The Socratic Mind and the Civic Task of Philosophy: Gadflies in the Public Space

14 December 2015, 05:30 am
The Socratic Mind and the Civic Task of Philosophy: Gadflies in the Public Space
Programme Type
Talks
Speaker: Dr. Ramin Jahanbegloo Associate Professor Noor-York Chair in Islamic Studies York University Toronto-Canada
 
Chair: Dr. Ashis Nandy
 
The historical figure of Socrates as a philosopher-citizen, who stood at odds with the Athenian polis, represents today a valid and relevant nucleus for the ongoing pursuit of dissentful thinking and philosophical interrogation in our world. In a world where philosophical interrogation has given its place to complacency, conformism, intellectual degradation and erosion of values, Socrates is more relevant than at any other time. The lecture suggests that the radical, disobedient and nonviolent Socrates has been in a historical link and affinity with Socrates as a citizen-philosopher. It remains to explain how these two complementary characteristics were transmitted to and underlined by nonviolent reformers and practitioners such as Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. These thinkers and practitioners of nonviolence laid the foundations for a world where the Socratic philosophy of revolt, against injustice and tyranny, but also in opposition to complacency and conformism, finds its moral and political foundations while remaining an inspiration for the present day gadflies who rightly struggle against the inequalities and injustices and try to break the wall of indifference 
 

FRONTIERS OF HISTORY

12 December 2015, 05:30 am
FRONTIERS OF HISTORY
Programme Type
Talks
 
Nature and Nation: Rethinking the Relationships
 
 
Speaker: Dr. Mahesh Rangarajan, independent researcher and historian and author of the recently published book Nature and Nation, Essays on Environmental History (Permanent Black, 2015)
 
Chair: Prof. Nayanjot Lahiri, Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi
 
 

DELNET Annual Lecture

11 December 2015, 05:30 am
DELNET Annual Lecture
Programme Type
Talks
Functioning in Challenging Times:  Bridging the Expectation-Fulfillment Gap in Library and Information Services
Speaker:  Prof. Subrata Chakraborty,  Former Dean & Director-in-Charge, Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow; Former Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow
 
Chair:  Dr. H. K. Kaul, Director, DELNET
 

Mehfil

11 December 2015, 05:30 am
Mehfil
Programme Type
Cultural
Mehfil with Pandit Kumar Gandharva bani exponent Shri Bhuvanesh Komkali (Khayal)

Shri Bhuvanesh Komkali was born into a rich legacy of music, being the grandson of Pandit Kumar Gandharva and Vidushi Vasundhara Komkali and the son of Pandit Mukul Shivputra. At present, he continues to receive guidance from Pandit Madhup Mudgal and Pandita Kalapini Komkali. Bhuvanesh will pay homage to Pandit Kumar Gandharva by singing ragas and bandishes created by him.
 

GOVERNANCE ISSUES ON AGRICULTURE

11 December 2015, 05:30 am
GOVERNANCE ISSUES ON AGRICULTURE
Programme Type
Discussions
Skill Development in farm and non-farm sector
 
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Rita Sharma, Former Secretary, M/o Rural Development; and Smt. Gayathri B Kalia,
Chief Operation Officer, DU-GKY, Division, Ministry of Rural Development,

Chair:  Shri MC Verma, Former Technical Advisor UNDP and Secretary to Govt. of India
 
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

09 December 2015, 05:30 am
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Programme Type
Discussions
 
Prof. Alok Bhalla, former Professor, Department of English, English and Foreign Language University (EFLU), Hyderabad; Prof. Badri Narayan, Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion (CSDE), School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University; and Dr. Shweta Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences, South Asian University, New Delhi will discuss A Gypsy in the World of Ideas by Rajen Harshe (New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2015)
 
Chair: Prof. Harbans Mukhia, formerly Rector and Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University
 

Gaudiya Nritya: In Search of Knowledge – Harmony & Peace

09 December 2015, 05:30 am
Gaudiya Nritya: In Search of Knowledge – Harmony & Peace
Programme Type
Cultural
Choreographic compositions on – Saraswati  Vandana: Worshipping Goddess of Knowledge
Dasavatar of Kavi Jaydeva: Interpretation of ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, from many other incarnations of Vishnu in  12th century following  the evolution of mankind
Buddha Charit by A?vagho?a: A journey for knowledge and Peace 
 
Dancers: Soumya Bhowmick; Ganesh Das; Sunistha Mandal; Ranjima Chatterjee; Paromita Banerjee; and Mahua Mukherjee
 
Concept & Dance Direction: Prof. Mahua Mukherjee
Presented by: Gaudiya Nritya Bharati, Kolkata
 

A Sanskrit Dictionary of Law and Statecraft

07 December 2015, 05:30 am
A Sanskrit Dictionary of Law and Statecraft
Programme Type
Discussions
A Discussion on the book edited by Patrick Olivelle
 
Chief Guest: Shri Fali Nariman
 
Speakers: Prof Kumkum Roy, Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Dr Heeraman Tiwari, Assistant Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University; and Dr Ashutosh Dayal Mathur, Head, Department of Sanskrit, St. Stephen's College
 
This Dictionary contains technical terms used in Sanskrit texts of ancient and medieval India dealing with law and statecraft within Dharmasastra and Arthasastra. It is the first dictionary of its kind, and the editors hope that it will spur further research into Dharmasastra, one of the most significant areas of ancient Indian cultural expressions
 

Sakura (75 min)

05 December 2015, 05:30 am
Sakura (75 min)
Programme Type
Cultural
A multimedia stage performance dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Presented by Keiin Yoshimura (dance), So Sugiura (shamisen); Jun Kurumisawa (multimedia visual artist)