Speakers: Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM & Bar, Defence Analyst and former GOC, XV Corps and Chancellor Central University of Kashmir; Amb. Pankaj Saran, Former Dy NSA, Amb to Russia and HC to Bangladesh and Convenor, NatStrat; and Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Dean, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and former Vice Chancellor, Jammu University.

Chair: Amb.  Y.K. Sinha, Former CIC, High Commissioner to the UK and Sri Lanka and Head of the Pakistan- Afghanistan- Iran Division in MEA

Gandhi and Music
An illustrated lecture by Dipankar De Sarkar

The talk explores Gandhi’s world of music – the songs and hymns that inspired him through the darkest hours of India’s freedom struggle

Dipankar De Sarkar is a journalist and amateur musician who writes on politics, music and the politics of music
 

Programme Details

Workshop on “Familiarization with Quantum Sciences and Technology”
 

Opening Remarks: Dr. D. Shailaja Donempudi, Vice Chairman, Zaheer Science Foundation (ZSF), New Delhi, Distinguished Scientist BD Group, CSIR HQ and former Chief Scientist and Head, BDRM, CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad

About the Workshop: Dr. Zahid H. Khan, Advisor, ZSF, UNESCO- National Node for India for IDL2025 and former Professor of Physics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Keynote Address: “Quantum Light: Celebrating the International Day of Light and the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology”
By Prof. John M. Dudley, International Day of Light 2025 Steering Committee Chair; Professor, University of Franche-Comté, France

(Collaboration: Zaheer Science Foundation, New Delhi)
 

Indian National Congress: From Dominance to Decline or Hibernation?
By M.P. Singh and Rekha Saxena (Routledge India: 2023)

Discussants: Prof. Zoya Hasan, political scientist, former Professor of Political Science and Dean, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Prof. E. Sridharan, political scientist and Director & Chief Executive Officer, University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India (UPIASI); Dr. M.P.Singh, former Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Delhi and co-author of the book; and Prof. Rekha Saxena, Head of Department and Senior Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi and co-author of the book
 

GDP Base Revision: Time to regain confidence

Speakers: Shri N.K. Sharma, former Director General (Statistics), National Statistical Office (NSO),  Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI); and Shri Sanjay Kumar, former Additional Director General, NSO, MoSPI

 Discussant: Dr Amey Sapre, Associate Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP)

 Chair: Shri Siraj Hussain, former Union Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture

Speakers: Shri Bikram Singh Sajwan, former Expert Member, National Green Tribunal; Prof. A.K. Gosain, former Professor of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; Dr. Vivek Saxena, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Member Secretary, State Biodiversity Board, Haryana; and Prof. Akshay Kaul, ecological planner, landscape designer and sustainable development architect

Discussant: Dr. Yogita Shukla, Founder and CEO AddGEO Foundation
Moderator: Suhas Borker, Founder Member, Green Circle of Delhi and Editor, Citizens First TV (CFTV)

Chair: Justice Abhay S. Oka, former Judge, Supreme Court of India

This series is dedicated to the memory of Shri Mahesh. N. Buch, civil servant and environmentalist, who passed away on 6 June in 2015 and who had given the key-note address at the inaugural edition of the Dialogue in 2013.

(Collaboration: Green Circle of Delhi)
 

Speakers: Ms Urmi Goswami, Assistant Editor, The Economic Times;  Dr. S. Sreekesh, Professor, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University; and Dr. Srikanta K. Panigrahi, Director General, Distinguished Fellow, Indian Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD)

India, as we understand, is now prioritizing climate adaptation and looking at a bottom-up approach through ground-level initiatives, while mitigation measures will continue. Even as efforts for emission cuts remain critical, reducing the vulnerability of communities across the country is now the focus of climate action in the country. The speakers will address the issue of India’s climate action plan; the changing global dynamics and India’s stance; and the way forward

(Collaboration: Toxics Link)
 

Lead presentation by Shri Asok Kumar G., IAS (retd.), Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research and formerly Director General, the National Mission for Clean Ganga

Followed by a panel discussion

Panelists: Shri D.P. Mathuria, Chief Engineer, Central Water Commission; Shri Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, INTACH Natural Heritage Division; and Dr. Srinivas Chokkakula, President and Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research

The river Yamuna or Kalindi is not only the most important tributary of the river Ganga, but also has a standing on her own. It flows almost parallel to the Ganga before merging with it at Prayagraj. Although steeped in mythology and has witnessed historical events, the river in recent years has been facing an existential crisis. Its 22 km stretch of Delhi witnesses its deadly phase – dark stagnant water for most of the year. Many attempts have been made to rejuvenate and revive it. The Yamuna Action Plan did not deliver the expected results. Shri Asok Kumar G. will engage with the idea of reviving the Yamuna building on his rich experience of leading the National Mission for Clean Ganga

(Collaboration: Centre for Policy Research)

Mandal Dhwani
By Malashri Lal (Hawakal Publishers: 2025)

Discussants: Prof. Anamika, contemporary poet, novelist and academic; Prof. Rekha Sethi, academic, writer, scholar, and translator; Dr. Alka Tyagi, Professor, Dept. of English, Dayal Singh College (Evening), University of Delhi, poet and Editor of the bool; and Prof. Malashri Lal, Convenor, English Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi and author of the book

Moderator: Kriti Sengupta, bilingual poet and translator
 

In Her Footsteps: Women who made India
By Mandira Ghosh (Parchment Publications: 2025)

Discussants: Dr. Rita Malhotra , mathematician, essayist, poet and translator; Dr. Amarendra Khatua, former Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs , Govt. of India; Amb. Reena Pandey, former Ambassador to Armenia and Georgia; Shri Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee, Editorial Director, Niyogi Books; and Smt Mandira Ghosh, poet and author of the book

Chair: Shri B.P. Singh, eminent author and former Governor of Sikkim