Ruchika Theatre’s production of Maxim Gorky’s classic play
Directed by Feisal Alkazi

First premiered in 1902 under the direction of Konstantin Stanislavski, and where he developed ‘Method Acting’, the play is a hallmark of Russian social realism. The play depicts a group of impoverished Russians living in a shelter near the Volga. Considered a theatre classic, new productions of the play in every conceivable language of the world are performed regularly.
 

Speakers: Shri Urmilesh, former Executive Editor, Rajya Sabha TV; Ms Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Senior Editor, The Wire; Shri Nikhil Pahwa, Editor, MediaNama

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

This conversation marks the 34th anniversary of the presidential assent to Prasar Bharati Act 1990 and the 31st discussion in the annual series

(Collaboration: Jan Prasar)
 

Rising Phenomenon of Urban Flooding: Causes, Consequences and Sustainable Solutions

Speakers: Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, INTACH; Shyamal Sarkar, IAS (retd.), Distinguished Fellow and Director, Water Resources Division, The Energy Resource Institute (TERI); and Shri Jaideep Chatterjee, Dean, Jindal School of Art and Architecture, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat

Flooding in urban areas is a growing concern worldwide as it is causing significant damage to human lives, the environment and economy. The damage is more evident in India because of the growing density of population in urban areas, including in the Tier – 1, 2, 3 and 4 cities. The discussion will discuss the possible solutions and strategies to mitigate and manage urban flooding with policy –level changes; green infrastructure; flood-resistant construction; planned well-maintained drainage system; and community involvement and alertness.  

(Collaboration: Toxics Link)
 

By Maestro Izumi Tateno

The artist will present a concert programme of works by Bach/Brahms; Scriabin; Nordgren; Koichiro Mitsunaga; and Takashi Yoshimatsu

(Collaboration: Embassy of Japan; and Delhi Music Society)
 

Ukraine, Gaza, Taiwan…A World at War
By Ajay Singh (Pentagon Press: 2024)

Discussants: Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM and former General Officer Commanding, 15 Corps (Srinagar) & Military Secretary; Amb. Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation and former Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta; Ms Joyeeta Basu, Editor, The Sunday Guardian; and Col. (retd.) Ajay Singh, former Indian Army Officer and author of the book

Illustrated lecture by Ahtushi Deshpande, photographer and author of the recently published book Speaking Stones: Rock Art of Ladakh

Chair: Dr. Arshiya Sethi, dance scholar and author

Ahtushi Deshpande will present a journey through Ladakh’s hidden petroglyph galleries. These ancient imprints, scattered across Ladakh’s sprawling and often remote open-air galleries, offer tangible evidence of a history that predates recorded accounts. She will also draw comparisons with rock carvings from other regions, such as Utah and Arizona, to highlight the similarities and share intriguing stories. 
 

Outhouse (97 min; Hindi with English subtitles)
Director: Sunil Sukthankar
Produced by Dr. Mohan Agashe who will introduce the film

With Sharmila Tagore, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Jihan Hodar

Screening will be followed by a discussion with Hema Devare and Suhas Borker, co-conveners of the Maharashtra Sanskritik Divas

Nana, a retired single adamant old man, has no idea that an unwelcomed guest on his four - a puppy is going to change the course of his life. Aadima, a senior graphic designer artist, doesn’t have the faintest inkling that the same puppy is going to force her to go on adventures she otherwise wouldn’t. And Neel, her grandson has no clue that he is going to help Nana and Aadima understand the needs of elderly singles.

(Collaboration: Maharashtra Sanskritik ani Rannaniti Adhyayan Samiti) 

Illustrated lecture by Prof. Philip Lutgendorf, scholar of South Asia, Emeritus Professor of Hindi and Modern Indian Studies, University of Iowa and author of the award winning book The Life of a Text: Performing the Ramcaritmanas of Tulsidas (University of California Press: 1991), Hanuman's Tale: The Messages of a Divine Monkey (Oxford University Press, New York: 2006) among others

Chair: Prof. Ananya Vajpeyi, Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies

The poet-saint Tulsidas’s immensely popular retelling of the Ramayana saga, Ramcaritmanas (ca.1574 AD), is structured as an allegorical Himalayan sacred lake symmetrically bounded by four seven-tiered ghats. The narrators (in order of appearance) are the human author Tulsidas, the Vedic sage Yajnavalkya, the god Shiva, and a crow named Bhushundi. Whereas the first three are either human or (in Shiva’s case) divine-anthropomorphic, the final one is an avian form. Why did the poet choose this unusual figure to conclude whose epic narrative and to deliver, in effect, the “last word”? 

(Collaboration: American Institute of Indian Studies)
 

By Dhananjay Hegde from Mumbai, disciple of Pt. Venkatesh Kumar and Pt. Vinayak Torvi. Recipient of the Sanskriti-Madhobi Chatterji Memorial Fellowship

(Collaboration: Sanskriti Pratishthan)

With Susmit Sen, well-known music composer, guitarist and the founding member of the iconic band, Indian Ocean; and Krishnendu Bose, the National Award and multiple award winning documentary filmmaker. Together they will recreated some of the pieces that Susmit has composed for the films of Krishnendu, along with film clips and ending with the chilling Bay of Blood, the film on the Bangladesh genocide of 1971.