Panelists: Amb. Arun Kumar Singh, former Ambassador to Israel, France & USA; Gen. (Retd.) Deepak Kapoor, former Chief of the Army Staff; Dr. Surjit Bhalla, former Executive Director of India, International Monetary Fund, Independent Researcher; and Dr. Zorawar Daulet Singh, Adjunct Fellow, Institute of Chinese Studies

Moderator: Amb. Surendra Kumar, Founder President, IAFA

(Collaboration: Indo-American Friendship Association, New Delhi)
 

Panelists: James McHugh, Professor of South Asian Religions, University of Southern California in Los Angeles; Malayka Shirazi, researcher, writer and Filmmaker who has worked extensively on the attar and the attar sellers of Old Delhi s a researcher for Smells Assembly; Projit Bihari Mukharji, Head, Dept. of History, Ashoka University in conversation with Naman Ahuja, Professor of Art History and Visual Culture, Jawaharlal Nehru University and General Editor of Marg

The conversation marks the publication of MARG’s latest volume that explores the histories of perfumes in India, the people who make them, their use in traditional medicine, the genealogy of their recipes, their visual representation through Indian art history and more

(Collaboration: MARG)

Sitar Recital
By Aniket Ghivalikar from Mumbai, disciple of Pandit Shankarrao Abhyankar  
 
At 19:00 
Kathak Recital
By Richa Jain from Delhi, daughter and disciple of  Guru Ravi Jain and  Nalini Malhotra Jain 
 

Through the Prism of Time

By Rita Malhotra ( Hawk Press, 2023)

Discussants: Amb. Amarendra Khatua, former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and poet; Dr. Somonnoy Ghosh, Professor, Birla Institute of Management Technology and short story writer; Ms Mandira Ghosh, poet, researcher and writer; and Dr. Rita Malhotra, mathematician, essayist, poet, translation and author of the book

Chair: Shri K. Jayakumar, President, The Poetry Society (India); and former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Kerala

(Collaboration: The Poetry Society, India)

Dharma Ubach
Director: Souvik Sen Gupta, Drama Society Aakriti

Followed by 
Sadhonbabur Sondyeho

Director: Rabishankar Kar, Prarambh
 

Organised in collaboration with Impresario India

Surjer Antim Kiran Theke Surjer Prothom Kiran Porjonto

Director: Purnendu Bhattacharya, Theatre Platform

Followed by
Mahamaya

Director: Suhan Basu, Japonchitro theatre group

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)