Chief Guests - RBM 2025

 

Raja Krishnappa Nayaka
Titular head, Surapura Royal Family

The present head of the Surapura royal family, Sri Raja Krishnappa Nayaka Balavanta Bahari Bahadur, will inaugurate the event. The Surapura royal family is one of the foremost among the South Indians who revolted against British rule in what is now referred as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. They rose in rebellion and paid the price with being subdued and the principality was unjustly treated under the infamous Doctrine of Lapse as the ruler Raja Venkatappa Nayaka IV died childless under mysterious circumstances. His widow Rani Rangamma took over the reins and continued the valorous saga of the royal family whose heritage spans the lives of 17 Rajas since 1636 CE.

Dr. Helen Philon
Founder-Trustee, Deccan Heritage Foundation

Helen Philon is a scholar with an M.Ph. in Pre-Islamic Art and a PhD on Bahmani Deccan architecture from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Helen was the curator of the Islamic Department at the Benaki Museum in Athens, Greece and has published works on architecture and conservation. Helen fell in love with the Deccan while studying the region for her doctoral dissertation. Her desire to preserve the historic monuments of this region’s for future as she felt a particular affinity for places located at across road of civilization where different cultures can interact. In its ruins she saw an unending dialogue between the various civilizations that flourished in the Deccan for thousand of years. Helen was instrumental in the founding of the Deccan Heritage Foundation  in the UK and India as well as that of the American Friends of the Deccan Heritage Foundation in the US.

Mr. Stephane Bloch Saloz
Co-Founder and Trustee, Deccan Heritage Foundation

Stephane Bloch Saloz, a co-founder of the Deccan Heritage Foundation, is the present Chairman of its Board of Directors. He has also been a trustee of the Board of the American Friends of the Deccan Heritage Foundation since its inception and since 2024 as a Director on the Board of Deccan Heritage Foundation India. Stephane trained as a lawyer and worked for the international law firm, Baker McKenzie, before joining the Edmond de Rothschild Group in 1978. Having left the Managing Committee of Directors of the Bank Privee Edmond de Rothschild in Geneva, he remained on the Board of several banks of this international group, while returning to Italy. In addition, in 2000, he took the Chairmanship of Christie’s Italia. After his term with the international auction house, while keeping his interests and Directorships in Italy. He visits India on a frequent basis.