An exhibition of a selection of digitized South Asian manuscripts from national and international repositories. The exhibits illustrate what manuscripts can tell us about their authors, the process of composition, and the worlds of their readers. It traces the journeys of texts across languages and to different parts of Asia, and stories of how manuscripts were collected down the ages

Inauguration by Dr. S. Jaishankar, Honourable Minister for External Affairs on Wednesday, 13 September 2023 at 18.30 pm

The inauguration also marks the launch of the digital repository, SAMHiTA (Sanskrit for ‘compilation’ or ‘collection’), or South Asian Manuscript Histories and Textual Archive, an initiative of the IIC-International Research Division supported by the Ministry of External Affairs to create a database on South Asian manuscripts in institutions outside India

Speakers: Patricia Mukhim, Editor, The Shillong Times; Sanjoy Hazarika, Commentator who works on the North East and its neighbourhood, author of three books on the North East; Pradip Phanjoubam, Editor, Imphal Review of Arts and Politics; Dr. Memthianngai Guite, Associate Professor, Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University; and Shri S. N. Sahu, Columnist, Commentator and former Press Secretary to President K. R. Narayanan

Moderator: Suhas Borker, Editor, Citizens First TV (CFTV) and Trustee, IIC

This conversation marks the 33rd anniversary of the presidential assent to the Prasar Bharti Act 1990 and is the 30th discussion in the annual series

(Collaboration: Jan Prasar) 

Programme Details

The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is more often violated than complied with in the wars in our times. The conference will discuss the origins and development of the IHL; violations of IHL in recent conflicts including Ukraine; institutions to uphold the IHL. The discussion will also examine the Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); and the Mission of the Indian Red Cross

Speakers will include, Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Director, Symbiosis Law School, Pune; Dr. Chandrasekhar JayvantaraoRawndale, Director, Symbiosis Law School, Noida among others

Bharatanatyam Recital

By Megha Mohan Das from Delhi, disciple of Guru Smt. S. Kanaka

Accompanists: Guru Kanaka Srinivasan (nattuvangam); Sudha Raghuraman (vocal); Chandrashekhar (mridangam) & G. Raghuraman (flute)

At 19:00
Hindustani Vocal Recital

By Kanakshree Bhatt from Mumbai, disciple of Guru Smt. Kalpana Zokarkar
 

Speakers: Prof. Satyajit Singh, Professor, Department of Political Science and the Department of Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA; and Dr. Azad Singh Bali, University of Melbourne & Hamad Bin Khalifa University.

Policy Analysis – understood as a method of structuring and evaluating policy options – plays an important role in policymaking. Despite a rich tradition of deliberation and analysis to inform public policies, there is a need for a more nuanced understanding of policy analysis in India. Where does policy analysis occur? Who is involved? Who is absent? How does policy analysis vary across sub-national governments, and across government agencies? And how have these practices changed over time? 

The lecture is based on a forthcoming edited collection of 20 essays by eminent policymakers, academics, and civil society practitioners that traces the locus of policy analysis in India. It documents the actors, institutions, and processes of analysis, and engages with the above questions. 

Introductory Remarks: Shri Shyam Saran, President, IIC
 
About the Conference: Prof. Ajit Kembhavi, Professor Emeritus and former Director, IUSCAA, Pune and Chair, Conference – International Advisory Committee
 
Keynote Address: Dr. Simon Hodson, Executive Director, CODATA – Committee on Data of the International Science Council (ISC), Paris
 
Chief Guest: Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Govt. of India
 
Concluding Remarks: Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC

Speakers: Prof. Suchandra Ghosh, Dept. of History, University of Hyderabad; Prof. Dr. R. Mahalakshmi, Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Professor K.M. Shrimali, former Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi; Prof. Ranabir Chakravarti, former Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; and Dr Abhimanyu Kumar

Chair: Prof. Romila Thapar

The talk is based on a project by Prof. Ghosh and Prof.Mahalakshmi that brings together the latest research using new sources such as the Genizah Records to draw attention to the vast and unexplored terrain of the economic history of early India. A rich and diverse area of study covering agricultural developments, trade, markets, occupational and professional groups, urbanisation and the institutions that govern economy. The project discusses material culture and provides insights into the lived experience of early Indians, the kinds of activities they were engaged in and their production activities within and outside domestic spaces
 

Radhey-Shyam
Screening of a film Shree Radha produced by Dr. Uma Sharma

Followed by
Radhey-Shyam
In Kathak and Brij-Raas by Uma Sharma and group
Music: Late Pt. Jwala Prasad

Choreographed by Dr. Uma Sharma, the programme is based on the poetry of Saint-Poets – Swami Haridas, Surdas, Meera, Jaydev and will include some poems from the Raskhan, Vidyapati etc.

(Collaboration: Uma Sharma School of Dance and Music – Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan)
 

Vivekananda: The Philosopher of Freedom(Aleph Book Company: 2023)
By Govind Krishnan  

Discussants: Shri Yogendra Yadav, political activist, Founder Member, Swaraj Abhiyan & Jai Kisan Andolan; Prof S. Irfan Habib, writer and historian; and Shri Govind Krishnan V., journalist and author of the book

Moderator: Dr. N.P. Ashley, Assistant Professor, Dept. of English, St. Stephen College

WEBINAR

Speakers: Sharat Sabharwal, former High Commissioner to Pakistan; Tilak Devasher, Member, National Security Advisory Board; and Smita Sharma, independent journalist

Moderator: C. Raja Mohan, Senior Fellow, Asia Society Policy Institute, Delhi

The disqualification and imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan marks an important turning point in the evolution of Pakistan’s polity. It underlines the failure of the experiment with a hybrid democracy in the 21st century and the return of the Army to more direct rule in governing the country. The panel will assess the changing dynamic in Pakistan and its implications for India

(Collaboration: Asia Society Policy Institute, Delhi)

Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0iLqd4zMToy4tIT4cL5H9w