Book Discussion: The Girl With Seven Lives

Vikas Swarup, author of the book and former diplomat in conversation with Manika Raikwar, COO, ILM University, Gurugram

At 15:15

Book Discussion: The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World

William Dalrymple, author of the book and historian in conversation with Nidhi Razdan, Director, Dept. of Communication, journalist and former Executive Editor, NDTV

At 16:00

Sanatan Sangeet Puraskar-2025

With Jyotsna Mohan, Allen Shaw, Shweta Rajpal Kohli, Ragini Maharaj and Aarushi Bhargava

At 16:30

Sanatan Sangeet Peraskar Ceremony 2025

Honourees: Ms Jyotsna Mohan Bhargava, author and journalist, former Senior Editor, NDTV; Shri Allen Shaw, illustrator, animator and storyteller; Ms Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO, Startup Policy Forum; Ms Ragini Maharaj, Kathak dancer and Padma Shri awardee; and Ms Aarushi Bhargava, performer and artist

At 17:15

Kathak Recital

By Ragini Maharaj

Performing Delhi: Stage, Street, and Society

How Performance Arts Reflect and Shape Delhi’s social fabric

Panelists: Ms Geeta Chandra, renowned Bharatanatyam artist, choreographer and guru; Shri M.K. Raina, veteran theatre actor and director; Dr. Anamika, Hindi poet and author; and Ms Smita Sharma, photojournalist

At 15:15

Book Discussion: 2024: The Election that Surprised India

Vir Sanghvi, journalist, author and television host, in conversation with Rajdeep Sardesai, author of the book, journalist, news anchor, and Consulting Editor, India Today Television

At 16:30

Retro Bollywood Music Recital

By Aarushi Bhargava

Programme Schedule

The three-day annual festival brings together leading figures in the fields of literature, ideas, art, social sciences and other public spheres to celebrate the creativity, imagination and ideas that Delhi generates, sustains and embodies. Organised in collaboration with IILM University, the festival presents a series of discussions, dialogues, readings, and recitals

At 14:15

Inauguration and opening Address

By Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Chancellor Emeritus, IILM University, Gurugram and former Chief Election Commissioner of India

At 14:30

Panel discussion on Crossroads of Empire: How Delhi Shaped and Reflects Indian Identity

Panelists: Prof. S. Irfan Habib, historian and former Abdul Kalam Azad Chair, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration; Dr. Swapna Liddle, historian, author and former Convenor, INTACH; RJ Sayema, Radio jockey and Radio Mirchi; Ms Jyotsna Mohan Bhargava, author and journalist and former Senior Editor, NDTV; and Ms Aditi Gupta, Assistant Professor, IILM University, Greater Noida

At 15:45

Digital Delhi: Heritage Meets Innovation

The Intersection of Technology, AI, and Cultural preservation

Panelists: Shri Riyas Komu, artist and Co-Founder, Kochi-Muziris Biennale; Ms Rana Safvi, Curator of Early Days of Delhi Heritage Walk, historian, writer, scholar and translator specialising on Delhi; Ms Manisha Mohan, award winning virtual reality/interactive design artist, Dean, School of Design, Bennett University; Ms Shalini Bansal, Founder, Museum 22, Virtual (AI) driven heritage walks of Delhi; and Dr. Aswani RS, Associate Dean, School of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, IILM University, Greater Noida

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

Kindly please carry a scarf to cover your head

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 Ira Pande who translates from Hindi to English

Moderator: Rita Kothari

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)

Guest of Honour: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Govt. of India

Discussants: Prof. Sushma Yadav, Member, Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Commission, former Vice Chancellor, BPS Mahila Vishwavidyalaya and former Pro Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Haryana; Shri Qamar Wahid Naqvi, former News Director, TV Today Network; and Shri Shyamlal Yadav, journalist and author of the book

Chair: Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, President, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts

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.