Dhrupad Vocal Recital
by Pelva Naik

Dhrupad, the oldest Indian Classical Music genre, was a preserve of male musicians, until Asghari Bai stormed the bastion. Pelva Naik gave a brilliant performance at the prestigious Darbar festival in London.  She has been privileged to learn Dagarvani from Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar at his Gurukul in Bombay, in the traditional guru shishya parampara. Pelva has performed at major festivals in India and in France, Italy, Spain.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 
Beyond the Ballot - Paradoxes of Democracy
By T. S. Krishna Murthy (White Falcon Publishing, 2025)

Discussants: Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah, former Chief Justice of India; Prabhat Kumar, former Cabinet Secretary and Governor of Jharkhand; Prof Asha Sarangi, Professor, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Justice Madan Lokur, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India; T. S. Krishna Murthy, former Chief Election Commissioner of India & Author of the book

Moderator: Suhas Borker, Editor Citizens First TV (CFTV)
 

Kamaladevi Puruskar 2025
Presentation of Awards to young crafts persons

Chief Guest: Ms. Meenakshi Gopinath, Educationist, Political Scientist and Life Trustee, IIC

Awards will be presented to Amit Kumbhakar from West Bengal practising the craft of Terracotta, Padma Sisa from Odisha for Weaving of Kisalo Adivasi Cloth, Bhavya Soni from Rajasthan practising the craft of Meenakari, Soumya Ranjan Bariki from Odisha practising the craft of Pattachitra Painting, Rajni Kaur from Punjab for Weaving of Desi Cotton, Dildar Qureshi from Rajasthan practising the craft of Miniature Painting

(Collaboration: Delhi Crafts Council)
 

IIC/MEDIA DIALOGUES
From Kingmaker to Bystander: Is the Media Still a Force in Indian Elections?

Panellists: Rajdeep Sardesai, Television Anchor; Pawan Khera, Congress Leader; Poornima Joshi, Resident Editor, Hindu Business Line, Delhi; Satish K Jha, Professor of Political Science, Delhi University; Jitendra Kumar. Independent Journalist

Moderator: Bharat Bhushan, Journalist and Editor
(Collaboration: The Media Foundation)
 

Heads and Tails
New Watercolours and Drawings
By Golak Khandual
This exhibition brings together intimate portraits of real and imagined people—friends, family, workers, and characters shaped by the artist’s encounters. Drawing from life and memory, the works explore shifting identities and the masks we wear, revealing how reality and imagination continually blur.

Golak Khandual is an architect and artist whose three-decade practice blends drawing, ecology, and community-focused architecture. His work includes landmark projects like Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park and Kishanbagh Sand Dunes.

Inauguration of the exhibition on 4 December at 18:30  

Kirtaniye – The Invisible Divine 
A Festival of Women's Voices in Gurbani Sangeet 

“Kudrat de Sab Bande”
The fifth edition of Kirtaniye celebrates the oneness of all creation as envisioned by Guru Nanak Dev Ji- a reflection on nature, equality, and divine harmony in times of ecological imbalance.

Featuring performances by girls from Baru Sahib School, Himachal Pradesh; Gurleen Kaur (Uttarakhand); Avanti Patel (Mumbai); and Nivedita Singh (Patiala)

(Collaboration: Enable India Foundation)
 

Cancelled

Aadhey Adhure
 

Directed by Rajesh D Bali
Actors: Amit Kumar, Pragya Singh Rawat, Farah Anwar, Preeti Gupta and Dhanveer
Aadhe Adhure is a play by Mohan Rakesh about the psychological and emotional breakdown of an urban middle-class family in 1960s India. The story focuses on the dissatisfied housewife, Savitri, her unemployed husband, Mahendranath, and their three children, as they deal with family conflict, unfulfilled desires, and economic hardship. 
(Collaboration: Drashta India Theatre Group)

Journey of an Artist
 

An Exhibition of Ceramic Sculptures and Drawings by Sonali Chouhan 
The exhibition presents ceramic sculptures inspired by nature, folk culture, and everyday life in Madhya Pradesh. Blending clay, symbolic leaf motifs, and human forms, the artworks reflect the artist’s emotional connection to folk traditions.

Chief Guests: Prof Biman B. Das, Padmashri Awardee, Former Principal, G.C.A.C, Kolkata, Eminent Sculptor, President AIFACS.
Guest of Honor: D.S. Hitkari, Art Connoisseur, Director, Shanta Art Gallery, Delhi

Dr. Sonali Pithawe (Chouhan) is a distinguished ceramic sculptor and painter with a Ph.D. in Fine Arts, known for her acclaimed solo and international exhibitions across India, Europe, and Russia. An award-winning artist, earning recognition for her expressive contemporary style.

Inauguration of the exhibition on 2 December at 18:30
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 
India and Africa: Legacy of Exchanges and Cultural Affinities
edited by H.H.S. Viswanathan and K.N. Shrivastava (Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd)

Welcome remarks: K.N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC
Discussants: Prof. Ajay Dubey, Chair, Centre for African Studies, JNU & Secretary-General, African Studies Association of India; Prof. Nandini C. Sen, Bharti College, Delhi University; Ruchita Beri, Senior Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation; Amb. H.H.S Viswanathan, Editor of the book

Chair: Shyam Saran, President and Life Trustee, IIC

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 
Heritage Threads - Tapestry of Indian and Indonesian Textiles
By Bhimanto Suwastoyo & Ritu Sethi

Guest of Honour: Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Parliamentarian, Member of INC and Ms. Erny Wahyuni, First Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia & Head of Cultural and Social Affairs

Discussants: Ritu Sethi, Co-author of the book and Trustee of Crafts Revival Trust; Namrata Dalela, Renowned Textile Researcher & Conservator; Aparna Bhatnagar Saxena, Co-Editor & CEO - TORAJAMELO foundation, Co-editor and co-publisher of the book

Moderator: Col. D.P.K Pillay, Nominated as Brand Ambassador for War disabled by COAS, Formerly Korea Foundation Visiting Fellow