B.G DESHMUKH LECTURE 2026
Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Speaker: Prabhat Kumar, Former Cabinet Secretary, First Governor of Jharkhand, President of the IC Centre for Governance, and Chancellor of Usha Martin University, Ranchi.

Chair: Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Former Governor, West Bengal and Life Trustee, IIC
 

The Iran- US MOU: Implications and Complications

Chair: Amb. K.P. Fabian, Professor, Indian Society of International Law, New Delhi and Symbiosis University, Pune

Speaker: Amb Ramachandran Swaminathan, Former Ambassador to Egypt; Col Rajeev Agarwal, Senior Research Consultant, CRF,Delhi and Author of book ‘Between Tehran and Tel Aviv-Gaza’s Story of Unending war’.

The session will examine the geopolitical and economic implications of the proposed Iran–US agreement, its potential to reshape the strategic landscape of West Asia, and its impact on regional stability. It will also discuss the significance of developments such as the Strait of Hormuz, Chabahar Port, the International North–South Transport Corridor, and India's energy and strategic interests.

Democracy and Recent State Assembly Elections in India: Trends, Challenges, and Implications

Inaugural Address: K. N. Shrivastava, Director IIC

Chair: Prof. Rekha Saxena, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi, Coordinator, Political Science Society

Discussants: Varghese K. George, Editor, The Hindu; Ram Bahadur Rai, President, IGNCA;  Dr. Sanjay Kumar, CSDS, New Delhi; Prof. Manisha Priyam, NIEPA, New Delhi; Kanchan Gupta, Senior Journalist

State Assembly Elections play a crucial role in shaping India’s democratic and federal framework. Recent electoral outcomes have revealed significant shifts in voter behavior, political representation, campaign strategies, and governance priorities. This discussion will examine emerging electoral trends, the role of youth and women voters, the impact of digital media and political communication, and the broader implications of these developments for democracy, federalism, and public policy in India.

(Collaboration: Political Science Society)
 

Khoyi Hui Aawazein
Saptak: A screening of poetry readings by seven deceased poets of Hindi
Kirti Chaudhary, Shriram Verma, Chandrakant Deotale, Bhagwat Rawat, Jyotsna Milan, Vinod Kumar Shukla and Mangalesh Dabral

(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)
 

Cafe Decking

By Anupriya Roy, watercolour artist, her works reflect on the social and cultural landscapes that shape contemporary city life, transforming ordinary settings into evocative visual narratives.

The exhibition is a series of watercolour paintings that celebrates the vibrant culture of cafés as spaces of conversation, reflection, creativity, and community. Through expressive sketches and fluid washes, the works capture the moods, textures, and rhythms of café life.

The exhibition will be inaugurated on Thursday, 2 July’26 at 17:30 hrs by Chief Guest Manosi Lahiri, Founder, MD and CEO, ML Infomap, the first GIS (Geographic Information System) company of India.

The exhibition will remain open daily from 11:00 to 19:00 hrs
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

The Universe Is Pranking Us: A Journey through Philosophy and Physics of a Reality That Thrives on Uncertainty
by Mrittunjoy Guha Majumdar (Hay House, 2026)

Discussants: Prof. Ajoy Ghatak, Professor (Retd), Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Former President, National Academy of Sciences; Prof. Avinash Pandey, Director, Inter-University Accelerator Centre; Prof. Anand Ranganathan, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Prof. S. V. Eswaran, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research; Dr. Arun Sikarwar, National Council of Educational Research and Training; Dr. Sarvesh Kumar, Associate Professor, University of Delhi; Dr. Kamalika Banerjee, Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology; Dr Sumit Mishra, Senior Principal Scientist, National Physical Laboratory (NPL) Delhi; Dr. Mrittunjoy Guha Majumdar, Adjunct Professor, School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Studies & Author of the book
 

Book Discussion Group

Longings Across Fences, Poems for the Nomadic Soul

By Jamshed (Amaryllis (An Imprint of Manjul Publishing House, 2026)

Discussants: Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission; Justice A. K. Sikri

Former Judge, Supreme Court of India and Judge, Singapore Supreme Court; Amb. Lakshmi M. Puri

Former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and author; Dr. Naima Khatoon, Vice Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University; Kamna Prasad, Author and Founder, Jashn-e-Bahar; Paresh Maity, internationally acclaimed artist; Jamshed, poet, columnist & author of the book

IIC Double Bill :Music Recitals

Rabab Recital

By Imran Khan from Delhi, disciple & son of Ustad Gulfam Ahmed Khan

Accompanists:   Imran Arsh Khan  (Tabla)

At 19:00

Hindustani Vocal Recital

By Laxmipriya Nayak from Odissa, disciple of Guru Vidushi Anjana Nath  

Accompanists:   Arunava Dutta Banik (Tabla) & Mukesh Bhardwaj (Harmonium)

 

IIC Double Bill : Music & Dance Recitals

Carnatic Flute

By Aditi Sudarshan from Mumbai, disciple of Guru Shashank Subramanyam and Guru Kunnakudi  M. Balamuralikrishna.

Accompanists: Siddesh  Ganesh(Violin) & Vignesh Jayaraman (Mridangam)

At 19:00

Bharatanatyam Recital

By L .Murugashankari from Madurai, disciple of Kalaimamani  Smt Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala