Mrs. Shanti Sengupto in discussion with other dignitaries during the high tea ceremony that was thrown in honour of Mr. Hans Lenz’s visit to IIT Madras

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Visiting VIPs

On 30th January, 1964 Mr. Hans Lenz (Minister for Scientific Research, Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn) visited IIT Madras. A high tea ceremony was thrown in honour of his visit to the campus. It is possible that the high tea was held at the Bose-Einstein guesthouse premises within the Institution campus. There were a number of dignitaries present and the entire event was nothing short of an elegant and formal affair.

In the image, Mrs. Shanti Sengupto (Director’s wife), seated on the left, converses with two German women dignitaries, one of whom is possibly Mrs. Lenz (wife of Mr. Hans Lenz), over refreshments.

An identical photograph can be found in the Gourishankar Collection in Album 0209 under the ID: 001/0209/IMG_0832

Collection:

Central Photographic Section Collection

Album Name:

Visit of Mr. Hans Lenz, Minister for Science & Research, Federal Republic of Germany

Photograph ID:

001/0005/IMG_0196_1

Album ID:

0005

Date:

30 January 1964

Place:

Bose-Einstein guesthouse (possibly)

Photographer:

C. Gourishankar (1926-2002). 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:

VIP Visit