Emerging from the Partition: Afterlives of Popular Sufi Shrines in Punjab

Illustrated lecture by Dr. Yogesh Snehi, Assistant Professor, School of Liberal Studies, Ambedkar University, Delhi and author of Spatializing Popular Sufi Shrines in Punjab: Dreams, Memories, Territoriality (co-published by Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla and Routledge, Delhi 2019)

Chair: Prof. Partho Datta, Professor, School of Arts & Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University

A large plethora of sacred spaces associated with Muslim piety or popular veneration in (Indian) Punjab were abandoned during Partition. These sacred spaces consisted of mosques, dargahs, khanqahs, takiyas or pirkhanas. One of the immediate repercussions of this tragedy was a break in ritual practice. While spaces like mosques came to disuse, the same wasn’t true for Sufi saint shrines. This lecture aims to evolve a discussion on complex ways in which Sufi saint shrines emerged from Partition. This presentation will share some narratives of the afterlives of Sufi saint shrines in Punjab.

AI, Society and Governance

Speaker: Prof. Arogyaswami J. Paulraj, Professor Emeritus, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, USA

Welcome: Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC
Chair:           Shri N. N. Vohra, President, IIC

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is beginning to reshape our marketplace, governance, national security, and the broader society. The technology breakthroughs from algorithms, computational power, and the massive availability of data, have enabled powerful AI applications with significant benefits, but also potential costs and risks. This has, in turn, raised the need for a wider public understanding of this emerging technology and for crafting public policies that protect fundamental societal interests.

This talk will outline the nature of AI technology, some of its many applications, its potential risks and the need for an informed public policy.

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Panelists: Dr. T.V. Paul, James McGill Professor of International Relations, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Mrs. Anita Khaldy-Kehmeier, President, International Trading Post, Denver, Colorado, USA; and Dr. Anuradha Chenoy, formerly Professor and Dean, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Chair: Amb. K.P. Fabian, Professor, Symbiosis University

The president of U.S.A. has enormous power and that power, ideally, should be used with utmost responsibility and wisdom. President Biden has just completed one year in office. He had promised, as candidate, to correct the foreign policy errors of his predecessor and to restore America's leadership role. 

Our distinguished panel will examine to what extent Biden has delivered and how he is addressing the crisis over Ukraine, the nuclear deal with Iran from which Trump walked out, and other international issues.

Welcome Remarks: Mr. Peter Rimmele, Resident Representative, India, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung ; Shri Jayadeva Ranade, President, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy and former Member, National Security Advisory Board

Panelists: Mr. Eric B. Brown, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Washington DC ; Dr. Gudrun Wacker, Senior Fellow, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Berlin ; Dr. Ting Hui Lin, Deputy Secretary-General, Taiwan Society of International Law ; Rear Admiral Sudarshan Shrikhande, former Head of Naval Intelligence; and Ms Namrata Hasija, Research Fellow, Centre for China Analysis and Strategy


China’s aggressive militarization of the South China Sea including by extending some islets, constructing airstrips and emplacing missiles along with the increasing threats to Taiwan have alarmed the US and other regional powers. The discussion will seek to ascertain how China’s growing naval strength and aggression are viewed by the different players and also provide a perspective as to the future contours of the region. The rising tension between China and Taiwan, the US and China and US efforts to build support for its Indo-Pacific strategy among the European countries will provide the backdrop

(Collaboration: Centre for China Analysis and Strategy; and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung)
 

Gulammohammed Sheikh, artist, teacher, art historian and curator in conversation with artist Vadudevan Akkitham on Among Several Cultures and Times

Gulammohammed Sheikh has played a major role in the development of contemporary art in India since the early 1960s. His work has spanned painting, printmaking, digital media, sculpture and ceramics, and has been featured in major exhibitions in India and around the world. Sheikh taught art history and painting for over three decades at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Baroda, and has acted as curator for significant exhibitions in India as well as in UK and Australia. His work is held in public museums and private collections in many parts of the world. Sheikh lives and works in Baroda.

Vasudevan Akkitham did his Diploma and Post Diploma at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda, where he studied under Gulammohammed Sheikh. He spent two decades teaching at his alma mater and retired as the Head of the Dept. of Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU, Baroda. He has had many exhibitions including one-man shows across the country and his works are in private and public collections across the country and the world, including NGMA, Kiran Nadar Museum, Uttarayan.

(Collaboration: J.D. Centre of Art)

Registration link: https://zoom.us/j/99847099585
Meeting ID: 998 470 99585

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

LOLA (Germany) 
(115 min; 1981; b/w; German with English subtitles) 
Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Recipient of the Film Award in Gold for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role & Film Award in Silver, German Film Awards 1982; and Chaplin Shoe for Best Actress, Munich Film Festival 1981.

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Physical programmes will be held as per the Covid -19 guidelines with 50% seating capacity in the C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium.

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 venue, 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