To be delivered by Dr Karan Singh, statesman, philosopher and thinker

Welcome Address: Shri Suresh K. Goel, Former Director General, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Vice President, IC Centre for Governance

Opening Remarks: Shri Prabhat Kumar, Former Cabinet Secretary and first Governor of Jharkhand and President, IC Centre for Governance

Presidential Address: Shri Syed Shahid Mahdi, Former Vice President ICCR and Former Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia

(Collaboration: I.C. Centre for Governance)

An exhibition of paintings by Tamana Chona

Tamana’s art perfectly encapsulates the essence of her paintings. Despite her modest beginnings, Tamana’s artistic creations emanate a sense of optimism and elation, rapidly gaining popularity with the realm of art exhibitions. With each stroke of her brush, she manages to convey feelings of hope and positivity. Her artistic prowess is especially evident in her masterful use of vibrant colours.

Inauguration by Shri Sunil Sethi, Chairperson FDCI, Ms Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor, The Hindustan Times and Ms Nupur Kundu, well-known artist on 17 November 2023 at 17:00

Are we REALLY in a New Cold War? The Belt-Road, US-China Relations, and Perceptions of a New Cold War

Speaker: Prof. Ivan Willis Rasmussen, Undergraduate Coordinator, Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Practice in Political Science, NYU Shanghai

Chair: Prof. Pallavi Raghavan, Head of the Department, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Ashoka University

The People’s Republic of China’s (China) now 10 year Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) rhetorically centres around development projects in Asia. While much attention is focused on the Chinese strategy behind the BRI, less analysis has looked at member state motivations for participation. The talk will use qualitative, statistical analysis to look at why specific states should join the BRI. Participation in the BRI can be linked to a variety of factors including GDP per capita, regime type, whether the country is an ally of the United States, and proximity to China. Looking at the regional relevance of BRI, the speaker offers correlations between these factors and whether a country is either an initial member of the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB) or has signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding BRI. The talk offers a novel approach to understanding the state motivations for joining the BRI and regional implications of the Initiative asking whether we have entered a New Cold War
 
(Collaboration: Centre for Chinese Studies, Ashoka University; and NYU Shanghai)
 

Curated by Rajiv Mehrotra

Walk with Me (94 min;2017; English)
A film by Marc J. Francis & Max Pugh

A contemplative documentary featuring Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh and his tranquil Plum Village Monastery, 
The film explores his profound teachings, offering a meditative journey into the lives of Zen monks and nuns dedicated to mindfulness under his guidance. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, it invites viewers to witness their unwavering pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment.

(Collaboration: Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama)

Narrative ka Mayajaal; Kaun hain hum, kya hai humari pehchan?

By Balbir Punj (Prabhat Prakashan:2023) 

Discussants: Shri Arun Kumar, Author and Columnist; Shri Prafull Ketkar, Editor, Organiser Weekly; Ms Monika Arora, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India; and Shri Balbir Punj, Journalist, Columnist and author of the book

Santoor Recital
By Rajkumar Majumdar from Delhi, disciple of Pt. Bhajan Sopori
 

At 19:00 
Dhrupad Recital
By Samit Kumar Mallick from Delhi, disciple of Pt. Ram Kumar Mallick   
 

Speakers: Dr. Harish S. Wankhede, Assistant Professor, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Smt Renu Mittal, Senior journalist; and Shri Tiruchi N. Siva, MP, Rajya Sabha, Leader of DMK in Rajya Sabha

Moderator: Suhas Borker, Mediaperson and Trustee, IIC

This is the 18th edition of the annual discussion instituted in 2006. The discussion also marks the 31st anniversary of the ‘Working Group on Alternative Strategies’
 

(Collaboration: Working Group on Alternative Strategies)

12 November* commemorates the day on which Mahatma Gandhi made his first and only live broadcast on All India Radio in 1947 and addressed more than two lakhs of refugees at a camp in Kurukshetra from Broadcasting House, New Delhi. Since 2000, this day is commemorated as Public Service Broadcasting Day

10:30 to 11:00 in Gandhi-King Memorial Plaza
Commemoration

11:15 to 12:15 in C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium 
Discussion 

Usha Mehta’s tryst with freedom on radio: reliving the moments with S. N. Sahu, former Press Secretary to President K. R. Narayanan.

During the Quit India Movement, Usha Mehta was arrested on 12 November 1942 and the Underground Radio Transmitter confiscated in Bombay

Discussion on Public Service Broadcasting and Speaking Truth to Power
Lead Presentation: Suhas Borker, Mediaperson and Trustee, IIC

*Note: As 12 November is Deepavali and a holiday, the commemoration is being held on 10 November

(Collaboration: Gandhi Yuva Baradari; and Jan Prasar)
 

Panelists: Navina Najat Haider, Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah Curator-in-Charge, Department of Islamic Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York;  Mitch Abdul Karim Crites, American art historian, who has lived and worked in India for more than fifty years; and Abhinav Goswami from Vrindavan, a trained archaeologist, photographer and temple priest

Moderator: Pramod K.G., curator, author and the co-founder of Eka Archiving Services

Organised in collaboration with Mapin Publishing to mark the recent publication of JALI- Lattice of Divine Light in Mughal Architecture by Navina Najat Haidar
 

Sattriya Recital

By Dimple Saikia from Assam, disciple of Guru Gobinda Saikia

At 19:00 
Bharatanatyam Recital

By Raktim Chanda from Kolkata, disciple of Shri P.T. Narendran