Rediscovering Delhi, Rediscovering the City
Half-day Symposium

Presentations by Dr. Alexander Philips, Assistant Professor of English, Ashoka University; and Shri Sohail Hashmi, oral historian of Delhi, social activist, filmmaker and conservationist; Prof. Swati Pal, Principal, Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi; and Dr. Jitender Gill, Convener, Khoj, former Director JDMC Research Centre

Speaker: Shri Mohit Soni, Group CEO, WhiteLint Global Pvt. Ltd

Chair: Prof. Sunita Narang, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi

The talk will focus on the evolving threat landscape, best practices for online safety, emerging technologies in cybersecurity
 

Speakers: Prof. Deepak Pental, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi; Prof. A. K. Gosain, Professor of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi; Dr. Asad Rahmani, former Director Bombay Natural History Society; Justice Swatanter Kumar, former chairperson of the National Green Tribunal and former judge of the Supreme Court of India; and Ms Reena Mahajan, founder Studio DiverCity, Paris; architect, urban planner and advocate of sustainable cities

Chair: Suhas Borker, Founder Member, Green Circle of Delhi

The city of Delhi alone continues to contribute more than 70% of the pollutant load (untreated sewage and industrial effluents) in river Yamuna. The Yamuna floodplain ecosystems along its 22-kilometer stretch through Delhi is highly degraded and lost in some stretches. Expanding and upgrading sewage treatment plants (STPs) is essential; stringent measures are required to stop industrial pollutants from entering the river system.  Maintaining minimum river flow is critical as the river's reduced flow during the dry season spirals the concentration of pollutants. The idea of riverfront development which concretizes the floodplains and permits construction at the edge of the main channel has to be avoided at all costs. Maintaining a high level of ecological integrity of the river ecosystem has to be a critical part of the rejuvenation strategy. A concerted action needs to be taken at the national level to save river Yamuna.

NDMC Horticulture Department shall present a sapling to each participant; please bring a cloth/jute carry bag.

(Collaboration: Green Circle of Delhi)

Curator: Prof. Himanshu Prabha Ray

The Harappan Civilization and Gujarat
 

Illustrated lecture by Prof. P. Ajithprasad, formerly with the Dept. of Archaeology and Ancient History, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, presently Guest Professor, Archaeological Science Centre, IIT, Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Chair: Dr. Y.S. Rawat, Director-General, Archaeological Survey of India

Being the southern frontier of the Indus Civilization, Gujarat had an important role in the overall cultural and economic development of the Civilization. Recent studies have shown well-documented Early Harappan cultural developments going back to c 3500BCE, as well as unique cultural traits peculiar to Gujarat forming a part of the Urban phase of the Indus civilization. The studies have helped to understand the resource management strategies and economic production network of the Harappans. The new excavations also show the resilience of Harappans in the face of adverse climatic events and their gradual cultural transformation into the Post-Urban/Late Harappan stage. The presentation covers details of the new discoveries.  
 

Conceptualised and Curated by Anisha Shekhar Mukherji

Learning from Jaisalmer

A talk by Professor Vinod Gupta: architect, designer and teacher, founder member of Gubbi Alliance for Sustainable Habitat, and founder member of GRIHA Council, Fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects, member of the Institute of Indian Interior Designers, Indian Society of Ergonomics. Professor Gupta has taught at SPA Delhi and Sushant School of Art and Architecture. As partner in Space Design Consultants (SDC) and as CEO of Opus Indigo Designs Pvt. Ltd., he works on environment friendly architecture, interior design, furniture design, and sustainable planning. Jaisalmer was the subject of his PhD research at IIT Delhi on building physics completed in 1984. The talk, Learning from Jaisalmer will present his work on aspects of cities in the desert, and alternatives to the wholly unsuitable Western models that have replaced traditional Indian tools and methods of working and learning.

The talk will be followed by a dialogue with Snehanshu Mukherjee, architect, educator and writer, Adjunct Professor, Indian Institute of Art & Design, New Delhi. Snehanshu is one of Professor Gupta's former students at SPA and was part of the research students group on Professor Gupta's Jaisalmer field trip.

Moderator: Anisha Shekhar Mukherji, Conservation Architect, Author and Visiting Faculty at S.P.A. Delhi.

Speakers: Amitabh Sinha, Deputy Editor, The Indian Express; Srinivas Krishnaswamy, Founder Trustee and Chief Functionary (CEO), Vasudha Foundation; and Dr. Manish Kr. Shrivastava, Associate Director, Earth Science and Climate Change, TERI

Moderator: Shri Ravi Agarwal, Founding Director, Toxics Link

At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, India expressed its displeasure that the focus of the climate talks is on mitigation and not enabling less developed countries to take measures for mitigation. However, if recent reports are to be believed, India has improved its Climate Risk Index (CRI) from 7th in 2019 to 22nd in 2022, implying the country is in a better place now with regard to mitigation. While there is a buzz around climate change, the issue and its impacts are perceived and understood differently by communities. The discussion is an attempt to inform citizens about the science of climate change, its impacts and our preparedness.

(Collaboration: Toxics Link)

Speaker: Prof. Ramin Jahanbegloo, Iranian-Canadian Political Philosopher and Vice Dean, Jindal Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat

Chair: Prof. Neera Chandhoke, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Equity Studies, New Delhi

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Hannah Arendt’s death. The talk will cover Arendt’s definitions of politics, violence and power, while showing the relevance of her political thought for the understanding of our present world. Hannah Arendt’s multifaceted work that deals with a range of issues has established her as one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century.

Introduction: Col. (Dr.) D.P. K. Pillay, Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

Panelists: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar, MP; Lt. Gen. Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of Army Staff; Dr. Kazem Samandari, Founder-Chairman, L’Opera and Senior Member, Baha’i community; and Brig. M.S. Jodha, third-generation army officer, author and grandson on Col. Aman Singh Jodha

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

The Battle of Haifa (1918) is a pivotal event in military annals as it marked the last major cavalry charge in history. The Battle saw the Jodhpur, Mysore, and Hyderabad Lancers (part of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade) overcome Ottoman, Austrian, and German forces, liberating Haifa as well as Abdul Baha. This daring victory defied expectations, echoing the famous Charge of the Light Brigade but with a triumphant outcome.

Vasna Ek Nadi ka Naam Hai
By Savita Singh (Vani Prakashan: 2024)

Discussant: Prof. Rohini Agrawal, poet and author; Prof. Sudha Singh, Professor of Hindi, University of Delhi; Ms Aditi Maheshwari, Executive Director, Vani Prakashan; and Prof. Savita Singh, Professor and founding Director, School of Gender and Development Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University (Delhi) and author of the book

Chair: Prof. Sukrita Paul Kumar , Guest Editor, Indian Literature, poet and academic 

(Collaboration: The Poetry Society, India)