Starry Night: A Musical Tapestry Carried by Generations of Women
Soprano and Composer: Cheryl Bains

Starry Night (inspired by Nuit d’étoiles) presents a refined musical experience that bridges the intimacy of a solo recital with the rich, layered resonance of a chamber ensemble. Conceived as a multigenerational and international collaboration of women artists, the performance celebrates artistic dialogue, legacy, and creative autonomy. 
Cheryl Bains is a soprano, composer, orchestrator, and arranger. She made her debut as a soloist with orchestra at Esplanade Concert Hall. She has performed at the South Asian Symphony Orchestra, Kolkata Sinfonietta Orchestra, and the Indian Air Force Band and is associated with Steinway India, Furtados Music, and Neemrana Music Foundation.
Featuring the Artists: Nadine Jo Crasto on Piano, a Steinway artist and graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, was honoured at the All-India MusicQuest Competition; Martina Charles on Violin,  became the youngest violinist in India to receive the Fellowship of Trinity College London at just 13, made contributions to film scores across regional cinema; Eshvita on Violin, FTCL awardee, performed with the Symphony Orchestra of India, currently serves as Concert Master of the Stuti Choral and String Ensemble of Goa; Fiona on Cello, trained at the Royal College of Music, she has shared the stage with icons like Bob Dylan and The Eagles.

India’s Strategic Autonomy : A Special Feature 
Edited by Pankaj Saran & Raj Kumar Sharma (NatStrat India, 2026)

Chair : Shyam Saran, President, IIC
 

Discussants: M. J. Akbar, Journalist and Politician and others
 

Morning Twilight: Poems
 

By Jayashree Tripathi (Speaking Tiger, 2026)

A Symphony of Discordant Notes: Navigating Evolving Technologies, Copyright Law, and Age-Old Indian Music

Discussants: Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sr. Counsel, Supreme Court of India; Neel Mason, Counsel, Delhi High Court and Supreme Court of India; Adarsh Ramanujan, Counsel, Delhi High Court and Supreme Court of India
Moderator: Saikrishna Rajagopal, Managing Partner, Saikrishna & Associates
 

This discussion fosters a cross-disciplinary dialogue involving Indian music and legal experts to deconstruct the friction between modern studio practices and the demands of the evolving copyright framework. By examining the journey of a track from creation to commercialisation, the panel will attempt to identify, simplify, and possibly solve for the complexities of copyright law when dealing with the uniqueness and centuries old heritage of Indian music.

(Collaboration: Saikrishna & Associates)
 

Kamalini Samārādhanam
 

Smt. Kamalini Nagarajan Dutt, a pioneer in intangible heritage archiving, creating the Doordarshan Central Archives and also a reputed dancer, choreographer, guru, scholar, television producer and mentor to many. This programme is a tribute to her enduring legacy on the first anniversary of her passing.

Choreographies mentored by Kamalini Nagarajan Dutt and performed by Guru Sharon Lowen, Hemanta Kumar Kalita, Divya Goswami and Dr. S.Vasudevan of Manasa-Art Without Frontiers Dancers

(Collaboration: Manasa-Art Without Frontiers Dancers)
 

Manipuri Workshop: Yangshak Movement; In continuation
Facilitator: Surjit Nongmeikapam, choreographer and contemporary performing artist

Open to dancers of all classical styles

C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium
At 16:15 
The Music & Dance Heritage of Tiruvarur, illustrated Lecture-Demonstration by Dr Nandini Ramani

At 18:30 Young Dancers Festival
Odissi Recital
By Vrinda Chadha, New Delhi

At 19:45
Kuchipudi recital
By Avijit Das, Bengaluru
 

WORLD DANCE DAY

Manipuri Workshop: Yangshak Movement; 25th and 26th April 2026
Facilitator: Surjit Nongmeikapam, choreographer and contemporary performing artist

Open to dancers of all classical styles

Yangshak Movement is an exploration into ‘Lairen Mathek’ — a philosophy that has evolved from the movements and stories of the Manipuri martial art form, Thang-Ta (Khuthek Lal Thek) and dance, Jagoi.  The workshop on choreographing Yangshak, focused on an in-depth understanding of the body with the help of Yangshak movements.

C.D Deshmukh Auditorium
At 16:00 
PRAVAAHITA (Marathi and Hindi Repertoire)
Illustrated Lecture/Performance by Dr. Sucheta Bhide Chapekar (Pune), accompanied by Arundhati Patwardhan and Sagarika Patwardhan

At 18:30 Young Dancers Festival
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Karuna Sagari (Chennai) Followed by Kathak RecitalBy Ameera Patankar, Pune
 

Bandung to BRICS: Women, War and Peace

Chair: Prof K Srinath Reddy, President, Council for Social Development

Introductory Remarks: Prof Rama Baru, Jindal Global University, Former Professor of JNU; Prof Manoranjan Mohanty, Former Professor, University of Delhi

Speakers: Prof. (Dr.) Anuradha Mitra Chenoy, Adjunct Professor, Jindal School of International Affairs & Dean and Professor in the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Meera Shankar, Former Indian Ambassador to the United States of America and Germany; Uma Chakravarty, Former professor, Department of History, Miranda House, University of Delhi; Rita Manchanda, Independent consultant on Gender, Peace and Security on Southeast Asia; Vasanthi Raman, Social Scientist, Feminist Activist; Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, formerly India's Permanent Representative at the UN

Discussant: Dr Rityusha Mani Tiwary, Bhagat Singh College, DU, Convener, Bandung India Network

Keeping the Bandung Principles of 1955 in mind, as India prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit later this year, the discussants would address, from the vantage point of women, issues that have led to recent wars and how to build conditions of peace in contemporary times.

(Collaboration: Council for Social Development)

Q In The Garden of Grammar Learn Grammar: Learn Grammar through this Amazing Story!
 

By Amal Fabian (Konark Publishes, 2025)