The Infrastructure of Chinese Civilizationism

Speaker: Prasenjit Duara, Professor Emeritus, Oscar Tang Distinguished Chair of East Asian Studies at Duke University. Formerly, Chairman of the History Dept at University of Chicago and Raffles Professor and Director of the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.

Chair: Amb Shivshankar Menon, former NSA and Foreign Secretary

The Civilizationisms project is a global collaboration that examines how contemporary states use the idea of civilization for political legitimation. The talk analyses the rise of Chinese civilizationism as a mode of global power that seeks not only to challenge Western dominance but to reshape the world order through infrastructure. It traces this development through ecological civilization, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the expansion of Chinese digital and financial networks across the Global South. These initiatives operate as an “infrastructure of civilization,” embedding norms, standards and digital dependencies into governance and economic life, reflecting a broader transformation in global power towards infrastructural integration.

IIC DOUBLE BILL: MUSIC AND DANCE RECITAL

Hindustani Vocal Duet Recital
By Madhura Kirpekar & Bhairavi Kirpekar from Satara, Maharashtra, Disciple of Pt. Hrishikesh Bodas
Accompanists: Chetan Nigam (Harmonium); and Anurag Jha (Tabla)

At 19:00 
Kathak recital
By Garvita Sharma from Delhi, Disciple of (Late) Pt. Birju Maharaj & Saswati Sen
Accompanists: Jaywardhan Dadhich (Vocal & Harmonium); Lavinya Ambade (Sitar); Siddharth Dalbehera (Flute); Himanshi Gogini (Padhant); and Ashish Mishra (Tabla)
 

Sagarmatha Samta-India Largest Inclusive Trek to Everest Base Camp
(2026;46 minutes; Hindi with English subtitles)

Introduction about the film: Satish Kapoor, Founding Director, Brotherhood and We Care film festival on disability issues

A film documenting India’s largest inclusive trek to Everest Base Camp, undertaken on 14 April 2026 by a team of six persons with disabilities and seven non-disabled participants. The expedition traversed Himalayan terrain demonstrating possibilities of accessibility and inclusion.

The screening will be followed by an Interaction with artists with disability in the film

(Collaboration: Brotherhood and We Care Film Fest and Tinkesh Ability Foundation)

Book Discussion Group

Signature on the Wind

By Kailash Vajpeyi; translated by Ananya Vajpeyi (Sahitya Akademi, 2026)

Discussants: Dr. Udayan Vajpeyi, Hindi poet, essayist, short fiction and script writer; Prof. Rita Kothari; Professor of English and Co-director, Ashoka Centre for Translation, Ashoka University: Prof. Prasanta Chakravarty, Dept. of English, Delhi University ; Dr Ananya Vajpeyi, Author and Professor, Centre for the study of Developing societies.
 

Delimitation after 2026: Electoral Equality or Federal Balance?

Moderator: Dr. Amitabh Kundu, Professor Emeritus at L. J. University Ahmedabad.
 

Discussants: Dr Yogendra Yadav, Author, Activist and Public Intellectual; Prof Santosh Mehrotra, Senior Fellow Nehru Memorial Museum and Library; Dr S. Y. Quraishi, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India

The proposed delimitation of parliamentary constituencies after 2026 raises complex questions, the discussion examines the implications for states that have successfully managed population growth and the challenge of balancing the democratic principle of ‘one person, one vote’ with regional equality within India’s federal system. Exploring a possible middle path of allocating incremental parliamentary seats based on contemporary population data without reducing the existing representation of states.

Journey of Colours
A Solo Exhibition by Sadaf Beg Khan

An exhibition of artworks inspired by emotions, experiences and everyday life. The artist explores varied moods, ideas and perspectives, inviting viewers to engage with the distinctive expressions and narratives that shape her artistic practice. Sadaf Beg Khan, visual artist whose practice draws deeply from nature and explores themes of femininity, beauty and vulnerability.

The exhibition will be inaugurated on Tuesday 22nd September’26 at 17:30 hrs by Chief Guests Mohammad Adeeb, former Member of Parliament and Talal Adeeb

The exhibition will remain open daily from 11:00 to 19:00 hrs

 

Police Reforms – 20 years

Chair: Justice Vineet Saran, former Judge, Supreme Court of India

Discussants:  Prakash Singh, Former Director General BSF, DGP UP, and DGP Assam; G K Pillai, Former Home Secretary; and Vipul Mudgal, Director Common Cause

The British left behind a colonial police structure at the time of Independence, which continues nearly eight decades later. Despite the Supreme Court’s directions of September 22, 2006 for comprehensive police reforms, implementation by the states has remained largely half-hearted. Police reforms are a must for a progressive India. The vision of a Viksit Bharat cannot be achieved without the solid foundation of good law and order, which only a professional police force upholding the rule of law can provide. Twenty years after the judicial directions, it is essential that the campaign for police reforms is sustained and given greater impetus. 
 

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY
Prehistoric Vindhyan Childhoods: Investigating Rock Art as a Knowledge System in Indian Prehistory

Speaker: Dr. Ajay Pratap is former Head and Professor, Department of History, Banaras Hindu University.

Chair: K. N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC

Moderator: Pratap Bhanu Singh Sengar, former Director (Monuments) Archaeological Survey of India

The emergence of an archaeology of childhood recognises the crucial roles of women and children in prehistoric cultures and communities. The presentation explores their role as active users of visual symbolic representation, as teachers and learners, through rock art depicting self-images, designs, narrative scenes, line drawings and practice figures. It examines rock art as a means of transmitting traditional knowledge, aesthetics and memory. 
 

Book Discussion Group  

What the Shadow Said

By K. Jayakumar (Alcove Publishers, 2026)

Chair: Dr. Sukrita Paul Kumar, Poet, literary critic and scholar

Discussants:Prof Rumki Basu, Former professor, Jamia Millia Islamia and Poet; Jamshed, Poet and columnist; Bindiya Bedi Charan Noronhna, writer, social worker, educationist;  K Jayakumar, Former Chief Secretary of Kerala, poet lyricist and Author of the book.
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 

Ashes to Light: Stories of Hope Towards Gender Justice
By Priyadarshini Bhattacharya (Vintage Books, 2026)

Discussants: Prof Dev Nath Pathak, South Asian University ; Prof Pushpesh Pant,  Food Critic and Historian ; Dr. Saswati Bhattacharya, LSR, DU ; Dr. Savita Singh,  IGNOU ; Dr. Sukrita Paul Kumar , Poet and Translator ; Yauvanika Chopra, New India Foundation, Dr. Preeti Vajpeyi, Vinyaas Society; Kabir Vajpeyi, Vinyaas Society; Girija Borkar, Economist and Development Professional; Sushmit Ghosh, Filmmaker; Preeti Sudan, Former Union Health Secretary, Chairperson, UPSC; Kiran Bedi,  Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry; Dr. Raviraj Shetty, Therapist and Author, Narrative Practices India; Priyadarshini Bhattacharya, Joint Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department & Author of the Book