Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life | Click here to watch
(59 min; 2009; English)
Hosted by David Attenborough

David Attenborough asks three key questions: how and why did Darwin come up with his theory of evolution? Why do we think he was right? And why is it more important now than ever before? David starts his journey in Darwin's home at Down House in Kent, where Darwin worried and puzzled over the origins of life. David goes back to his roots in Leicestershire, where he hunted for fossils as a child, and where another schoolboy unearthed a significant find in the 1950s. And he revisits Cambridge University, where both he and Darwin studied, and where many years later the DNA double helix was discovered, providing the foundations for genetics. At the end of his journey in the Natural History Museum in London, David concludes that Darwin's great insight revolutionised the way in which we see the world. We now understand why there are so many different species, and why they are distributed in the way they are. But above all, Darwin has shown us that we are not set apart from the natural world, and do not have dominion over it. We are subject to its laws and processes, as are all other animals on earth to which, indeed, we are related. 
 

A series of documentaries presented by the historian Bettany Hughes. Travelling across present locations, Bettany explores the cultural and political pasts of ancient peoples, including the Greeks, Minoans and Egyptian.

The Ancient Worlds: Alexandria, the Greatest City |  Click here to watch
(50 min; English)

Bettany goes in search of this lost civilisation, revealing the story of a city founded out of the desert by Alexander the Great in 331 BC to become the world's first global centre of culture, into which wealth and knowledge poured from across the world. 

Three cities dominated the ancient world: Athens, Rome and a third, now almost forgotten. It lies hidden beneath the waters of the Mediterranean and a sprawling modern metropolis. Alexandria was a city built on a dream; a place with a very modern mind set, where - as with the worldwide web - one man had a vision that all knowledge on earth could be stored in one place.  

Until its decline in the fourth and fifth Centuries AD, Alexandria became a crucible of learning; Hughes uncovers the incredible discoveries and the technical achievements of this culture.

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

At 18:00
Saptguitar Recital
By Satish Sharma from Gurugram
Accompanied by Athar Hussain Khan on the tabla

At 19:00
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Lakshmi Parthasarathy Athreya from Chennai, disciple of Guru Chitra Visweswaram

 Kindly please make a note
-    Physical programmes will be held as per the Covid -19 guidelines with 50% seating capacity in the C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium for cultural programmes
-    Wearing of face masks is mandatory and will be strictly enforced. Entry will not be permitted to anyone not wearing a mask
-    Audiences are requested to arrive at the venues, at least 30 minutes prior to the programmes in order to facilitate the screening process at the Door
-    There will be separate doors earmarked for Entry and Exit

We request audiences to kindly abide by the above regulations
 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

At 18:00
Sitar Recital 
By Rajeev Janardhan from Delhi, disciple of Pt. Bimalendu Mukherjee and Pt. Arvind Parikh
Accompanied by Harpreet Singh on the tabla

At 19:00
Kuchipudi Recital
By Gururaju from Bangalore, disciple of Guru Vyjayanti Kashi

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Release of the book by Dr. Harsh Gupta followed by a talk

The book will be released by Shri N.N. Vohra, President, IIC

Followed by: 
Illustrated lecture by Dr. Harsh Gupta, Member, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board; President, Geological Society of India; Editor-in-Chief, Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics 

Chair: Shri N.N. Vohra, President, IIC

The 3rd Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica led by Dr. Harsh Gupta succeeded in setting up India’s first wintering station “Dakshin Gangotri” during the Antarctic summer of 1983/84. No other country had set up and populated a permanent base in one Antarctic summer before and this record continues to hold. The mission’s endeavour to construct the base was given a 15% chance of succeeding. But against all odds, the ‘miracle’ of building Dakshin Gangotri was accomplished in record time largely due to the steadfast and dedicated commitment of the team. 
 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

The Great Tragedy of India’s Partition

By S.S. Sharma (Manohar Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi: 2021)

Discussants: Shri K.T.S. Tulsi,  member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India; Shri A.S. Bhasin, writer and historian former Director (Historical Division), Ministry of External Affairs; Prof. Amar Farooqui, Professor of History, University of Delhi; and Shri S.S. Sharma, former Secretary, GoI & Author of the book

Chair: Shri N.N. Vohra, President, IIC

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

The Conservation of Islamic Monuments in Agra

Illustrated lecture by Dr. Vasant Kumar Swarnkar, Superintending Archaeologist, Agra Circle, Archaeological Survey of India

Chair: Shri B.M. Pande
 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Introduction to Bhojpuri and Its Civilisation
Speakers: Shri Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt. of India; Shri Pankaj Tripathi, actor; Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC; and Shri Santosh Mall, Secretary, Tourism. Govt. of Bihar

Moderator: Shri Ganga Kumar

First discussion in a series of bi-monthly discussions on Art, Culture and Literature of Bhojpuri and other local languages such as Bajjika, Magahi, Angika of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Organised in collaboration with Bihar Tourism, Govt. of Bihar and Dhanu Bihar