Speaker: Prof. Baladas Ghoshal, former Professor of Southeast Asia and South-West Pacific Studies, and Chairman, Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He was ICCR Chair in Indian Studies, Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow 2013; Honorary Distinguished Fellow, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies; and Visiting Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research

Chair: Amb. Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Studies Programme, Gateway House

Over the course of the last year and a half, four national elections were held in countries of Southeast Asia, namely in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and in Indonesia. Each one of them were consequential bringing about regime and policy changes. While the priorities in each of these countries were distinct, the common focus was political stability, economic development in the post Covid-period and foreign policy directed towards preservation of national sovereignty and balancing the major relations that were in turmoil due to the breakdown of understanding between the United States and China. The change in the political developments of these countries will have a major impact not only in the domestic politics of these countries, but also on regional developments as well as their approaches to the United States and China. More importantly, new challenges will emerge in India’s engagement with the region and will require calibrating and fine-tuning of strategies to deal with them.

Plastics & The Sustainability Paradox

Talk by Shri Swapan Ray, Senior Executive Vice President, Reliance Industries Ltd.

Introduction: Dr. Malti Goel, President and CEO, Climate Change Research Institute World Earth Day Science Campaign and Climate Change and Net Zero Lecture Series

Special Remarks: Dr. S. Nand, Chairman, Indian Institution of Chemical Engineers, Northern Regional Centre

(Collaboration: Climate Change Research Institute; and Indian Institution of Chemical Engineers, NRC)

Dust-Decked Rainbow Quilts

By Laksmisree Banerjee (Penprints;2023)

Discussants: Prof. Swati Pal, Principal, JDMC; Ms. Deepa Agarwal, author and poet; Ms. Satbir Chadha, author; Prof. (Dr.) Laksmisree Banerjee, poet, editor, critic and author of the Book

Chair: Shri Amarendra Khatua, Former Secretary, MEA and DG, ICCR, and poet

The Future of Palestine

Welcome: Prof. Nitya Nanda, Director, Council for Social Development (CSD)

Introduction: Dr. Rityusha Mani Tiwary, Convener, Bandung Network India

Speakers: Prof. Muchkund Dubey, President, CSD and former Foreign Secretary; Prof. Achin Vinaik, former Professor, University of Delhi; and Prof. Anuradha Chenoy, former Dean, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Chair: Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, former Professor, University of Delhi

Opening Theme songs presented by Pratidhwani led by Prof. Subhendu Ghosh

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference in 2025 on the theme Building the World Anew

(Collaboration: Council for Social Development)

Speaker: Dr. Kishore Singh, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education. He has collaborated with the intellectual community and professional bodies for raising public debate on issues of critical importance for the realisation of the right to education. He remains engaged in fostering the cause of education, giving lectures at Universities and interacting with public institutions

Discussants: Shri J.S. Rajput, former Member of UNESCO Executive Board; and Dr. I.V. Subba Rao, former Secretary to the Vice President of India and former Chief of Literacy & Non-Formal Education, UNESCO, Paris

Chair: Prof. N.V. Varghese, former Vice-Chancellor, National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA)