Lead presentation by Prof. Manu Bhagavan, specialist on modern India, Professor of History, Human Rights, and Public Policy at Hunter College and the Graduate Center-The City University of New York, and Senior Fellow at the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies.  He is the author or editor of eight books, including the critically-acclaimed The Peacemakers: India and the Quest for One World and, most recently, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit: A Biography.  

Introductory Remarks: Smt Nayantara Sahgal

Chair: Dr. Usha Ramanathan,  independent law researcher

Professor Manu Bhagavan will speak on women in leadership, with a focus on Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit's contributions to India and the world.  He will draw on his extensive experience of India's foreign policy and contributions to the United Nations, and his deeply researched biography of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.

This exhibition showcases more than 50 toys and dolls from different States and UTs of India made of wood, papier-mâché, metal, tin, stone carving, leather, candle, clothes, seashells etc.

From the Agnibarna-Madhumadhabi Bhaduri collection and Curated by Asani Bhaduri

As part of this exhibition, there will be a discussion on Tuesday, 12 December 2023 at 5 pm in the Art Gallery, IIC Annexe

Toys Today

Panelists: Alok Bhalla; Mugdha Sinha; and Sukrita Paul Kumar

Moderator: Asani Bhaduri

Traditional toys and dolls are vanishing from urban playrooms, whether at home or in playschools. Are toys relevant in the age of video games and animations? Is there a renewed interest in toys in some sections of society? What has changed in the past few decades? The panelists will address some of these issues and the past, present and future of toys.

Webinar

The Unseen Raja Ravi Varma

Speaker: Ganesh V. Shivaswamy, advocate, author and academic

Ravi Varma has been largely explored in isolation and this is how many academicians have dealt with his legacy. However, there is a lot more to Ravi Varma. For instance, his obsession with equestrian imagery, the use of photography, and myths around his inspiration have all been overlooked. The lesser-known works and all those who worked behind the scenes helped him build his image. All of these will be explored in the presentation.

Ganesh V. Shivaswamy is a lawyer in Bengaluru but his passion lies in structuring the artistic legacy of Raja Ravi Varma. He has a substantial collection of chromolithographs from the Ravi Varma Press. In 2006, he commemorated the centennial death anniversary of the artist by creating the first online catalogue of prints from the Press. Ganesh continues his research on the artist and is the author of a six-volume book series, Raja Ravi Varma: An Everlasting Imprint which explores the social, religious and aesthetic impact of the images from the Ravi Varma Press on the people of the Indian sub-continent and beyond.

(Collaboration: J.D. Centre of Art)

Zoom Registration link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpde2ppjwoG9KPNAtGk80VA3YcGC…
Meeting ID:   874 2418 7216

Organised in collaboration with Assam Association, Delhi – Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Keynote Address: Dr. Samudragupta Kashyap, eminent writer, journalist and Information Commissioner, Assam and Chancellor, Nagaland University

Presentations by Dr. Ankita Dutta, Assistant Professor, University of Delhi; and Shri Ambrish B. Kishore, Editor, Publication Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India

Chair: Shri M.P. Bezbaruah, IAS (retd.) former Secretary, Govt. of India

Coordinated by Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Ashok K. Mehta

Elections in Bangladesh: Again a Walkover for Sheikh Hasina?

 Panelists: Amb. Veena Sikri, former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Dr. Smruti S. Pattanaik, Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses; and Ms Nayaima Basu, Defence and Diplomatic Editor, ABP News

Chair: Maj. Gen. Ashok K. Mehta

Elections in Bangladesh are slated for 7^th January 2024, and for the third time, not under a caretaker government, a provision removed from the constitution by the ruling government Sheikh Hasina government attracting widespread protests. The 2024 election is a matter of political survival for both the ruling Awami League and the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Will Sheikh Hasina win the elections for a fifth term and other associated issues of government and economy will be discussed.

Melody meisters, Ruchika and Deepak Castelino 

In conversation with Sujata Prasad and Oroon Das

(Collaboration: Ahad Anhad)

Violence and the Arts

Speakers: Apoorvanand; M.K. Raina; Veer Munshi; Mithu Sen; and Rahaab Allana 

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)