Sergej in the Urn
(102 min; 2009; with English subtitles)
Director: Boris Hars-Tschachotin

The film will be introduced by Prof. Mahalakshmi Rakesh

Charismatic, erratic, egocentric, almost forgotten…Sergej Tschachotin was scientist of international repute, friend of Pavlov and Einstein, revolutionary and pacifist. Sergej in the Urn tells the story of Sergej Tschachotin’s epic existence - from 1883 to 1973 - through the memories of four of his sons. Speaking openly for the first time, they tell of Tschachotin’s role as a cancer researcher, his participation in anti-totalitarian propaganda movements, and his crusade against the arms race. But each son also exposes his conflicted relationship with a colossal fatherly shadow.

Filmmaker Boris Hars-Tschachotin, Sergej’s great-grandson, weaves together an intimate, tortured family saga that mirrors the myriad contradictions and possibilities of the 20th century.

A Tribute to Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. T.K. Murthy, Centenarian Living Legend and his contribution to the world of music
Conceptualised and presented by Prof. T.K. Venkatasubramanian
 
Chief Guest: Shri R. Venkataramani, Attorney General of India

The Contribution of Dr. T.K. Murthy to Indian Rhythms
Illustrated lecture by Prof. T.K. Venkatasubramanian, historian and accomplished mridangam player who is a disciple of Dr. T.K. Murthy

Prof. Venkatasubramanian’s presentation will be accompanied by Carnatic vocalist, T.K. Jayaraman who will sing some musical forms

Honouring the Centenarian Legend
 
Followed by performance

Carnatic Violin Recital
By Vidwan M.A. Sundhreswaran
With Vidwan K.P. Parameswaran on mridangam

(Collaboration: Lakshmi Kuppuswami Trust, Chennai)
 

The Secret Life of Gharials along the Chambal: Mobile Moms, Baby Crèches, and Defensive Dads

Speaker: Prof. Jeffrey W. Lang, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Biology, U. North Dakota, USA; Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu and Gharial Ecology Project

Chair: Adv. Gopal Subramaniam, former Solicitor General of India

The talk will focus on the Gharial Ecology Project (GEP) and cover Prof. Lang’s long journey in building a model project for wildlife conservation. Beginning in 2008, the project has studied gharials, a unique fish-eating crocodilian inhabiting south Asia and now restricted to only a few populations in India and Nepal. In its 17^th field season, the GEP has been assessing the status, health, and well-being of the Chambal gharial; identifying and protecting critical riverine habitats; and reducing threats and challenges to the continued survival of gharial. The talk will cover the processes adopted, behavioral observations of gharials and community involvement

(Collaboration: Business and Community Foundation; and Gharial Ecology Project)

Speaker: Dr. Neera Agrawal, independent historian who has taught history at Mithibai College and Patkar College, University of Mumbai

Chair: Prof. Sucheta Mahajan, former Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Convenor, IIC-Sectoral Policy Group on History

The fascinating tale of the Merchants of the port town of Cambay begins from the time when Queen Elizabeth I of England sought permission to trade with India in 1583 and addressed the Mughal Emperor Akbar as “the King of Cambay” to 1818 when Peshwa Baji Rao II was deposed by the English and Cambay came directly under British rule. Cambay, which had
become a major centre for the manufacture and supply of agates and cotton piece-goods, occupied a strategic position in the maritime trade of western India as it lay mid-way between Arab-Persian and East African coasts to the west and South East Asian and Chinese coasts to the east. The Merchants of Cambay, during this turbulent and disruptive period tactically
negotiated their way through with the Mughals, the Nawab of Cambay, the Marathas and the English to protect their trading world and overcome their existential crisis.
 

