realm (Malaysia), Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart (Philippines) and Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (Thailand). Security Officer Mr. T. N. Venkataraman seems to be holding the signature book that Dr. Luebke signed earlier. However, it is doubtful that the page that is visible contains the signature of the German President.

Album 0003

Collection:

Central Photographic Section Collection

Album Name:

Visit of h. c. Heinrich Luebke, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1962

Photograph ID:

001/0003/IMG_0152_1

Album ID:

0003

Date:

3 December 1962

Place:

Open Air Theatre (OAT)

Photographer:

C. Gourishankar (1936-2002). A geologist by qualification, Gourishankar started his career as a photographer after working for many years with the Geological Survey of India. In everything that he did, Gourishankar strove to achieve flawlessness and impeccable quality. Thus his photography too was characterised by this drive for perfection. Every photograph that Gourishankar took was meticulously planned and shot and printed with diligence and patience. Gourishankar carried out most of the official photography at IIT Madras in the 1960s.

Event:

Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony