The Roma Exodus and Reconnection with a Forgotten Diaspora

Illustrated lecture by Dr. Punita G. Singh, acoustician, musicologist, linguist, editor and educator based in Delhi. She has taught at Washington University in the US, McGill University, Canada and is currently, Visiting Faculty at Ashoka University, Sonipat

India is regarded as the original homeland of the Roma, yet most history books in schools omit mention of a Roma exodus and research and scholarship on the subject has been sparse. If the emigration of Roma out of India dates back to a millennium or earlier as posited by some scholars, the parallel influx of traders, invaders and colonizers over the intervening period seems to have overwritten their story. This presentation reviews the story of the Roma and their connection, disconnection and reconnection with India.

Speaker: Dr. Amit Mallick, Inspector General, National Tiger Conservation Authority

Moderator: Dr. Asani Bhaduri, Assistant Professor, Molecular and Computational Biology, Cluster Innovation Centre, University of Delhi

It has been a year and half since the first batch of Cheetahs were introduced in India in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. These cheetahs represent a big feather in India’s cap for restoring natural treasures. Dr. Amit Mallick was intricately involved with the Project since its inception and will speak about the successful Cheetah Reintroduction in India

The Great Game in Afghanistan: Rajiv Gandhi, General Zia and the Unending War

By Kallol Bhattacherjee (Harper Collins: 2017)

Discussants: Amb. Vivek Katju, former Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs; Amb. Rajiv Dogra, former Consul General of India in Karachi and author; and Shri Kallol Bhattacherjee, Senior Assistant Editor, Foreign Affairs, The Hindu and author of the book

Chair: Amb. K.P. Fabian, Professor, Symbiosis University, Pune

A conversation between Indivar Kamtekar, Associate Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; Kaushik Sinha Deb, All India Institute of Medical Sciences;  Sanjeev Jain, Emeritus Professor, NIMHANS; and Alok Sarin, Consultant Psychiatrist, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research

Moderator: Ananya Mahapatra, Baba Saheb Ambedkar College and Hospital

The panel will explore the intersections between history and psychiatry, and also mark the formal launch of the website The Canvas Askew which is a compilation of the writings of Sanjeev and Alok about the intersections of mental health and history

Speakers: Dr. Samir Parikh, Chairperson, Fortis National Mental Health Program, Fortis Healthcare; Karthika V.K. Publisher, Westland Books; Alpana Chaturvedi, Chief Executive Officer, MyLogistics Gurukul; Sujit Panigrahi, Founder and CEO, Sequoia Fitness and Sports Technology Pvt. Ltd.; and Jayshree Misra Tripathi, Concept Coordinator

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

Speaker: Prof. Nihal Perera, Emeritus Professor of Urban Planning, Ball State University, USA. An original contributor to the field of postcolonial urban studies, and a leading scholar of Colombo, his research focuses on how ordinary people produce (lived) spaces for daily activities and cultural practices within the larger field of social production of space. His books include Decolonizing Ceylon, Transforming Asian Cities, and People’s Spaces

Discussant: Dr. Aveivey D. , Assistant Professor, Dept. of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi

Chair: Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, Associate Professor of Chinese Studies, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi

Illustrated lecture by Prof. Himanshu Prabha Ray, author and historian, currently Research Fellow, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Oxford and Routledge Series Editor, Archaeology and Religion in South Asia

The search for relics of the Buddha is a fascinating story of irretrievable transformation of an ancient religious practice dating from the 3rd century BCE Mauryan period in the 19th and 20th centuries as brick mounds indicating ancient stupas yielded their treasures of gems, gold and coins to indiscriminate diggers and adventurers. The talk will provide a context and the background to the IIC photo exhibition in the Quadrangle Garden
 

India’s E.V. Transition

Driving towards a Greener Future: Assessing the Environmental Benefits and Challenges of Electric Vehicles

Speakers: Shri Prashant K. Banerjee, Chief Executive Director, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM); and Shri Subhomoy Bhattacharjee, Consulting Editor, The Business Standard

Moderator: Shri Satish Sinha, Associate Director, Toxics Link

Looking at the positive environmental impacts of EVs, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, while also addressing potential challenges and considerations, such as battery production and disposal, energy sources for charging, and infrastructure development. Thus, it provides a comprehensive view of the environmental implications of EV adoption, guiding us towards informed decision-making and strategic planning for a more sustainable future

(Collaboration: Toxics Link)

Speakers: Philippe Le Corre, Senior Fellow, Center for China Analysis, Asia Society Policy Institute, Senior Advisor (Geopolitics), Asia Society, France; Dr. Sriparna Pathak, Associate Professor, Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University; and Dr. Swasti Rao, Associate Fellow, Europe and Eurasia Centre, MP-Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis

Moderator: Amb. Ashok Kantha, former Ambassador of India to China and Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation

Europe finds itself navigating the complexities of the Indo-Pacific landscape. Amidst fierce Sino-American competition, as well as recently held elections in Taiwan and the forthcoming elections in 30-plus countries around the world, Brussels, Paris, and Berlin must define their positions and strategies in this strategically significant region. The panel will discuss the implications of the ongoing geopolitical shifts on world politics

(Collaboration: Asia Society Policy Institute, Delhi)
 

Speaker: Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Stockholm University; Honorary Senior Fellow, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore. His latest publications include, Jinnah: His Successes, Failures and Role in History (New Delhi: Penguin Viking, 2020); Pakistan: The Garrison State, Origins, Evolution, Consequences (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2013); among others

Chair: Dr. Sanjeev Chopra

The partition of India into two separate states was accompanied by unprecedented violence and the greatest forced migration in history. It bequeathed a sordid legacy of ideological and territorial disputes and conflicts and concomitant suspicions and fears which worsened over time. Yet, all along efforts to build trust and peace were also made. An argument to continue to argue for peace will be advanced in the talk.