'Basic Needs' pavilion a draw at Hanover

By K. Kannan

NEW DELHI, AUG. 23. In his famous needs hierarchy, sociologist Abraham Maslow placed these in two categories postulating an ascendance of these, with psychological and spiritual needs arising only after physical needs were met.

However, experience shows that material and non-material needs exist simultaneously and are not mutually exclusive of each other. As Mahatma Gandhi said once: ``There is enough on this Earth to meet every man's need but not enough to meet even one man's greed.''

To draw attention to the issue of sustainable human development in a unique manner, Mr. Rajeev Sethi, a Capital-based scenographer, was commissioned by the German Government to conceive, design and install the ``Basic Needs'' pavilion at the on-going Expo 2000 at Hanover in Germany, which began on June 10.

With approximately 200 million US dollars spent for the thematic area in nine pavilions, the ``Basic Needs'' pavilion was the largest single design commission to be given to a team wholly based in India. The other scenographers included major names like Jean Nouvel, Francois Schuiten, Toyo Ito and Antoni Miralda.

The ``Basic Needs'' pavilion is being hailed by dignitaries, the media and visitors alike as the apex of the Expo and a must-see for those looking for content, substance and inspiration. ``While conceiving what constitutes basic needs, we asked ourselves the question: To live what do I need?'' Rajiv says.

Introducing the designer to a distinguished gathering at the India Habitat Centre last evening, Ms. Shabana Azmi, Rajya Sabha MP, said: ``I was one of the few of Rajiv's friends who was privileged to have gone to Hanover, and seen the Basic Needs pavilion. It is simply superb, to say the least.''

``Three years of intensive research, many workshops and exchange of ideas and travel to most parts of the globe has resulted in this multi-layered presentation on what is really basic to the survival of our world and how today we must deal with issues of empowerment and sustainability,'' says Rajiv.

The visitor to the ``Basic Needs'' pavilion goes through a series of stimuli, inspirations and experiences in a scenography that attempts to be cohesive in content and resonant with emotion. The pavilion is as down to earth as it is philosophical and as contemplative as it is matter of fact.

A wide variety of media, styles, divergent aspirations, cohere into a single presentation. Involvement of local residents, societies and communities, public institutions and governments, leaders -- spiritual and temporal -- laymen and experts in projects that meet ``Basic Needs'' from more than 40 countries have been woven as an integral part of the celebration.

This unique cultural tapertry of the world under one roof pleads for a more sustainable society and warns that hedonism will push the world into an abyss of indulgence. Hundreds of artists, artisans and performers, sometimes in far-flung villages, come together in a celebration of empowerment and sustainability. ``The central message of the Basic Needs pavilion is that poverty is more than low income and wealth is more than material possessions,'' says Rajiv.

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