Book Discussion Group
The Baghdadi Jews in India: Maintaining Communities, Negotiating Identities and Creating Super-Diversity
Edited by Shalva Weil (New Delhi: Routledge Taylor & Francis, 2020)
Discussants: Dr. Jael Silliman, Curator of Jewish Calcutta, author and artist; Dr. Sara Manasseh, ethnomusicologist and Founding Director, Rivers of Babylon musical ensemble; and Dr. Shalva Weil, Senior Researcher, Seymour Fox School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and editor of the book
Moderator: Ms Rony Yedidia Clein, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel
(Collaboration: Embassy of Israel)
FILM
Great Expectations | (UK)18 min; 1946; b/w; English)
Director: David Lean
With John Mills, Valerie Hobson, Tony Wager
Recipient of the Oscar Awards for Best Cinematography, Black-and-white; & Best Art Direction – Set Decoration, Black-and-white, Academy Awards, USA 1948; and NBR Award, Top Ten Films, National Board of Review, USA 1947David Lean’s adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations is one of the best literary adaptations ever made. Edged with humour and a surprising dollop of horror, his story of Pip, a blacksmith's apprentice who comes into a mysterious inheritance, works beautifully even after all these years. As he would do with Oliver Twist two years later, Lean judiciously uses the bits of the book that he liked and ditches the rest. The result is Dickens' tome, condensed into cinematic moments that deserve their place in movie history.
IIC Diary (November-December 2013)
IIC Diary (July-August 2013)
IIC Diary (November-December 2012)
IIC Diary (September-October 2009)
Discussion on State of the Indian Economy
Panelists: Prof. Partha Sen, former Director, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi; Prof. Surajit Mazumdar, Professor, Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, JNU; Prof. Vikas Rawal, Professor, Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, JNU; Prof. R. Kavita Rao, Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy; and Prof. Amit Bhaduri, former Emeritus Professor of Economics, JNU
Moderator: Shri Suhas Borker, Convener, Working Group on Alternative Strategies and Editor, Citizens First TV (CFTV)
What are the prospects of Indian manufacturing and rural economy with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic shock? How will Aatma Nirbhar Bharat take care of aggregate demand and growth? What is the role of fiscal policy in the Covid-19 scenario especially in the context of migrant labour? Why are the farmers protesting? Will the new farm laws transform Indian agriculture and benefit farmers? What is the status of central government finances and its implication for economic recovery? Why does the stock market rise while the real economy is in decline? What strategies should be adopted to counter the fallout of the economic downturn?
(Collaboration: Working Group on Alternative Strategies)
FILM
Van Gogh: Painted with Words (UK) | (80 min; 2010; English)
Director: Andrew Hutton
Produced by BBC Scotland
Recipient of the Rockie for Best Arts Documentary, Banff World Media Festival 2011
Drama-documentary presented by Alan Yentob, with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role as Vincent van Gogh. Based on the letters that Van Gogh sent to his younger brother Theo, and of those around him, what emerges is a complex portrait of a sophisticated, civilized and yet tormented man. The film has been critically acclaimed for its fascinating insights into the life of the artist and its unique approach to storytelling
‘In the Forest of My Soul’ – Beethoven and his Art
Concerts, films and talks to mark the 250th birth anniversary of the renowned composer, Ludwig van Beethoven
Conceptualised by Justin McCarthy, well known dancer, choreographer, Guru and concert pianist
Beethoven @250 – Concert IV
Piano recital by Justin McCarthy
Justin presents Beethoven’s Bagatelle in A major, opus 119, no.4; Rondo in G major, opus 51, no.2; Beethoven: 9 variations in C minor on a March by Dressler; and Sonata in E-flat major, opus 81a
PLAY
Dramatic reading of the play by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal
‘Delhi Bengali’, Oroon Das and Canada-based ‘Bangladeshi Bengali’, Inji Zayba Zaheer explore the early origins of modern Bengali identity through the life of poet extraordinaire, Michael Madhusudan Dutt and his journey from alienation to a return to selfhood
Video recording of a performance for IIC online programmes
