End Date: 1st August 2025,  7:00 PM

An Exhibition of a selection of photographs curated by Aditi Mehta

This exhibition is the first exposure of wider audiences to the rich world of Bhil rituals, performance and oral literature, through the lenses of much-acclaimed photographer and Padmashri awardee, Sudharak Olwaye. 

Aditi Mehta authored the 3-volume series, “Playing with the Goddess-Gavri of the Mewar Bhils.” which features these photographs.

Inauguration of the exhibition on Friday, 18 July 2025 at 18:30 hours

From Revolution to Evolution: A Journey Through 20th Century American Modern Dance
An illustrated lecture presented by Sharon Lowen

A panoramic visual overview of 20th century origins of early Modern Dance through Post Modern to Contemporary. Sharon Lowen’s distinguished 52-year classical dance career in India was preceded by 17 years of modern dance and ballet training in the USA and an M.A. in Dance, University of Michigan.

The Legacy of Nelson Mandela

Speaker: Shri Anand Grover, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Human Rights Jurist
Introduction by Programme Director, South African High Commission 

Opening remarks: Suhas Borker, Convener, Working Group on Alternative Strategies 
Closing remarks: H.E. Prof. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa

The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture was instituted at IIC in 2018 to mark the Centenary of Madiba
                              
(Collaboration: South African High Commission and Working Group on Alternative Strategies)

TO MARK MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY 2025
At Gandhi-King Memorial Plaza: 10:30 to 11:00
Commemoration Service
Songs by School Choirs from Delhi NCR

At C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium: 11:15 to 12:15 Mandela Katha Mala

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” -- Nelson Mandela, in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, 1994.  

Message from the UN Secretary General António Guterres to be read by Mr. Darrin Farrant, Director, United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan
                                
Speakers: H.E. Prof. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa; and Shri Suhas Borker, Convener, Working Group on Alternative Strategies

Interactive session with students of schools from Delhi NCR
 Foyer outside the Auditorium

Madiba and His Struggle

An exhibition of paintings by students of Bluebells School International

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, justice, pluralism and sustainable development

(Collaboration: Gandhi Yuva Baradari; United Nations Information Centre; and Working Group on Alternative Strategies)

Winners of the International Booker Prize 2025 Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi in conversation with Sujata Prasad

(Collaboration: Ahad Anhad)

From Green Revolution to the Evergreen Revolution: New Technologies Reaching the Unreached

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

Speakers: Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, former DG, ICAR and Secretary, Govt of India; Dr Renu Swaroop, Former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India; Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, MSSRF; Dr Sanjay Kumar, Chairman, ASRB; Dr Ch. Srinivas Rao, Director, IARI-ICAR; Dr KC Bansal, Former DG, NBPGR; Dr Ashwani Pareek, Executive Director, NABI, Mohali; and Dr Madhura Swaminathan, Professor, ISI, Bengaluru

Chair: Shri Shyam Saran, President, IIC

Closing Remarks and Vote of thanks: Dr George John, Former Senior Adviser, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.

Surbahar Recital (Cancelled)
By Bhushan Koshti from Mumbai, disciple of Pt. Pushpraj Koshti
Accompanist : Vivekanand Kurangale ( Pakhawaj )

At 18:30 
Bharatanatyam Recital

By Dr. Debaldev Jana from Kolkata, disciple of Guru Thanjavur B.Herambanathan & Kalamandalam V.R. Venkitt 

Artist Lal Bahadur Singh in conversation with writer and  historian, Dr Shamsul Islam

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)

Directed by Geleck Palsang

The film offers a powerful tribute to the extraordinary resilience, courage and compassion of Ama Jetsun Pema- the first female cabinet Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and the unwavering force behind the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV), a beacon of hope and a home to thousands of Tibetan children in exile.

The screening will be followed by a conversation with TCV alumni.

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

Buddhist Dances: Movement and Mind

By Joseph Houseal (Motilal Banarsidass;2025)

Discussants: Navtej Johar, performer, activist, scholar & somatic practitioner; and Joseph Houseal, Director, Core of Culture Dance Preservation NFP and author of the book

Moderator: Sharon Lowen, performing artist, dance guru and writer