Is France a More Reliable Strategic Partner than US.at the Centre

Moderator: Ambassador Surendra Kumar, Founder President, IAFA

Discussants: Discussants: Ambassador Rakesh Sood, former Ambassador to France, Nepal & Afghanistan & PM’s Special Envoy on Disarmament & Non-proliferation; Ambassador (Dr) Mohan Kumar, former Ambassador to France, currently Dean/ Professor OP Jindal University; Prof  Swaran Singh, former Prof , JNU; TK Arun, Editor, Political & Economic Weekly of India; Dr Manoj Joshi, Distinguished Fellow, ORF, journalist & columnist.

The discussion examines the evolving dynamics of India’s strategic partnerships with France and the United States. It will explore whether France, with its emphasis on strategic autonomy and a long-standing defence and diplomatic relationship with India, offers a more consistent and reliable partnership in an increasingly complex global order.
 

Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Drivers of Economic Transformation in Northeast India: Institutional Pathways and Sustainable Development

Chair: K. N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC

Moderator: Sr. Prof. Rekha Saxena, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi

Speakers: Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice Chancellor, Guwahati University, Assam; Prof. Nabam Naka Hina, Department of Political Science, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh and Prof. K. Ratnabali, Dean, Academic Affairs, University of Delhi

A panel discussion exploring the potential of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Northeast India to foster sustainable livelihoods, community-led enterprise and economic transformation. The session will examine how institutional support, local governance, market access and policy frameworks can strengthen traditional practices while ensuring ecological sustainability, equitable development and cultural continuity.

(Collaboration: Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 

Moral Rupture of Kashmir Society: Impact of Prolonged Conflict
By Bashir Assad (Gaurav Book Centre, 2026)

Details to be announced soon.

Hindustani Classical Music Recital
In memory of 125th birthday of Prof B R Deodhar & 100th birthday of Pandita Dhondutai Kulkarni
Vocal Recital 
By Aditi Biswas, Mausam on Harmonium and Shrey Bhardwaj on Tabla

Vocal Recital 
By Deepika Bhide-Bhagwa; Mausam on Harmonium and Pt. Vinod Lele on Harmonium

Vocal Recital
By Pt. Madhup Mudgal; Pt. Arawind Thatte on Harmonium and Shambhunath Bhattacharjee on Tabla

(Collaboration: Shanti Agrawal Association of Music, Arts and Literature (SAMAAL)

Aaj Kavita

An evening of Poetry readings by Anil Tripathi (Lucknow) , Himanshu Jamdagni (Sonipat), Abhishek Kumar Ambar (Meerut) and Sanjay Kundan (Delhi)

(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)
 

Oslo: A Tail of Promise
(2025; 86 mins.; English and Marathi with English subtitles; Documentary)
Director: Isha Pungaliya
With Pooja R. Bhale and Oslo Khanwalkar
Producers: John Abraham, Minnakshi Das and Amey Gosavi 
A moving true story about the bond between Pooja and Oslo, a Siberian Husky with a troubled past. Set against a journey from Pune to the Himalayas, the film weaves together experience of longing, loss, grief, love,and surrender, exploring how animals and nature can become sources of companionship.

The Infrastructure of Chinese Civilizationism

Speaker: Prasenjit Duara, Professor Emeritus, Oscar Tang Distinguished Chair of East Asian Studies at Duke University. Formerly, Chairman of the History Dept at University of Chicago and Raffles Professor and Director of the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.

Chair: Amb Shivshankar Menon, former NSA and Foreign Secretary

The Civilizationisms project is a global collaboration that examines how contemporary states use the idea of civilization for political legitimation. The talk analyses the rise of Chinese civilizationism as a mode of global power that seeks not only to challenge Western dominance but to reshape the world order through infrastructure. It traces this development through ecological civilization, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the expansion of Chinese digital and financial networks across the Global South. These initiatives operate as an “infrastructure of civilization,” embedding norms, standards and digital dependencies into governance and economic life, reflecting a broader transformation in global power towards infrastructural integration.

IIC DOUBLE BILL: MUSIC AND DANCE RECITAL

Hindustani Vocal Duet Recital
By Madhura Kirpekar & Bhairavi Kirpekar from Satara, Maharashtra, Disciple of Pt. Hrishikesh Bodas
Accompanists: Chetan Nigam (Harmonium); and Anurag Jha (Tabla)

At 19:00 
Kathak recital
By Garvita Sharma from Delhi, Disciple of (Late) Pt. Birju Maharaj & Saswati Sen
Accompanists: Jaywardhan Dadhich (Vocal & Harmonium); Lavinya Ambade (Sitar); Siddharth Dalbehera (Flute); Himanshi Gogini (Padhant); and Ashish Mishra (Tabla)
 

Sagarmatha Samta-India Largest Inclusive Trek to Everest Base Camp
(2026;46 minutes; Hindi with English subtitles)

Introduction about the film: Satish Kapoor, Founding Director, Brotherhood and We Care film festival on disability issues

A film documenting India’s largest inclusive trek to Everest Base Camp, undertaken on 14 April 2026 by a team of six persons with disabilities and seven non-disabled participants. The expedition traversed Himalayan terrain demonstrating possibilities of accessibility and inclusion.

The screening will be followed by an Interaction with artists with disability in the film

(Collaboration: Brotherhood and We Care Film Fest and Tinkesh Ability Foundation)

Book Discussion Group

Signature on the Wind

By Kailash Vajpeyi; translated by Ananya Vajpeyi (Sahitya Akademi, 2026)

Discussants: Dr. Udayan Vajpeyi, Hindi poet, essayist, short fiction and script writer; Prof. Rita Kothari; Professor of English and Co-director, Ashoka Centre for Translation, Ashoka University: Prof. Prasanta Chakravarty, Dept. of English, Delhi University ; Dr Ananya Vajpeyi, Author and Professor, Centre for the study of Developing societies.