India Inked: Elections in the World’s Largest Democracy
By Poonam Agarwal (Bloomsbury India: 2025)

Discussants: Shri Ashok Lavasa, former Election Commissioner of India; Prof. Jagdeep Chhokar, Founder-Member, Association of Democratic Reforms and former Professor, Dean and Director-in-Charge, IIM, Ahmedabad; Shri Pawan Khera, political analyst; Ms Anjali Bhardwaj, activist; and Ms Poonam Agarwal, an award winning journalist who has been covering Indian society and politics for two decades; and author of the book

Moderator: Shri Chirag Thakkar, Associate Publisher

Kathak Recital
By Niharika Kushwah from Delhi, disciple of Guru Prerana Shrimali  

At 19:00 
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Shruthipriya Vignesh, from Chennai, disciple of Smt Nithyakalyani Vaidyanathan and Smt Bragha Bessell 
 

A bit of joy and pleasure: Songs – Classical and Broadway
Presented by R. Excelicia Cunville (soprano- alto)

Accompanied by Varun Kumar on the piano

The artist will present a concert of works by Handel, Mozart, Saint-Saëns and others
 

In Her Footsteps: Women who made India
By Mandira Ghosh (Parchment Publications: 2025)

Discussants: Dr. Rita Malhotra , mathematician, essayist, poet and translator; Dr. Amarendra Khatua, former Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs , Govt. of India; Amb. Reena Pandey, former Ambassador to Armenia and Georgia; Shri Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee, Editorial Director, Niyogi Books; and Smt Mandira Ghosh, poet and author of the book

Chair: Shri B.P. Singh, eminent author and former Governor of Sikkim

The Indian Way: Constructing norms in Indo-Pacific
 

Speakers: Dr. Rahul Mishra, Associate Professor, Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; and Dr. Pooja Bhatt, Associate Professor, Jindal School of International Affairs, Jindal Global University and South Asia Visiting Fellow 2025, Stimson Centre, Washington DC

Moderator: Prof. Rajiv Ranjan, Associate Professor, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi

Chair: Prof. Harsh Pant, Vice President, Observer Research Foundation, Delhi
 

Speaking Stones: The Rock Art of Ladakh
By Ahtushi Deshpande (Ahtushi Deshpande: 2024)

Discussants: Dr. Alka Pande, art historian; and Ahtushi Deshpande, photographer, writer, curator and independent researcher and author of the book

Chair: Shri K. N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC 

Baul Music
By Lakshman Das Baul, well-known Baul singer from Birbhum, West Bengal

Accompanied by Sandip Das on tabla; Radha Shyam Lohar on flute; and Dipankar Bose on kartal and ghungroo

The Bauls are mystic minstrels living in rural Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. Their music and way of life have influenced a large segment of Bengali culture, and particularly the compositions of Nobel Prize laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Baul Sangeet is essentially an oral tradition which represents a long heritage of preaching mysticism through songs in Bengal. The lyrics intertwine a deep sense of mysticism, and a longing for oneness with the divine.

(Collaboration: NCZCC, Ministry of Culture, Government of India)

Welcome Address & Introductory Remarks: Shri Prabhat Kumar, President, IC Centre for Governance

Keynote Address: Dr. Rajat M. Nag, Distinguished Fellow and Member of the Board, Advanced Study Institute of Asia, New Delhi; Distinguished Professor, Beijing Normal University, Beijing; and Distinguished Fellow, Emerging Markets Forum, Washington DC

(Collaboration: IC Centre for Governance)
 

THURSDAY 15

FILM ■ C.D. DESHMUKH AUDITORIUM AT 18:30
Churning the Earth
(43 min; 2024; English)
Produced by Srishti Films and Kalpavriksh, for Vikalp Sangam

Screening will be followed by a discussion with Ashish Kothari, Founder of Kalpavriksh and member of Vikalp Sangam

Film on the powerful stories of ‘Alternative countercurrents’ constructed by ordinary people from different parts of the country in the face of widespread ecological destruction, social injustice and economic deprivation. Several initiatives on sustainable farming, community-led ecotourism and conservation, revival of crafts, activity-based learning, decentralised water harvesting, local governance and direct democracy from various states are depicted and laced together in a narrative of transformation.

(Collaboration: Kalpavriksh)
 

An exhibition of photographs based on the critically acclaimed book by photographer and writer, Ahtushi Deshpande
The exhibition presents photographs from the author’s decade long documentation exploring the lesser-known rock art galleries of Ladakh. It showcases a museum-grade curated collection of ancient art, offering a unique insight into the region’s hidden heritage.

Inauguration by Shri Raghu Rai, well-known photographer on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 at 18:30

Other programmes include:
On Friday, 16 May at 18:30 in Seminar Rooms I to III, Kamaladevi Complex
A discussion on the book ‘Speaking Stones: Rock Art of Ladakh
 

A discussion with Dr. Alka Pande, art historian and Ahtushi Deshpande, author of the book

Chair: Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC

On 18 and 24 May 2025 at 12 noon and 17:00
Curated Walkthrough of the exhibition
With Ahtushi Deshpande