Gandhi Speaks Today
This conversation between historian Sudhir Chandra, former professor of history and Ashutosh Bhardwaj, journalist, author; former Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study.

The conversation will explore the continuing relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas in the contemporary world. Reflecting on truth, non-violence, equality, and social harmony, the conversation will highlight how Gandhian thought can inform individual choices and collective action today.

(Collaboration: @Crossroads)

One-Day National Seminar on "The 5th Plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee: Party, Army, and Governance"

Keynote Address: Manoranjan Mohanty, Former Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi
The Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, scheduled to be held in Beijing from 26 to 29 October 2026, will focus on the sustained advancement of full and rigorous Party self-governance. The seminar will bring together scholars of China to examine the Plenum’s priorities and consider their implications for Party discipline, governance, and China’s external relations, including its relations with India.
For more details regarding the sessions, please visit the website
(Collaboration: Institute of Chinese Studies)

Fourth Estate Rewired: The Changing Structure of Indian Media

Moderator: Smita Gupta, Senior Journalist

Discussants: Vibodh Parthasarathy, Associate Professor at the Centre for Culture, Media and Governance (CCMG), Jamia Millia Islamia; Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, Journalist and Author; Maneesh Chibber, Journalist and Author
Nikhil Pahwa, Editor of Medianama and Digital Activist; Prasanto K Roy, Media & Digital Consultant, Editor; Jayanta Roy Chowdhury, Editor, UNI.; Shuma Raha, Journalist and Author; Bharat Bhushan, Journalist

(Organised by the IIC’s Sectoral Policy Group on Media)
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

Stories the Fire Could Not Burn: A Personal Account of the Manipur Crisis 2023-25
By Hoinhu Hauzel (Speaking Tiger)

Discussants: G K Pillai, Former Union Home Secretary, GoI; Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, Indian journalist and writer; Hoinhu Hauzel, Author of the book
 

IIC/MEDIA DIALOGUES 
The Role of Cartoons in the Media

Moderator: R. Srinivasan, Senior Journalist

Discussants: Sandeep Adhwaryu, Chief Cartoonist, The Times of India; Manjul, Cartoonist, EP Unny, Chief Political Cartoonist, The Indian Express; Samim Akter Sheikh, Independent Political Cartoonist.

(Collaboration: The Media Foundation)
 

INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY 

Comparative analysis of Women and Child Burials from Harappan sites of North-Western region of India
Speaker: Dr. Satarupa Bal, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New Delhi.

Chair: K.N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC

Moderator: Pratap Bhanu Singh Sengar, former Director (Monuments) Archaeological Survey of India

The talk examines the burial practices of women and children across Harappan sites, including Rakhigarhi, Farmana and Kalibangan. Drawing on archaeological evidence, skeletal remains and grave goods, it explores gender roles, social status, kinship structures and early life conditions. 
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

An Alchemy of Words and Silences: Contemporary Hindi Women Poets
By Rekha Sethi; translated by Hina Nandrajog (Routledge, 2026)

Moderator: Sanchita Khurana, Assistant Professor, Mata Sundari College for Women, DU

Discussants: Harish Trivedi, Former Head & Professor, Dept of English, DU; Garima Srivastava, Dept of Hindi, JNU; Nishat Zaidi, Dept of English, JMI; Prof. Rekha Sethi, Author of the book; Hina Nandrajog, Translator of the book

Readings by Anamika, Eminent Hindi Poet & Novelist; Savita Singh, Feminist Poet & Political Theorist

Book Discussion Group

When Branding Met the Movies.

by Chaitanya Prasad, Zoya Ahmad and Vaishnavie Srinivasan (NBT, 2026)

Chair: K.N Shrivastava, Director, IIC

Moderator: Manjari Chaturvedi, Classical Dancer

Discussants: Nila Madhab Panda, Film Producer and Director; Ms Indrani Bagchi, CEO, Ananta Centre and Journalist; Anshul Chaturvedi, Editor, Times; Chaitanya Prasad, author of the book.
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 
India at War: Empires, Battles and the making of a Nation
By D.P.K. Pillay (Penguin, 2026)

Chair: R K Singh, Defence Secretary of India

Discussants: Lt Gen Satish Nambiar (Retd), Former Force Commander and Head of Mission of UNPROFOR & DGMO; Sanjeev Chopra, former Director, LBSNAA; Nazneen Rowhani, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India; Sandeep Unnithan, Editor Chakra News; Col DPK Pillay (Retd), Author of the book
 

Fish for Food and Nutrition: Evolving Policy for Fisheries and Aquaculture
By Shinoj Parappurathu, and Anuja A.R. of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi

Chair: Dr George John, Former Vice Chancellor, Birsa Agri University, Ranchi, Former Senior Adviser, Dept of Biotechnology, Govt of India

Moderator: Siraj Hussain, Convener, Sectoral Policy Group (Agriculture), IIC

A discussion on the growth trajectory and structural transformation of India's fisheries and aquaculture sector, focusing on its contribution to food and nutritional security, export earnings and livelihood opportunities. The discussion will examine investment and innovation, resource sustainability, value-chain modernization, technological advancements and evolving policy frameworks, while identifying key priorities for sustainable and inclusive fisheries development in India.

(Organised by the IIC’s Sectoral Policy Group on Agriculture)