Programme Details

Coordinated by Prof. Rekha Saxena, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi; Senior Advisor, Forum of Federations, Canada; and Hon. Vice –Chairman, Centre for Multilevel Federalism, New Delhi

Presentations by Prof. Sandeep Shastri, political scientist, Director - Academics, Nitte Education Trust since 2023; Prof. Ashutosh Kumar, Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Dr. Hilal Ahmed, Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies; Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay; Dr. E. Sridharan, Academic Director and Chief Executive of the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India (UPIASI), New Delhi; and others

Speaker: Prof. Akhil C. Banerjea, former Professor Emeritus, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi and former Director, Institute of Advanced Virology, Kerala

Chair: Dr. Kalpana Luthra, Professor of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Stem cells have the unique ability to renew themselves. There ae several categories – pluripotent, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (ipsc) and adult stem cells. Stem cells can potentially recreate functional tissues. Moreover, human adult cells may be reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells. The talk will reveal how human hematopoietic stem cells are engineered to interfere with the replication of HIV-1 in two important immune cells (T-cells and Macrophages)

Nadistutti: Poems
By Lakshmi Kannan (Authorspress: 2024)

Discussants: Prof. Payal Nagpal, Professor, Dept. of English, Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi; Prof. Rekha Sethi, Professor, Indraprastha Collge for Women, University of Delhi, author, editor and translator; Ms Sanjula Sharma, poet, researcher and writer; and Dr. Laskhmi Kannan, bilingual novelist, poet, short story writer, critic and translator and author of this volume of poems

Chair: Prof. Malashri Lal, author and Convenor, English Board, Sahitya Akademi

Programme Details

In the Multipurpose Hall from 09:30 to 13:00 
Movement Techniques in Sattriya

A workshop led by Prateesha Suresh with artists from Assam

At 16:00 in C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium
Seminar on Legacy in Classical Dance

Discussants: Dr. Anita Ratnam; Smt Roja Kannan; Smt Indira Kadambi; Dr. Neena Prasad; and Dr. Prateesha Suresh
Moderator: Geeta Chandran

At 18:30
Young Dancers Festival
Mohiniattam Recital
By Thomas Vo Van Tao, disciple of Neena Prasad 

Followed by 
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Meera Sreenarayan

Programme Details

Organised in collaboration with Natya Vriksha; Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India; and with the Support of Friends of Natya Vriksha

In the Multipurpose Hall from 09:30 to 13:00 
Movement Techniques in Sattriya

A workshop led by Prateesha Suresh with artists from Assam

At 16:00 in C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium
Natya Vriksha Lifetime Achievement Award

To be conferred to Smt Leela Venkataraman, renowned dance critic/commentator/writer and author

At 16:15 – Celebrating Rukmini Devi Arundale
To mark the 120th birth anniversary of the dance legend, release of the book Rukmini Devi Arundale, Arts Revivalist and Institution Builder by V.R. Devika (Niyogi Books, 2024)
Dr. V.R. Devika, author of the book will make an illustrated presentation along with a video screening to bring alive the magic of Rukmini Devi Arundale

The book will be released by Dr. Karan Singh 

At 18:30
Young Dancers Festival: Tribute to Lakshmi Vishwanathan
Bharatanatyam performance of Varnam

By Vaishnavi Srinivasan and Nivedha Harish, disciples of Guru Smt Roja Kannan

Dancer Tanjore Gnyana danced the Useni Swara Jathi for the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1875. That same varnam, taught by devadasis to Lakshmi Vishwanathan, was then in turn taught by Lakshmi to Vaishnavi and Nivedha

Followed by
Kathak Recital
By Divya Goswami

Two decades of working with cultural heritage and traditional makers
 

By Siddhartha Das

The exhibition presents traditional paintings – botanical, miniature, pattachitra, pichwai, palm leaf engraving etc.; textile inspired by historic pieces; bamboo and basketry; stone pieces; wood carving; inlay with wood, stone and bone; lacquered wood are among some of the exhibits. The display includes site-specific art; audio-visuals and short films on the conceiving and making of the art and craft pieces as well as others that give an insight into a “way of seeing”

Preview on Friday, 19 April 2024 at 18:30