Are They Better Off (60 min; 2015; dvd; English & with subtitles)
Director: Aditya Seth who will introduce the film
Screening will be followed by a discussion
The film explores the matrilineal society of Meghalaya, its socio-political complexities and contextualizes it with the status of women nationally. In a place where the birth of a daughter is welcomed and lineage is traced from the mother’s clan or kur, with changing times, the importance of women is diminishing. Through the stories of three Khasi women, the film reveals their customs and traditions
Monsoon Festival of Hindustani Music
6:00 pm
Hindustani Vocal Recital
By Lalita Sharma from Chennai, disciple of Prof V.R. Krishnan and Pt. Jasraj
At 7:00 pm
Hindustani Vocal & Sitar Duet
By Supriyo Dutta from Kolkata, disciple of Late Pt. Ramkrishna Basu and Vidushi Subhra Guha and Smarajit Sen from Delhi, disciple of Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta
Monsoon Festival of Hindustani Music
6:00 pm
Hindustani Vocal Recital
By Saniya Kulkarni Patankar from Pune disciple of Vidushi Dr. Ashwini Bhide
At 7:00 pm
Hindustani Vocal Recital
By Samir Sathe from Delhi, son and disciple of Pt. Sharad Sathe
CELEBRATING LEGENDARY POETS
Bharathidasan
In Celebration of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Bharathidasan
Speakers: Dr. Govindasamy Rajagopal, Associate Professor of Tamil, Delhi University ; and Dr. N. Chandra Segaran, Assistant, Professor, Centre of Indian Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Chair: Shri Vijay Raja Mohan
Kanakasabai Subburathinam (1891 – 1964), popularly called Bharathidasan was a 20th-century Tamil poet and rationalist whose literary works handled mostly socio-political issues. His writings served as a catalyst for the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu. In addition to poetry, his views found expression in other forms such as plays, film scripts, short stories and essays. He was mentored by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar (after whom he called himself "Bharathidasan"). The Government of Puducherry union territory has adopted the song of invocation to Goddess Tamil written by Bharathidasan as the state song of Puducherry
(Collaboration: The Poetry Society, India)
Masks of Mexico
An exhibition of masks from the different regions and communities of Mexico. The masks on display are mostly made of wood, clay, stone and papier mache and made in places where there is an indigenous population, especially in the south of Mexico. The masks are used in communal ceremonial dances, particularly for the celebration of patron saint day, Carnival and Christmas. These traditional masks are usually made by a mask maker and rarely by the dancers
Inauguration by H.E. Mrs. Melba Pria, Ambassador of Mexico on Tuesday, 19th July 2016 at 18:30
(Collaboration: Embassy of Mexico)
ART MATTERS
A conversation with Amitava Das by Jogen Chaudhury and Roobina Karode
Moderator: Shri Ashok Vajpeyi
(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)
Glimpses of China: Urumqi, Turpan and Dunhuang
Speakers: Prof Anita Sharma, Dept of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi and Dr. Anu Jindal, Artist-Art Historian
The speakers will cover social & demographic aspects as well as the art & culture of the region
Cilappadikaram: The Anklet as the Hero/Villain in an unusual epic-play in Tamil
Speaker: Professor Indira Parthasarathy, noted Tamil writer and playwright. He is best known for his plays, "Aurangzeb", "Nandan Kathai" and "Ramanujar". Awarded the Saraswati Samman (1999), Sahitya Akademi Award (1999) and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2004) and Padma Shri (2010)
Chair: Shri P.A. Krishnan, retired Government office and an eminent writer and columnist
‘Cilappadikaram' (5th century ACE) is an unusual work in the sense it is an epic, play and a cultural document. The title of the play (' The anklet story') is not named after the protagonist of the story but after her anklet. It proves to be the agent of destiny for the protagonist, her husband, the Pandya king of Madurai and also for all the North Indian kings, who had earlier insulted the three Tamil kings of Chera, Chola and Pandya kingdoms. Perhaps, it is one of the earliest political epic-play in the Indian literary history
To Mark Mandela International Day 2016
Commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s 98th Birthday
Gandhi-King Memorial Plaza
Commemoration Service 10.30 am – 11.00 am
Songs by Choirs of Schools from Delhi NCR
Procession from Gandhi-King Memorial Plaza to C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium
C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium
Mandela Katha Mala 11.15 am – 12.30 pm
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela, on freedom, from his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, published 1994
Message from the UN Secretary General to be read by Shri Rajiv Chandran, National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan
Speakers: H.E. Mr. France Morule, High Commissioner of South Africa; and Shri Suhas Borker, Convener, Working Group on Alternative Strategies
Followed by a Quiz programme on Nelson Mandela for school teams from Delhi NCR
Foyer outside C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium: Madiba and His Struggle: An exhibition of paintings by children of Bluebells School International
Organised as part of Taking Children to Gandhi series that brings children closer to the enduring legacy of Gandhi’s non-violent struggle for equity, justice, pluralism and sustainable development
(Collaboration: Gandhi Peace Foundation, United Nations Information Centre & Working Group on Alternative Strategies)
A Musical Homage to the late Smt D.K. Pattammal
A Musical Homage to the late Smt D.K. Pattammal
Carnatic Vocal Recital
By Bhanumathy Vishwanath from Delhi, disciple of the late Smt D.K. Pattammal
Accompanists: Delhi R. Shridhar (violin); Kumbakonam N. Padmanabhan (mridangam); N. Harinaraynan (ghatam); P. Adityanaraynan (kanjira); Amrutaa Vibho (konnakol); and Akhshayaa Vibho (tambura)
(Collaboration: Gayathri Fine Arts)