Rediscovering Delhi, Rediscovering the City
Half-day Symposium

Presentations by Dr. Alexander Philips, Assistant Professor of English, Ashoka University; and Shri Sohail Hashmi, oral historian of Delhi, social activist, filmmaker and conservationist; Prof. Swati Pal, Principal, Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi; and Dr. Jitender Gill, Convener, Khoj, former Director JDMC Research Centre

WEBINAR 

Inaugural session of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Centre for Philosophy and Foundations of Science and President of the World Institute for Advanced Study

Conformal Cyclic Cosmology

Lecture by Prof. Roger Penrose, Nobel Laureate (Physics 2020), Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics & Emeritus Fellow at Wadham College, Oxford University

Panelist: Alexia M. Lopez, Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, University of Central Lancashire, UK, discoverer of the Big Ring

Chair: Prof. Ranjit Nair, Director CPFS and President WIAS

Conformal Cyclic Cosmology (CCC), was put forward earlier this century to explain the extraordinary uniformity of the Big Bang, as contrasted with the hugely complicated singularities expected in black holes. According to CCC, the Big Bang is the conformal continuation of the remote expanding future of a previous cosmic aeon. Earlier supportive observations, though confirmed to a high confidence level, are not widely accepted in cosmology. The recent discovery by Alexia Lopez of giants rings of galaxies, can be seen as providing strong support for CCC

(Collaboration: Centre for Philosophy and Foundations of Science)

Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5IR4YzL3RCSVY06J77MFYA

Curator: Rajiv Mehrotra

Nanak Shah Fakir (India)
(146 min; 2015; Hindi/Punjabi with English subtitles)
Director: Sartaj Singh Pannu

With Puneet Sikka, Arif Zakaria, Adil Hussain

A biographical film on the life and teachings of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak Dev.

(Collaboration: Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama)
 

Play: Shunchhe Shey Shongeeter Moto
 

Presented by Rabi Parampara, Kolkata

A gripping account of facets of the unsung heroes of our freedom struggle with narration and songs

(Collaboration: Impresario India)

Two short plays

Sandhikhon
Written by Soumitra Basu
Director: Ayan Banerjee
Presented by Theatrewala, Delhi

Followed by
Uttara
Written by Sisir Kumar Das
Director: Rabishankar Kar
Presented by Prarambh, Delhi

(Collaboration: Impresario India)
 

Recent Archaeological investigations in Tamil Nadu
Illustrated lecture by Dr. K. Rajan, Academic and Research Advisor, Govt. of Tamil Nadu and former Professor, Dept. of History, Pondicherry University

Chair: Dr. B.R. Mani, Director General, National Museum, New Delhi

Recent archaeological investigations carried out in Tamil Nadu provide new insights for understanding various cultural phases and transformations in this region. Excavations conducted at Attirampakkam, Pattaraiperumpudur, Mayiladumparai, Kilnamandi, Porpanaikottai, Keeladi, Korkai, Sivakalai, Adichanallur and many other sites have raised several important historical questions. The AMS dates received for the Iron Age and the Early Historic period at these sites have changed our hitherto held perceptions. The dates demonstrate that the existence of Iron Age in South India was contemporary to the chalcolithic age of North India. Other important discoveries include the early dates for the Brahmi script, the development of technology-driven industries such as gemstone, copper, iron, steel, shell and textile industries, and the emergence of trade and trade routes in resource zones. The lecture will highlight these and other results of recent archaeological explorations and excavations.

(Collaboration: Ashoka University, Sonipat)

Speaker: Shri Mohit Soni, Group CEO, WhiteLint Global Pvt. Ltd

Chair: Prof. Sunita Narang, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi

The talk will focus on the evolving threat landscape, best practices for online safety, emerging technologies in cybersecurity
 

Unseen Paths: Spirituality and Consciousness
 By Romola Butalia (Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House: 2024)

Discussants: Shri Umesh Kabir, spiritual master, educationist, researcher of theology; Shri Himanshu Joshi, classical singer and Member of the Indian Ocean band; Ms Sunita Pant Bansal, mythologist, publisher and author; Prof. Trilochan Shastri, Professor, IIM, Bangalore; and Ms Romola Butalia, spiritual practitioner, teacher and Editor of the book

The Many Routes to Bhav in Thumri                                                                                                                         
An illustrated lecture presented by Vidya Rao

If there is one thing that clearly marks thumri as different from other musical forms, it is its emphasis on bhav, on the creation of the emotional universe(s) of the sung text. What is less clear is how exactly this magical affect is to be created.

This presentation will devote to thumri and dadra in the voices of some singers to understand the many ways that they use sound and silence, voice modulations and rhythmic play to create bhav--the many meanings in what becomes the multiple narratives within a single text.

Vidya Rao is a performer of thumri-dadra and ghazal. For many years the disciple of the legendary singer, the late Vidushi Naina Devi, she continued her study of this form under the late Vidushi Shanti Hiranand and the late Vidushi Girija Devi. In addition to her work as a performer, she has also researched and written extensively on music and the performing arts.

Speakers: Prof. Deepak Pental, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi; Prof. A. K. Gosain, Professor of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; Dr. Asad Rahmani, former Director Bombay Natural History Society; Justice Swatanter Kumar, former chairperson of the National Green Tribunal and former judge of the Supreme Court of India; and Ms Reena Mahajan, founder Studio DiverCity, Paris; architect, urban planner and advocate of sustainable cities

Chair: Suhas Borker, Founder Member, Green Circle of Delhi

The city of Delhi alone continues to contribute more than 70% of the pollutant load (untreated sewage and industrial effluents) in river Yamuna. The Yamuna floodplain ecosystems along its 22-kilometer stretch through Delhi is highly degraded and lost in some stretches. Expanding and upgrading sewage treatment plants (STPs) is essential; stringent measures are required to stop industrial pollutants from entering the river system.  Maintaining minimum river flow is critical as the river's reduced flow during the dry season spirals the concentration of pollutants. The idea of riverfront development which concretizes the floodplains and permits construction at the edge of the main channel has to be avoided at all costs. Maintaining a high level of ecological integrity of the river ecosystem has to be a critical part of the rejuvenation strategy. A concerted action needs to be taken at the national level to save river Yamuna.

NDMC Horticulture Department shall present a sapling to each participant; please bring a cloth/jute carry bag.

(Collaboration: Green Circle of Delhi)