PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

The Soil’s Health is Our Heath: Why Organic Farming is Vital for the Health of the Planet and People

An illustrated talk by Dr. Vandana Shiva, Founder, Navdanya

Moderator: Dr. Anu Jindal

Our health and the health of the planet is one health. It is connected to the health of the soil, seeds and plants we grow, the food we eat, the insects and microbes on which we depend, the water and the climate which sustain life. Doctors are increasingly finding that the roots of multiple chronic diseases lie in the health of the gut microbiome, which is connected to the health of soil biodiversity. The soil, the gut and our brain are one interconnected biome - violence to one part triggers violence in the entire interrelated system. Chemically produced food has far less nutritional content, however regenerative organic agriculture increases nutritional content of food. 

The series of talks “Fitness Forever” focuses on making good health and building a strong immunity to be disease free, an integral part of our lifestyle.

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Hindustani Music – Hawaiian Guitar Recital
By Neel Ranjan Mukherjee from Delhi, disciple of  Gurus late Pt. Debu Chaudhuri and Shri Anup Jalota
Accompanists: Pt. Pradip Kumar Sarkar (tabla); and Amiya Haldar (tanpura)

At 19:00
Hindustani Vocal Recital
By Lalit Deshpande from Pune, disciple of Pt. Anand Bhate
Accompanists: Lalit Sisodiya (harmonium); and Ujith Uday Kumar (tabla)
 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

The Muslim Vanishes
A play by Saeed Naqvi (New Delhi, Vintage Books: 2022)

Discussants: Sir William Mark Tully KBE,  journalist and author; Shri Aakar Patel, journalist and columnist; and Shri Saeed Naqvi, journalist and author of the book

Chair: Shri Arun Shourie
 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

An exhibition of paintings in oil 
By Jyoti Nagpal from Delhi

The exhibition will be inaugurated by Dr. Karan Singh on Tuesday, 29 March 2022 at 18:30

Artist Bio

Film on the exhibition  | Click here to watch

The Good Earth
Artist’s Perspective

I have a deep fascination for dense foliage and its changing colours in different seasons, which, to me are symbolic of the eternal cycle of life. I have watched the joyous tenderness of new life in spring turning into strong and lush fullness of summer, uncaring and abundant in its glory, its gradual maturing into the rich colours of autumn. And its graceful softening into the greyness of winter, having lived life to the full, ultimately making way for the new. In so doing, Nature seems to celebrate life in the simple acceptance of the discipline of existence.
Nature represents for me movement, mellowness, warmth, harmony, fulfilment, exuberance, and a celebration of life, indeed the very joie de vivre.
The recent pandemic made everyone painfully aware of the fragile nature of our ecosystem. It reminded us that Mother Nature has a lot of patience. She sends repeated warnings to humankind against misuse, abuse, and overuse of her resources before finally unleashing its fury. The pandemic was a rude realization of how helpless we are against the power of Nature. At the same time, Nature is benevolent and forgiving. She responds instantly to positive efforts of humanity to rectify mistakes.
This collection of paintings is an attempt to portray the beauty of Nature as I observe and perceive it. The lockdown period opened quite another aspect of Nature to me. It was a time for introspection while being cooped up inside homes, a time when one could hear the silence outside, when the skies became blue again instead of polluted grey, when mountain ranges became visible on the horizon, when deer and peacocks ventured out to reclaim their space, when new varieties of birds arrived in flocks, when colourful butterflies reappeared, when squirrels scampered up to you to pick food from your palm. It was a time for resurgence and renewal for Nature. The lockdown was simultaneously a tragedy and an awakening which I have tried to portray in my own way in many paintings of this series.

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Chinese Porcelain in India

Illustrated lecture by Dr. Aparajita Sharma, Assistant Archeologist, Archaeological Survey of India

Chair: Dr. Alok Tripathi, Additional Director General, Archaeological Survey of India

Chinese porcelain, a refined and hard ceramic was one of the significant items of import from China. This high-fired white ceramic, known as t’zǔ in Chinese, was famous for its transparent glossy shine like a cowrie shell. The belief that porcelain can detect poison in the food made it a must-have item in the royal kitchens. The import of porcelain in India from China commenced in around 10th century CE. During the 11th-12th century CE, trade of porcelain expanded as it became popular among royals and rich merchants of India. 

The talk will focus on the varieties of porcelain discovered at different archaeological sites in India. It will highlight the expansion of porcelain trade in India during different periods. 

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

FILMS ON ARTISTS

S.H. Raza, The Very Essence (51 min)

Director: Laurent Bregeat
Produced by Lalit Kala Akademi

The film will be introduced by Shri Ashok Vajpeyi

The film is a window to Raza’s life in France, and how he kept the Indian element in his works alive. It is made up of a series of conversations with the artist bringing out his ideology, the meaning of his art and how he faced criticism, especially for the repetitive use of the bindu.

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Classical Music: A Divine Power of Yoga

By Kumud Diwan (New Delhi, Om Publications: 2021)

Discussants: Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Member of Parliament and well-known artist; Smt Bijoylaxmi Hota, Yoga expert and author of Yoga for Busy People; Dr. Subhadra Desai, senior Hindustani vocalist and author; and Dr. Kumud Diwan, Hindustani vocalist and author of the book

Chair: Dr. Karan Singh

PHYSICAL PROGRAMME

Panel discussion: Air Pollution: Its Impacts and Mitigation

Lead speaker: Prof. Gufran Beig, Ashutosh Mukherjee Chair Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru 

Discussants: Prof. Sachchida  Nand Tripathi, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur; Dr. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi; Dr. Shinjini Bhatnagar, Paediatrician & Professor of Eminence, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute

Moderator: Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Life Trustee, IIC