Dance of the Seasons (UK)
(41 min; 2023; Sanskrit & English)
Directed by G.D. Jayalakshmi who will introduce the film

Screening will be followed by a discussion

Dance of the Seasons deploys the Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam, to demand that we respect our earth and its climate. Based on an epic Sanskrit poem, Ritu Samhara (The March of the Seasons) by Kalidasa (circa 400AD), the award-winning dancer, Padmini Upadhya, communes with nature, becoming one with it.  This lies in sharp contrast with what is happening ecologically today. India’s six seasons of yester-year are evoked and juxtaposed strongly with today’s sad reality.  

The narrative inter-cuts with R S Pandit’s 1942 translation, created as he languishes in solitary confinement, fighting for Indian independence against British rule. 
 

Conceptualised by Prof. Himanshu Prabha Ray

God on the Hill – The Secret Life of Monuments

Illustrated lecture by Dr. Srikumar M. Menon, Associate Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies. An architect who specializes in ancient and early architecture of the Indian subcontinent, Srikumar’s academic interest focus on ancient architecture, prehistoric monuments, as well as later monuments, such as stupas and temples

Chair: Dr. Shashank Shekhar Sinha, Publishing Director, Taylor & Francis Group

The book, God on the Hill and Other stories is a collection of ten stories mostly set around ancient monuments and the sites they occupy. Inspired by locales, monuments and myths associated with them, encountered by the author during nearly two decades of fieldwork studying the ancient architecture of India, these stories focus attention to less-known aspects of these monuments. The talk will bring alive the remarkable monuments and locales which inspired the ten stories ranging from megalithic structures in Kerala and Karnataka and an early historic Buddhist stupa to an exquisite rock-cut temple on the Kumaon Himalaya
 

Sergej in the Urn
(102 min; 2009; with English subtitles)
Director: Boris Hars-Tschachotin

The film will be introduced by Prof. Mahalakshmi Rakesh

Charismatic, erratic, egocentric, almost forgotten…Sergej Tschachotin was scientist of international repute, friend of Pavlov and Einstein, revolutionary and pacifist. Sergej in the Urn tells the story of Sergej Tschachotin’s epic existence - from 1883 to 1973 - through the memories of four of his sons. Speaking openly for the first time, they tell of Tschachotin’s role as a cancer researcher, his participation in anti-totalitarian propaganda movements, and his crusade against the arms race. But each son also exposes his conflicted relationship with a colossal fatherly shadow.

Filmmaker Boris Hars-Tschachotin, Sergej’s great-grandson, weaves together an intimate, tortured family saga that mirrors the myriad contradictions and possibilities of the 20th century.

A Tribute to Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. T.K. Murthy, Centenarian Living Legend and his contribution to the world of music
Conceptualised and presented by Prof. T.K. Venkatasubramanian
 
Chief Guest: Shri R. Venkataramani, Attorney General of India

The Contribution of Dr. T.K. Murthy to Indian Rhythms
Illustrated lecture by Prof. T.K. Venkatasubramanian, historian and accomplished mridangam player who is a disciple of Dr. T.K. Murthy

Prof. Venkatasubramanian’s presentation will be accompanied by Carnatic vocalist, T.K. Jayaraman who will sing some musical forms

Honouring the Centenarian Legend
 
Followed by performance

Carnatic Violin Recital
By Vidwan M.A. Sundhreswaran
With Vidwan K.P. Parameswaran on mridangam

(Collaboration: Lakshmi Kuppuswami Trust, Chennai)
 

The Secret Life of Gharials along the Chambal: Mobile Moms, Baby Crèches, and Defensive Dads

Speaker: Prof. Jeffrey W. Lang, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Biology, U. North Dakota, USA; Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu and Gharial Ecology Project

Chair: Adv. Gopal Subramaniam, former Solicitor General of India

The talk will focus on the Gharial Ecology Project (GEP) and cover Prof. Lang’s long journey in building a model project for wildlife conservation. Beginning in 2008, the project has studied gharials, a unique fish-eating crocodilian inhabiting south Asia and now restricted to only a few populations in India and Nepal. In its 17^th field season, the GEP has been assessing the status, health, and well-being of the Chambal gharial; identifying and protecting critical riverine habitats; and reducing threats and challenges to the continued survival of gharial. The talk will cover the processes adopted, behavioral observations of gharials and community involvement

(Collaboration: Business and Community Foundation; and Gharial Ecology Project)

Speaker: Dr. Neera Agrawal, independent historian who has taught history at Mithibai College and Patkar College, University of Mumbai

Chair: Prof. Sucheta Mahajan, former Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Convenor, IIC-Sectoral Policy Group on History

The fascinating tale of the Merchants of the port town of Cambay begins from the time when Queen Elizabeth I of England sought permission to trade with India in 1583 and addressed the Mughal Emperor Akbar as “the King of Cambay” to 1818 when Peshwa Baji Rao II was deposed by the English and Cambay came directly under British rule. Cambay, which had
become a major centre for the manufacture and supply of agates and cotton piece-goods, occupied a strategic position in the maritime trade of western India as it lay mid-way between Arab-Persian and East African coasts to the west and South East Asian and Chinese coasts to the east. The Merchants of Cambay, during this turbulent and disruptive period tactically
negotiated their way through with the Mughals, the Nawab of Cambay, the Marathas and the English to protect their trading world and overcome their existential crisis.
 

Programme Details

Coordinated by Prof. Rekha Saxena, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi; Senior Advisor, Forum of Federations, Canada; and Hon. Vice –Chairman, Centre for Multilevel Federalism, New Delhi

Presentations by Prof. Sandeep Shastri, political scientist, Director - Academics, Nitte Education Trust since 2023; Prof. Ashutosh Kumar, Professor, Dept. of Political Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh; Dr. Hilal Ahmed, Associate Professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies; Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay; Dr. E. Sridharan, Academic Director and Chief Executive of the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India (UPIASI), New Delhi; and others

Speaker: Prof. Akhil C. Banerjea, former Professor Emeritus, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi and former Director, Institute of Advanced Virology, Kerala

Chair: Dr. Kalpana Luthra, Professor of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Stem cells have the unique ability to renew themselves. There ae several categories – pluripotent, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (ipsc) and adult stem cells. Stem cells can potentially recreate functional tissues. Moreover, human adult cells may be reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells. The talk will reveal how human hematopoietic stem cells are engineered to interfere with the replication of HIV-1 in two important immune cells (T-cells and Macrophages)

Nadistutti: Poems
By Lakshmi Kannan (Authorspress: 2024)

Discussants: Prof. Payal Nagpal, Professor, Dept. of English, Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi; Prof. Rekha Sethi, Professor, Indraprastha Collge for Women, University of Delhi, author, editor and translator; Ms Sanjula Sharma, poet, researcher and writer; and Dr. Laskhmi Kannan, bilingual novelist, poet, short story writer, critic and translator and author of this volume of poems

Chair: Prof. Malashri Lal, author and Convenor, English Board, Sahitya Akademi

Programme Details

In the Multipurpose Hall from 09:30 to 13:00 
Movement Techniques in Sattriya

A workshop led by Prateesha Suresh with artists from Assam

At 16:00 in C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium
Seminar on Legacy in Classical Dance

Discussants: Dr. Anita Ratnam; Smt Roja Kannan; Smt Indira Kadambi; Dr. Neena Prasad; and Dr. Prateesha Suresh
Moderator: Geeta Chandran

At 18:30
Young Dancers Festival
Mohiniattam Recital
By Thomas Vo Van Tao, disciple of Neena Prasad 

Followed by 
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Meera Sreenarayan