The Values of our Constitution

Speaker: Shri Justice Madan Lokur, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India

Followed by an interactive session with students from schools of Delhi NCR.
Discussants: Dr Smita Patil, Associate Professor, Department of Gender and Development Studies, IGNOU;  Dr Surajkumar Thube, Visiting Professor, Department of Political Science, Ashoka University; Prof. Aakash Singh Rathore, International Fellow, ETHOS, Rome and author of Becoming Babasaheb: The Life and Times of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar ( Online)

Moderator: Suhas Borker, Convener, Working Group on Alternative Strategies

Organised as part of Taking Gandhi to Children series that brings children closer to the enduring legacy of Gandhi’s non-violent struggle for equity, pluralism and sustainable development by hosting year round interactive sessions with students from schools of Delhi NCR

(Collaboration: Working Group on Alternative Strategies)

The Shifting Logic of the Indus Waters Treaty

Speaker: Dr. Uttam K. Sinha, Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar–Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)

Discussant: Amb. Ashok K. Kantha, Former Ambassador of India to the People’s Republic of China

Moderator: Dr Srinivas Chokkakula, President & Chief Executive Centre for Policy Research

The lecture explores how the Indus Waters Treaty, once hailed as a triumph of technical cooperation over politics, is being reshaped by shifting geopolitical realities, environmental stress, and the erosion of bilateral trust between India and Pakistan.

(Collaboration: Centre for Policy Research)

Public Service Broadcasting Day - 2025

(Jan Prasaran Divas)

Public Service Broadcasting Day on 12 November commemorates the day Gandhiji made his first and only live broadcast on All India Radio. On this day in 1947 Gandhiji addressed more than 2 lakh refugees at the Kurukshetra Camp from Broadcasting House, New Delhi. Gandhiji held no public office or position in Government and it was truly a public service broadcast. Since 2000, this day has become an occasion to spread awareness about the concepts and values of Public Service Broadcasting in the country.

Commemoration at the Gandhi - King Memorial Plaza: 10:30 – 11:00

Followed by Discussion at C.D Deshmukh Auditorium: 11:00 – 12:15

Usha Mehta's tryst with freedom on radio: during the Quit India Movement Usha Mehta was arrested on 12 November 1942 and the Underground Radio Transmitter confiscated in Bombay. Ms Basudha Banerji, former Documentary Producer, All India Radio and Shri S.N. Sahu, former Press Secretary to President K. R. Narayanan, relive the moment.

Discussion on Public Service Broadcasting: Broadcasting as a public resource

Lead Presentation: Shri Suhas Borker, Mediaperson and Convener, Jan Prasar

(Collaboration: Jan Prasar)

The scene of the burning of Kamadeva by Siva, with verses from Kalidasa’s Kumarasambhavam

Presented by Margi Madhu, son and disciple of Guru Moozhikkulam Kochukuttan Chakyar, who was the torch bearer of the Ammannoor style of acting with artists of Nepathya – Centre for Excellence in Kutiyattam

Kutiyattam is one of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions. In 2003, it was proclaimed Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO

The war that started in February 2022 shows no clear sign of ending despite the enormously huge number of civilian and military casualties . NATO has pumped in a considerable amount of weapons , not to mention the financial support. President Trump has reversed Biden's policy of total support to Ukraine and has held talks with Putin, to the chagrin of the Europeans.Are there any prospects for an early end to this unfolding tragedy? These and related issues will be discussed.

Speaker: Ambassador Gitesh Sarma, former Ambassador to Ukraine and former Secretary (West), MEA.

Chair: Ambassador K P Fabian, Professor, Symbiosis, and World Peace University, Pune.

Featuring Snezhana Zagorodnyaya (bassoon) and Zakhar Atamanenko (piano), two gifted scholarship recipients and laureates of major international competitions. Both have performed with leading orchestras across Russia and the CIS, and participated in renowned programmes such as Sirius, Artek, and Moscow Meets Friends.

(Collaboration: Russian Cultural Centre, Embassy of the Russian Federation in India)