Speakers: Ms Rana Safvi, historian, author, translator & cultural scholar; Shri Karan Mujoo, writer and creative Director; and Ms Aishwarya Jha, author , designer and entrepreneur.

Moderator:  Ms Shagufta Siddhi, art historian and archaeologist

Despite its immense impact, dementia remains under-recognized as a public health priority. WHO has identified dementia as an urgent global challenge. In India, timely action is needed to strengthen awareness, early diagnosis, workforce development, family support systems, and a continuum of care—across health and social sectors. This calls for a unified, multi-sectoral roadmap, drawing inspiration from the NITI Aayog-led National Brain Health Initiative and aligned with its goals.

This consultative meeting aims to bring together key government, academic, and non-profit stakeholders to deliberate on the above issues.

(Collaboration: Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, IHBAS and Dementia India Alliance)

Ananda : An Exploration of Cannabis in India

By Karan Madhok (Aleph, 2024)

Discussants: Sh. Omair Ahmad, acclaimed novelist and journalist; Dr Khagesh Gautam, Professor, Jindal Global Law School, Ms Tripti Tandon, Lawyer and Drug Policy Analyst; Sh. Karan Madhok, author of the book

Moderator: Mr. Amritesh Mukherjee, Independent Journalist and Editor 
 

The Hyderabadis: From 1947 to the Present Day

By Daneesh Majid (Harper Collins, 2025)

Discussants: Dr. Mujibur Rehman, Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University) ; Sh. Dinesh C. Sharma, Journalist ; Mr. Daneesh Majid, Author of the book

Chair: Shri A.S. Dulat Former Head, R&AW

Moderator: Shri Ruben Banerjee, Journalist

Indian Political Theory: Possibilities and Challenges

The Inaugural Session and Panel Discussion

Debating Indian Political Theory: Political Theory in India

Coordinators: Prof. Savita Singh and Dr. Manindra Nath Thakur

Discussants: Prof. Rajeev Bhargava, Prof. Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Yogendra Yadav, Prof. Gopal Guru, Prof Gurpreet Mahajan

Chair: Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty

Followed by an Open Discussion with the audience

(Collaboration: Association of Creative Theory & Foundation for Creative Social Research; International Herbert Marcuse Society, USA; The Raza Foundation; and Shanti Sahyog)

Business Strategies and Public Policies in India and Europe: Ideas for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Society

Edited by Bidisha Banerji and Sheetal Sharma (Springer, 2025)

Discussants: Prof. Rumki Basu, Former Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia ; Shri Narayanan Madhavan, Senior Journalist, Columnist and Editor ; Dr. Bidisha Banerji, Deputy Director, Amity University & Editor of the book; Dr. Sheetal Sharma, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University & Editor of the book

Chair : Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG

How is India fairing in achieving a just and equitable energy transition that benefits both the environment and its people? How is India addressing the socio-economic dimensions of the energy transition? Are ecological impacts, community participation and nurturing local adaptability also being kept in mind? These are question the discussion aims to discuss at the public lecture

Speakers: Dr Atul Kumar, Professor, Energy Studies Programme, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Mr Karthik Ganesan, Fellow and Director, Strategic Partnerships, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW); Dr Debajit Palit, Centre Head- Centre for Climate Change & Energy Transition, Chintan Research Foundation.

(Collaboration: Toxics Link)

Life and Works of Dr Jayant Narlikar : A Talk

Prof. Somak Raychaudhury, Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University (Speaker)

Amb. K. P. Fabian, Professor, Symbiosis University (Chair)

From Fire to Light: Rereading the Manusmrti

By Arvind Sharma (Harper Collins, 2024)

Discussants: Prof. Purushottam Agrawal, Former Chairperson, Centre of Indian Languages, JNU; Prof. Bharat Gupt, Vice-Chairman, National School of Drama & Former Professor, Delhi University; Prof. Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion, McGill University & Author of the book

Moderator: Prof. C. Upender Rao, School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

The talk will focus on the 12-day Israel-Iran war that began on June 13 with an Israeli strike and escalated when the U.S. joined on Day 9. With President Trump claiming to have destroyed Iran’s nuclear program—a claim still disputed—a U.S.-brokered ceasefire followed. The discussion will explore why Israel initiated the war, whether the ceasefire will hold, and the broader implications for regional stability, global geopolitics, and India.

Speakers: Ambassador K P Fabian, Distinguished Fellow, Symbiosis University; and Wing Commander Praful Bakshi, well-known expert in geopolitics.