Panelists: Prof. Achin Vanaik, formerly Professor of International Relations and Global Politics, University of Delhi; Dr. Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu; and Prof. Imankalyan Lahiri, Dept. of International Relations, Jadavpur University

Chair: Amb. K.P. Fabian

With West Asia, a virtual tinderbox, if the powers in the region cannot exercise restraint, there is a definite risk of a war with disastrous consequences, not only for the region, but also for the rest of the world. The discussion will examine what President Joe Biden can do to promote reconciliation between Israel and Iran, and between Iran and Saudi Arabia; and to bring about a cease-fire in Yemen. Will Biden re-enter the Iran nuclear deal as he had promised as a candidate? What are the implications of Benjamin Netanyahu’s exit and the arrival of the new president in Iran?

Kalidasa: Vikramorvashiyam - Quest for Urvashi  
Translated by A.N.D. Haksar (Penguin Classics, New Delhi: 2021)

Discussants: Dr. Sudhamahi Regunathan, former Vice Chancellor, Jain Vishva Bharati University, Ladnun, Rajasthan; Amb. Amarendra Khatua, former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and former Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations; Amb. Bhaswati Mukherjee, former Indian Ambassador to The Netherlands; Amb. A.N.D. Haksar, former diplomat and translator of the book                          

Moderator: Shri Sunit Tandon, Director, India Habitat Centre

(91 min; 1964; French with English subtitles)
Director: Jacques Demy

Recipient of the Palme d’Or, OCIC Award & Technical Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival 1964; Critics Award for Best Film, French Syndicate of Cinema Critics 1965; and Winner of the Prix Louis Delluc Award 1965

The film that helped launch Catherine Deneuve to international stardom, the wonderful The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg has a slender story: a pregnant shopgirl Geneviève (Deneuve) is separated from her mechanic lover Guy (Castelnuovo), when the latter is drafted into military service during the Algerian war. But director Demy conjures up a work of sheer cinematic delight, transforming the dreary port of Cherbourg into a pastel-coloured fairytale world, in which every line of dialogue is sung to Michel Legrand's memorable score.

The magic here lies in the fluid choreography of the actors, in the elegance of Jean Rabier's camerawork and in Bernard Evein's ravishing production design, which combine to invest everyday settings such as an umbrella shop or an Esso garage with romantic yearning. Deneuve is luminously beautiful throughout, looking fabulously chic even in a maternity dress, whilst Demy himself pops up in a cameo asking for directions to the paint shop in a film awash in primary colours.

Divided into three sections - departure, absence, return - The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg deals with so-called 'ordinary' characters, who have experienced the pain of lost love. This includes not just the two leads, but also Geneviève's mother (Vernon) and the diamond dealer Roland (Michel), who appeared in a younger guise in Demy's earlier film Lola. And unlike most Hollywood musicals, there's no conventionally uplifting resolution, more a bitter-sweet acceptance of happiness' transience and fate's unexpected workings.

Director: David Wallace

A four-part BBC series, written and presented by Michael Wood

Michael Wood retraces Alexander the Great’s amazing journey from Greece to India, searching for the truth behind the legend and experiencing the tremendous scale of his achievements.

Using the ancient historians as his guides, Wood follows Alexander’s journey as closely as possible, crossing deserts and rivers, from Turkey to war-torn Afghanistan. As the journey progresses, he recreates the drama of Alexanders epic marches and bloody battles. All along the way he finds proof of the survival of the legends surrounding Alexander, a leader whose life has excited the world’s imagination for the 2,000 years.

Episode II: Lord of Asia (60 min)
Alexander invades Persia – todays Iran. Michael Wood traces his route through the Zagros mountains to Persepolis. He hears from storytellers that this defeat is still remembered today by the Zoroastrian community. The programme ends at the Caspian Sea, the edge of the world for Alexander.

“The Hitch” – Christopher Hitchens | (88 min; 2014; English)

Director: Kristoffer Seland Hellesmark

An independent documentary profiling the controversial author and literary critic Christopher Hitchens. It features a selection of fascinating clips, speeches and thoughts of Hitchens.

Director Kristoffer Seland Hellesmark was one day searching for a documentary on Hitchens but was unable to find one. He subsequently decided to make his own, resulting in an 88-minute film composed of clips from Hitchen’s interviews and talks, serving as a tribute to one of the greatest thinkers - perhaps the most articulate and contrarian intellectual of his generation.

The Indus Valley Civilization: The Masters if the River | (52 min; 2013; English and with subtitles)

This documentary, made by NHK (Japan) and Canadian TV, looks at the early Indus Valley civilisation, focusing on one of the lesser known sites at Dholavira, in what is now Gujarat, in western India. With the help of CGI animation the documentary reconstructs the ruined city and shows how the civilisation was able to grow to a formidable size by its innovative harnessing of a now vanished river system.

Interviewing some of the leading experts on the site, including leading archaeologist, Dr R.S. Bisht, the film pieces together one of the most remarkable stages in human development, when, with the rise of city life, international trade across large areas became feasible.

2021 marks the centenary of the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization. 

Hindustani Vocal Recital (50 min)
By Dr. Asit Roy from Bangladesh, disciple of Sangeetacharya Amiryaranjan Bandyopadhyaya, Pt. Jagdish Prasad, Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar and Smt Kaberi Kar

Accompanied by Alamgir Parvez on pakhawaj

The artist will present two Ragas – Raga Malkosh and Raga Shankara

Video recording of a recital for the IIC online programme activities

Photographs and text by Isaac Tsetan Gergan

The story of the Indus is inspired by the river’s spectacular course in Ladakh as it meanders and flows through some breathtaking landscape. Photographs in this exhibition follow the length and breadth of Ladakh, from Nubra to Zanskar and Leh to Kargil telling the story of the river and of the state

Two Banks Of a River- The Indus In Ladakh ( Click here to watch video )

As part of this exhibition, there will be an online talk on Tuesday, 6th July 2021 at 4 pm

River Dialogues: Two Banks of a River – The Indus in Ladakh
Illustrated lecture by Isaac Tsetan Gergan, artist, photographer and Director, Art for Change Foundation, based in Leh and Delhi

Chair: Kishalay Bhattacharjee

(Collaboration: Living Waters Museum)