Oxford: “City of Dreaming Spires”
An exhibition of paintings by Sipra Dattagupta from Kolkata
Bathed in monochromatic colours of ochre and gold, the paintings follow some of the most well-known trails of the city – through high streets, bookshops, pubs and colleges
Inauguration by Ms Christina Scott, CMG, Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission on Tuesday, 2 April 2024 at 18:30
FRONTIERS OF HISTORY
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.
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Buddha in My Backyard
By Emani Rani Sarma (Hyderabad Book Trust: 2023)
Discussants: Shri Ashok Vajpeyi, former Chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi, poet and literary-cultural critic; Dr. Uma Chakravarti, historian and author; Shri Suhas Borker, Editor, Citizens First TV (CFTV) and Trustee, IIC; and Ms Emani Rani Sarma, author of the book
Two Year Review of War in Ukraine: Nuclear Amber Lights Flashing?
Panel discussion led by Amb. Shyam Saran, President IIC, former Foreign Secretary of India; Prof. Madhavan K. Palat, well-known historian and expert on European and Russian history; and Amb. Rakesh Sood, former Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan and Nepal
Moderator: Cmde C. Uday Bhaskar
IIC Diary (December 2023-January 2024)
Addressing Earthquake Risk in India (OP 115)
“Time is on my side”: Vivan Sundaram (28 May 1943-29 March 2023)
“Time is on my side”: Vivan Sundaram (28 May 1943-29 March 2023)
Talks by Ashish Rajadhyaksha, cultural theorist and curator; and Sabih Ahmed, curator
(Collaboration: Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation)
An Evening of Mindfulness
Including teachings and practices led by senior monastics from the order of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
Chair: Dharmacharya Shantum Seth
The programme will include launch of the book by Thich Nhat Hanh, “Good Citizens Creating An Enlightened Society”
(Collaboration: Ahimsa Trust; and Aleph Book Company)
AAJ KAVITA
Singing Poetry
The Poetry of Dharamveer Bharti, Sarveshvar Dayal Saxena, Vijadeo Narayan Sahi, Kamlesh, Ajit Kumar, Dhoomil, Rajkamal Chowdhry, Raghuveer Sahay, and Shrikant Verma
By Chinmayi Tripathi, Mumbai
(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)
Forthcoming American Presidential Election & India-US Relations
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)