Speaker: Dr. Colleen Taylor Sen, independent food historian and writer based in Chicago, specializing in the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent. Her previous publications include Curry: A Global History (2009) and Street Food around the World: An Encyclopaedia of Food and Culture (co-editor, 2013)

Chair: Shri Sourish Bhattacharyya

Speaker: Patrick Olivelle, Professor Emeritus of Sanskrit and Indian Religions, University of Texas at Austin

Chair: Upinder Singh, Professor of History, Ashoka University

In 1958 the French anthropologist Louis Dumont published a small but seminal paper entitled “World Renunciation in Indian Religions.” It has been called “probably the most imaginative and insightful attempt to grasp Indian religions as a whole in the history of Indology.” Dumont himself says that this early paper “provides the main framework for all my later work, both on India itself and beyond that setting.” The talk takes issue with Dumont’s main contention, especially his opposition of the world renouncer to the man living in society, based on new understanding of the early history of the householder or grihastha.

(Collaboration: Ashoka University)

Speaker: Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India

Discussants: Prof. Ambuj Sagar, Founding Head, School of Public Policy, Vipula and Mahesh Chaturvedi Professor of Policy Studies, IIT Delhi; and Shri Rajesh Gopinathan, former CEO and Managing Director, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Ltd.

Chair: Shri Shyam Saran, President, IIC

Hanuman Drama

Damodara Mishra’s Hanumannataka translated by A.N.D. Haksar (Penguin Classics: 2023)

Discussants: Prof. Radha Chakravarty, former Professor of Comparative Literature & Translation Studies, Ambedkar University Delhi, critic and translator; Dr. Debraj Mookerjee, Associate Professor, Dept. of English, Ramjas College, University of Delhil; Shri Nikhil Haksar; and Amb. A.N. D. Haksar, former diplomat and translator of the book

Chair: Shri Shyam Saran, President, IIC

A discussion with Dr. Arghya Sengupta, Founder Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy and author of the recently published book of the same title (Juggernaut: 2023); and Shri Fali S. Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India

Chair: Shri Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, ThePrint

By Roger Tristao Adao featuring Madhavan Somanathan

The artists will present a concert of works by Soleares; Granados; Albéniz; Cardoso and others

Solo Trip Par Jaati Sakhi

By Swati Sharma (Bhavna Prakashan; 2023)

Discussants: Amb. Amarendra Khatua, Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and Director General of ICCR; Poet & Diplomat ; Shri Sudhanshu Gupt, Author & Journalist; Ms Swati Sharma, Poet & Author of the book ; Ms. Sushma Gupta, Author ; Sh. Mahesh Darpan, Author and Dr. Alka Tyagi, Author & Poet 

Chair:Sh. Priyadarshan, Author, Critic 
 

Curated by Rajiv Mehrotra

Leap of Faith (72 min; 2008; English)
Directed by Aditi V. Makim & Valentina Trivedi

Screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers

Unveiling the extraordinary journey of a frail child who grew up to help millions overcome physical ailments through the practice of yoga, the film explores B.K.S. Iyengar’s roles as a disciple, teacher, husband, father and guru. Narrated by the critically acclaimed Naseeruddin Shah, an Iyengar Yoga student himself, this inspiring story celebrates the pioneer’s indomitable spirit and his universally enriching impact.

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

In Search of Delhi 

A translation of Brij Kishan Chandwala’s Dilli ki Khoj

Translated by Jitender Gill and Namita Sethi (Routledge India: 2023)

Discussants: Dr. Swapna Liddle, Author ; Prof. Sudhir Chandra, Historian; Dr. Saumya Gupta, Associate Professor, History Department, JDMC, Delhi University; Dr. Jitender Gill, Associate Professor, English Department, JDMC, Delhi University; Dr. Namita Sethi, Associate Professor, English Department, JDMC, Delhi University ; Prof. Swati Pal, Principal, JDMC, Delhi University