Leonard Bernstein
Composer, Conductor, Teacher, Humanist
Illustrated lecture by Dr. Punita G. Singh

A charismatic conductor, creative composer, prodigious pianist and erudite educator, Leonard Bernstein was a towering figure in music through the 20th century. Besides composing for the classical concert stage, he wrote for Broadway and Film, the diversity of styles evident in music for ‘West Side Story’, ‘Candide’, ‘Chichester Psalms’ and ‘On the Waterfront’. As a conductor, he championed the music of his contemporaries while also breathing life into traditional compositions, especially the music of Mahler. In addition to leading the New York Philharmonic, he frequently conducted major international orchestras. This presentation celebrates the life and legacy of ‘Lenny’—as he was lovingly called. His artistry, intellect and humanism continue to inspire and educate, demonstrating the transformative power of music in shaping a more compassionate world.

Punita is a musicologist, linguist, acoustician, editor and educator based in New Delhi 
 

Women’s Voices in Gurbani Sangeet (Dakshin)
 

Presented by Bindhu Malini from Bangalore; Vidya Rao from Hyderabad; and Radhika Naayak Sood from Mumbai
Coordinator: Aaradhana Kohli Kapur
 

An evening of Mindfulness, with Sitting, Walking and Tea Meditation
Led by Brother Phap Dung and other Teachers and Monastics in the Plum Village tradition

The programme includes release of a book ‘The Mindfulness Survival Kit: Five Essential Practices’ by Thich Nhat Hanh, published by Aleph Book Company

Chair: Dharmacharya Shantum Seth

(Collaboration: Ahimsa Trust)
 

Panelists: Astri Ghosh, who translates from Norwegian, Hindi and other languages into English; Krupa Ge, who translates from Tamil to English; Rita Kothari who translates from Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu, Sindhi to English; and others

The discussion focuses on translation, and what happens when women translate women. The discussion brings together translators to speak about how and whether their gender impacts the process of translation, do they feel more drawn to the work of women, what is the ‘relationship’ between writer and translator when both occupy the same gender

(Collaboration: Zubaan; and Ashoka Centre for Translation)

Speaker: Prof. Kath Weston, Professor of Anthropology, University of Virginia and Honorary Fellow, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh

Chair: Prof. Rita Brara, Editor, Contributions to Indian Sociology, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Institute of Economic Growth and Visiting Professor, Ashoka University, Sonepat

This talk on the medicalization of finance is based on Prof. Weston’s forthcoming book, Capitalism on Life Support: How Scientific and Medical Imagery Shapes Finance, which explores the centuries-long interplay between accounts of the financial operations that underwrite capitalism and knowledge production about how bodies work derived from the fields of science and medicine.

The 4th CIS-IEG-Sage Lecture

(Collaboration: Contributions to Indian Sociology; Institute of Economic Growth; and SAGE)
 

At the Heart of Power: The Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh
By Shyamlal Yadav (Rupa Publications, 2024)

Discussants: Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, former news Editor Jansatta; Prof. Sushma Yadav, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Haryana; Shri Qamar Wahid Naqvi, Chairman of the Editorial Board of satyahindi.com; and Shri Shyamlal Yadav, author of the book
 

Beyond Boundaries: New Insights into Bodhgaya’s Ancient Landscape
 

Speaker: Dr. M.B. Rajani, from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, who specializes in using geospatial data to uncover archaeological features and address heritage preservation amid urbanization. Her methodology integrates satellite imagery with historical data to reveal insights into cultural landscapes. Her book, Patterns in Past Settlements (2021), shares these findings with a broader audience.

Chair: Prof. Upinder Singh, Professor of History, Ashoka University

As cities expand and landscapes evolve, there are new challenges in preserving India's cultural heritage. This talk will explain how combining modern technology with historical analysis helps uncover hidden archaeological features around many iconic sites. Focusing on the sacred landscape of Bodhgaya, the lecture will discuss the many hidden and unknown archaeological features at Bodhgaya -- such as monasteries, stupas and tanks -- and the clues to the ancient course of the Niranjana river. The discussion will show how these new discoveries challenge past assumptions and offer exciting insights into ancient landscapes. Join us to explore how technology is reshaping our understanding of heritage sites.
 

Illustrated lecture by Ritika Kochhar, author, art writer, and founder of ArtRadio, a platform dedicated to engaging audiences with art history and culture through podcasts, masterclasses, and curated walthroughs

Chair: Shri Sohail Hashmi

This lecture will focus on the rich tradition of miniatures from Timur to Bahadur Shah Zafar II (focussing mostly on Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Mohammad Shah Rangila, Shah Alam II and BSZII), especially the mythological narratives, and masnavis, or poetic epics, under Akbar. Also the Gulshan Album that Nadir Shah carried away and the famous artists that worked in the royal tasvir khana. It will highlight how these artworks not only served as historical documents but also as expressions of cultural and spiritual imagination in the Mughal era.
 

Andretta, a village in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, has long been home to a vibrant artist community, including renowned figures like Sardar Gurcharan Singh, Shoba Singh and B.C. Sanyal. Over the past four decades, it has attracted students, artists, and enthusiasts, many of whom chose to settle down in the village and become a part of Andretta’s creative community.

The exhibition showcases the work of the Andretta artists, potters, printmakers, and musicians. On display are works by Mansimran Singh, Mary Singh, Gauri Sharma, Sheila Seqwick, Lipoklemla Ao, Shubham Sankhyan, Manish Arora, Yamini J. Paul, Bianca Bellantyne, Suchika Rathode and Arjun Sen

Inauguration on Thursday, 20 February 2025 at 18:30

PTA (80 min)
 

Play in English written and directed by Chandini Agarwal and Jonas David
Presented by Wings Cultural Society

A poignant and heart-wrenching exploration of grief, misunderstanding, and the desperate search for answers in the wake of unimaginable tragedy. The play unfolds during a parent-teacher conference between Meera, a mother who has just lost her son to suicide, and Karan, his teacher.

(Collaboration: Wings Cultural Society)