A unique performance and reflective talk that explores the profound connections between art, peace, and womanhood. Through her innovative choreographies, music, and narratives, Vijayalakshmi traces her journey as a dancer while honouring the artistic legacy of her mother, and Guru Bharati Shivaji.

Vijayalakshmi is an internationally acclaimed exponent of Mohiniyattam. Daughter and disciple of Bharati Shivaji. A recipient of several prestigious awards, including from the Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy and the Regents Lecturer from UCLA. She has performed in India and the world, sponsored by The Government of India, including the Bolshoi Theatre, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Lincoln Centre. Her prominent productions include Unniarcha, inspired from Kalaripayattu; Swan Lake, etc.

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation and WISCOMP)

Charismatic Chiaroscuro: Poetry and Art

By Meena Chopra (2025)

Discussants: Prof. Sukrita Paul Kumar, Scholar, Poet, Academician, Prof Sudeep Sen, Poet, Literary Editor, Photographer, Ms. Meena Chopra, Author, Poet & Artist

Chair: Prof. Malashri Lal, Scholar, Poet, Academician

India and Israel have built a unique strategic partnership focused on defence, economic cooperation, and cultural ties. This panel discussion examines how their evolving relationship impacts global politics and future collaboration

Panelists: Prabhat Jawla, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Political Studies; Shiven Nath, Irwin Cotler Fellow, with a Masters in Political Science, Security and Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University

Chair: Sripathi Narayanan Ph.D, Security and Foreign Policy Analyst. Presently a Research Fellow with the 'Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)

The Great Case Series: A series exploring landmark constitutional rulings. The discussion on State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor of Tamil Nadu examines the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Governor’s duties in assenting to bills and the constitutional implications of prescribed timelines.

Panelists: Tathagata Roy, Former Governor of Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya; Prof Ashok Pankaj, Professor at the Council for Social Development, New Delhi; Lalit Panda, Author of Heads Held High: Salvaging State Governors for 21st century India

Moderator: Anshul Dalmia, Research Fellow, Charkha

(Collaboration: Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy)

It is the fourth edition in the series brings together grassroots and deep-tech innovators from across India, showcasing affordable, inclusive, and scalable solutions addressing key challenges in healthcare, agriculture, environment, and clean energy. The two-day festival will feature around 100 innovations across the Deep-tech and Grassroots Innovation sectors.

The festival theme this year is From Spark to Scale: Transforming Innovative Ideas to socially relevant solutions

Festival Highlights

• Opportunity to interact and network with policymakers, mentors, investors, and technical experts at one of the largest stakeholder congregations of its kind

• Entry to curated theme-based sessions on technical mentoring, policy issues, regulation, investment and market channel opportunities

• Story-telling sessions from successful innovators to learn from lived experiences

• Opportunity for innovators across India, including NE and J&K and other emerging ecosystems to showcase their grassroots and deep tech innovations and products.

Mentored and Curated by Dr. Renu Swarup, Former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Prof. Anil Gupta, Founder, Honey Bee Network, SRISTI, GIAN & NIF, Dr. Swati Basu, Former Scientific Secretary, Office of the PSA, Dr. Taslimarif Saiyed, Director and CEO, C-CAMP, Bengaluru

Inauguration of Exhibition in the Gandhi-King Plaza at 1:10 pm

Deep Tech and Grassroots Innovation

An exhibition of innovators from across India showcasing nearly 100 innovations in healthcare, agriculture, environment, and clean energy.

Exhibition will be on view till 20th November 2025 from 11:00 AM to 18:00 Hrs

Please click here for full details of programme

(Collaboration: C-CAMP, Bengaluru and GIAN, Ahmedabad)

Combating War by Art and Poetry

By Mandira Ghosh (Authorspress, 2025)

Discussants: Sunit Tandon, Former Director, IHC; Prof. Radha Chakravarty, Writer, Critic & Translator; Prof. Swati Pal, Principal and Professor, Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi; Dr. Rumki Basu, Former Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia & Poet, Mandira Ghosh, Poet, Author & Researcher & Author of the book

Chair: Dr. Amarendra Khatua, Former Secretary, MEA & DG, ICCR & Poet

The Thousand Years War: Russia and the West.

By Achala Moulik (Har-Anand Publications, 2025)

Discussants: H.E Mr. Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador (Guest of Honour); Dr Archana Upadhyay, Professor, Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies, JNU; Shri Dipanjan Roy Chaudhuri, Diplomatic Editor of Economic Times; Dr Achala Moulik, Author of the book

Chair: Shri K. N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC

A Mother’s Reflections: A Heartwarming Journey of Love, Unyielding Strength, And Championing Inclusivity

By Shanti Auluck (Hay House, 2024)

Discussants: Ms Shalini Sinha, Asia strategic lead, WIEGO and Asia board member, International centre for Research on Women; Mayank Sapra, Advocate on record, Supreme Court of India; Neera Chawla, Director Muskaan; Prof Megha Dhillon, Dept of Psychology, LSR college; Dr Shanti Auluck, Chairperson & Founder, Muskaan & Author of the book

Chair: Aradhana Lal, Sr. Vice President, Sustainability & ESG, Lemon Tree Hotels

Speakers: Mr. Nitin Desai, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, former Indian Permanent Representative to the UN in New York; Gen. Satish Nambiar, former Force Commander and Head of Mission of UNPROFOR, the UN Protection Force in the former Yugoslavia; and youth representative

(Collaboration: The United Nations, India)

An exhibition celebrating the legacy of twelfth-century Buddhist philosopher Atīśa Dīpaṃkara, through relics from Dzongkar Choede Monastery, Karnataka; photographs tracing his journeys curated by Prof. Shashibala, Dean, K.M. Munshi Centre for Indology, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; and manuscripts of his works from the Dharmarajika Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha, Bangladesh.

Inauguration on Friday 21st at 10:00 am

The exhibition will be on view until 30 November from 11:00 to 19:00