A Musical Journey With Nadayogi Muthuswami Dikshitar

Illustrated presentation by Saraswati Rajagoplan

Muthuswamy Dikshitar (1775-1835) was a great vainika and versatile composer who holds a special place in the hearts of music lovers as one of the Trinity of Carnatic Music. His deeply meditative, moving compositions are nothing short of treasure troves, showcasing a complete mastery over Sanskrit, raga, tala and the shastras. 
He was the most well-travelled among the Trinity and his compositions in praise of the deities and kshetras he visited also pack in details of the shrines, associated with the temples.
 
Vidushi Saraswati Rajagopalan is one of the top ranking vainikas of the country. Known for making the Veena sing in the gayaki style - closely mirroring the nuances of vocal music, Saraswati has travelled extensively across India and abroad, performing at major festivals and venues, collaborating with musicians from both the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions.
 

Ebrahim Alkazi: Holding Time Captive

By Amal Allana (Penguin Random House: 2024)

In Conversation with the Author
Amal Allana in conversation with Dr. Naman P. Ahuja, Cultural Historian

Followed by Readings from the book
By Sonam Kalra, Singer/Actress and Rehaan Engineer, Director/Actor

(Collaboration: Penguin Random House)

The Roma Exodus and Reconnection with a Forgotten Diaspora

Illustrated lecture by Dr. Punita G. Singh, acoustician, musicologist, linguist, editor and educator based in Delhi. She has taught at Washington University in the US, McGill University, Canada and is currently, Visiting Faculty at Ashoka University, Sonipat

India is regarded as the original homeland of the Roma, yet most history books in schools omit mention of a Roma exodus and research and scholarship on the subject has been sparse. If the emigration of Roma out of India dates back to a millennium or earlier as posited by some scholars, the parallel influx of traders, invaders and colonizers over the intervening period seems to have overwritten their story. This presentation reviews the story of the Roma and their connection, disconnection and reconnection with India.

Champions (Campeones/Spain)
(124 min; 2018; Spanish with English subtitles)
Director: Javier Fesser

Multiple award winner including CEC Award for Best New Actor, Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 2019; Audience Award for Best Spanish Film, Fotogramas de Plata 2019; Award for Best Spanish Film, Sant Jordi Awards 2019; among others

Screening will be followed by a discussion

Campeones is a comedy-drama about a basketball team featuring actors with developmental disabilities. The movie explores the theme of prejudices in a hilariously heart-warming fashion. Marco is an assistant basketball coach for a major Spanish league team with attitude issues that have affected both his personal and professional life. After drunk driving into the back of a police car, Marco is ordered to do community service, by coaching a team of individuals with disabilities. 

(Collaboration: Action for Autism; and Embassy of Spain)
 

Surbahar Recital
By Sauravbrata Chakraborty

Followed by
Dhrupad Vocal Recital
By Pt. Prem Kumar Mallick

Organised in collaboration with The Raza Foundation and Naad Chakra

Rudra Veena Recital

By Carsten Wicke

Followed by
Dhrupad Vocal Recital

By Kaberi Kar

Great Cases Series Discussion 2

The Group of Companies Case

Speaker: Hon’ble Justice Sanjib Banerjee, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya

Discussant: Varsha Banta, Research Fellow, Corporate Law and Financial Regulation

Chair: Arghya Sengupta,  Founder and Research Director, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

(Collaboration: Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy)

Speaker: Dr. Amit Mallick, Inspector General, National Tiger Conservation Authority

Moderator: Dr. Asani Bhaduri, Assistant Professor, Molecular and Computational Biology, Cluster Innovation Centre, University of Delhi

It has been a year and half since the first batch of Cheetahs were introduced in India in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. These cheetahs represent a big feather in India’s cap for restoring natural treasures. Dr. Amit Mallick was intricately involved with the Project since its inception and will speak about the successful Cheetah Reintroduction in India

An exhibition of wildlife photography by Dr. Amit Sharma

Preview on Tuesday, 19 March 2024 at 18:30 by Dr.M.K.Ranjit Singh, wildlife expert and IAS 

The Great Game in Afghanistan: Rajiv Gandhi, General Zia and the Unending War

By Kallol Bhattacherjee (Harper Collins: 2017)

Discussants: Amb. Vivek Katju, former Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs; Amb. Rajiv Dogra, former Consul General of India in Karachi and author; and Shri Kallol Bhattacherjee, Senior Assistant Editor, Foreign Affairs, The Hindu and author of the book

Chair: Amb. K.P. Fabian, Professor, Symbiosis University, Pune