From Fire to Light: Rereading the Manusmrti

By Arvind Sharma (Harper Collins, 2024)

Discussants: Prof. Purushottam Agrawal, Former Chairperson, Centre of Indian Languages, JNU; Prof. Bharat Gupt, Vice-Chairman, National School of Drama & Former Professor, Delhi University; Prof. Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion, McGill University & Author of the book

Moderator: Prof. C. Upender Rao, School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

The artist will conduct an upcycling workshop at 12 noon.

The exhibition showcases 30 solar cyanotype prints that explore interior and exterior landscapes, portraits, and abstract compositions. The dreamlike works are created using the historic, non-toxic cyanotype process with subjects spanning from gardens and rituals in India to baroque cloisters in Portugal. The images evoke themes of memory, connection, and history.

Artworks by Nova Bronstein Kak, a mixed media artist based in the New York area. Her alternative photography work uses gesture, light and exposure to shift perception.

Preview on 22nd August 2025 at 18:30 hrs

The exhibition will be on display till 29 August from 11:00 to 19:00 hrs

Artist Phaneendranath Chaturvedi in conversation with eminent art critic and curator Uma Nair

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)

# MOG!

(120 minutes; 2023, Konkani with English subtitles)

Director: Jojo D'Souza

NRI chef Lionel (Bharath) returns to Goa to sell his estranged father’s café. A fiery misunderstanding leads him to Celina (Nakshatra Medhekar), a bubbly baker’s daughter. As their love story unfolds, a long-buried secret from Celina’s father threatens to unravel everything. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Goa, MOG! is a stirring tale of love, silence, and redemption.

(Collaboration: Goenkarancho Ekvot)

Mogacho Korar

(120 minutes, 2025, Konkani with English Subtitles)

Director: Silverio Cardoza

Mogacho Korar" is a Konkani phrase that translates to "Love's Promise" or "Pact of Love". It's also, the title of a Konkani film directed by Victor, which explores family relationships, particularly between a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, and emphasizes the importance of building harmonious relationships and staying united. The film aims to convey the message that love and unity is essential for a happy family life, especially in challenging times.

(Collaboration: Goenkarancho Ekvot)

A festival of feature and documentary films organised in collaboration with Goenkarancho Ekvot

Inauguration

Followed by Film Screening

Pedru Poder

(115 minutes,2020, Konkani with English Subtitles)

Director: Jojo D'Souza

A light-hearted yet realistic romantic comedy that delves into the life of Pedru, a traditional Goan baker (Poder) who aspires to break free from his humble origins and achieve wealth. He forms a bond with Daisy, a wealthy girl who cherishes simplicity. However, Daisy is also promised to her childhood friend, the affluent model Donald. The narrative explores themes of ambition, love, friendship, trust, honesty, and deception, culminating in a story that is both entertaining and morally enriching

The talk will be about the role of foreign architects, largely British, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in India. The late nineteenth century was marked by the stabilization of British presence in the sub-continent and a further spread of influence of a Western way of life and thinking in certain sections of Indian society. This is amply reflected in the architecture of that period.

Speaker: Rajesh Luthra is an architect and urban designer, Principal at Development Consortium, and Visiting Professor at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. He is also a published writer and consultant to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

Moderator: Dr. Punita G. Singh, acoustician, musicologist, linguist, editor and educator based in Delhi. She has taught at Washington University in the US, McGill University, Canada and is currently, Visiting Faculty at Ashoka University, Sonipat

Manipuri Recital

By Shrobana Mitra Das from Kolkata, disciple of Guru Priti Patel

At 19:00

Kuchipudi Recital

By Washim Raja from Delhi, disciple of Guru Vanashree Rao

Bharatanatyam Recital

By Sujatha Ramanathan from Mumbai, disciple of Padmashri Guru Adayar K Lakshman, Guru Lata Raman and Sujatha Mohan

At 19:00

Kathak Recital

By Shipra Joshi from Delhi, disciple of Guru Prerana Shrimali

Accompanists: Karan Gangani (Padhant), Vijay Parihar (Vocals and harmonium ) Parminder Singh (Tabla) & Fateh Ali Khan (Sitar)

Dalit Journeys for Dignity: Religion, Freedom, and Caste

Edited by Ramnarayan S Rawat; K Satyanarayana ; P Sanal Mohan

(State University of New York Press, 2025)

Discussants:  Prof. Madhulika Sonkar, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; Dr. Harish Wankhede, Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Dr. Charu Gupta, Professor, University of Delhi; Dr. K. Satyanarayana, Professor, English and Foreign Language University, Hyderabad & Editor of the book and Prof. Ramnarayan S Rawat, Associate Professor, University of Delaware, US & Editor of the book

Moderator Dr. Surinder Jodhka, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University