Discussion based on the Report by Rahul Verma, Fellow, Centre for Policy Research and Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Ashoka University

The partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 changed the sub-continent permanently, and eventually led to the birth of three sovereign countries. Each country has travelled its own unique trajectory, crafted its own political institutions, sought economic prosperity, and pursued external relations with other countries. Citizens in all three countries have adopted their own norms of political and social discourse. Do people in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh still share old cultural and civilizational ties? Have they been able to bury the past and move ahead? The Report is based on the 2022, Centre for Policy Research and CVoter project to mark 75 years of Partition involving a comprehensive survey of citizens of all three countries that was carried out between May and October 2022 
 

Speaker: Prof. R. Mahalakshmi, Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Food is nourishment, necessary for life, and yet there is no single understanding of what nourishing or appropriate – across and within cultures. By bringing in some key concepts known in early Indian sources, the talk will focus on environments and cultures, histories and social dynamics, and the symbolic universe that food traditions reveal, which have left a mark on the food cultures as they have evolved in the Indian sub-continent

Devrai (Sacred Grove/India)
(108 min; 2004; Marathi with English subtitles)
Director: Sumitra Bhave & Sunil Sukthankar

Recipient of the Best Film Award for Environment Conservation/Preservation, 52nd National Film Awards 2004; Special Jury Prize, Bombay International Film Festival 2005; awards for Best Film, the Best Director, the Best Actor, and the Best Actress, Screen Awards 2004; and Award for Best Film with Social Message, 42 Maharashtra State Film Awards 2004; among others

The film will be introduced by Dr. Mohan Agashe, well-known actor and psychiatrist who will lead a discussion following the screening

The film received critical acclaim for the portrayal of schizophrenia and for the performances of its lead actors. The story of a man who has schizophrenia and is struggling to come to terms with his illness and the frustration of his helpless sister.

(Collaboration: Brotherhood)

Sarod Vividha – two  stylistic traditions of Maihar and Shahjahanpur gharana of sarod 

An Illustrated presentation by Pt. Prabhat Kumar and Dr. Chandrima Majumdar

Pt. Prabhat Kumar is a senior disciple of Vidushi Sharan Rani of Maihar gharana; and Dr. Chandrima Majumdar is a disciple of Pt. Narendra Nath Dhar of Shahjahanpur gharana 

The speakers will speak and illustrate the distinct stylistic traditions of the two gharanas.

Curator: Prof. Himanshu Prabha Ray

Tiny Terracotta Tales from North India
Illustrated lecture by Dr. Deeksha Bhardwaj, Associate Professor, Gargi College, University of Delhi

Chair: Prof. Kishor Basa, Chairperson, National Monuments Authority

Terracotta or baked clay forms the most enduring medium for the representation of the human image. Though not ubiquitous, as may sometimes appear, anthropomorphic terracotta figurines, wherever found, constitute a significant part of an archaeological corpus. In terms of technique of manufacture, decoration details, context and usage, these tiny humanoid forms offer a multiplicity of meanings, and information about the past that can be teased out of them. How can we reimagine the past using the terracotta figurines as tools? With this objective, this presentation will examine the archaeological evidence from historical sites in North India
 

I want to go to Haldwani and other poems
By Satbir Chadha (Authorspress; 2024)

Discussants: Dr. Amarendra Khatua, former Director General, ICCR; Ms. Mandira Ghosh, poet, researcher and writer; Ms. Rachna Joshi, poet and reviewer; and Ms Sangeeta Gupta

Chair: Shri K. Jayakumar, President, The Poetry Society (India) and former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Kerala

Radha-Krishna 
Screening of a film Shree Radha produced by Dr. Uma Sharma

Followed by
Radha-Krishna
In Kathak and Brij-Raas by Uma Sharma and group
Music: Late Pt. Jwala Prasad

Choreographed by Dr. Uma Sharma, the programme is based on the poetry of Saint-Poets – Swami Haridas, Surdas, Meera, Jaydev and will include some poems from the Raskhan, Vidyapati etc.

(Collaboration: Uma Sharma School of Dance and Music – Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan)

Interpretation Problems of Kabir’s Padas

Speaker: Prof. Jaroslav Strand, academic and Kabir scholar

Chair: Shri Ashok Vajpeyi

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)

Great Cases Series Discussion 5

Bail in High-Profile Cases

Speaker: Siddharth Luthra, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court
Chair: Arghya Sengupta, Founder and Research Director, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

(Collaboration: Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy)

Odissi Duet Recital

By Bindiya Das and Lucky Mohanty from Cuttack, disciple of Guru Kumkum Mohanty,

At 19:00
Kathak Recital

By Samiksha Sharma from Ghaziabad, disciple of Pt. Rajendra Gangani