A World in Flux: India’s Economic Priorities

Essays in Honour of Shankar Acharya

Edited by Amita Batra and A K.Bhattacharya (Rupa Publications:2025)

Chief Guest: Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Discussants: Shyam Saran, President IIC, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Former Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission; Shankar Acharya, Former Chief Economic Advisor, GoI; Sajjid Z. Chinoy, Managing Director and Chief India Economist, JP Morgan; Amita Batra, Professor, School of International Studies, JNU and editor of the book; and A.K. Bhattacharya, Editorial Director, Business Standard and editor of the book

IN THE MULTIPURPOSE HALL FROM 10:00 TO 13:00
Movement Workshop
Conducted by Tanushree Shankar

Open to all dancers of all classical styles

AT 16:00 IN C.D. DESHMUKH AUDITORIUM
Avatarana – The Story of Natya
A theatrically witty retelling of a 2500-year-old saga, scripted and performed
By Smt Ramaa Bharadvaj

AT 18:30
Young Dancers Festival

Kuchipudi Recital
By Abhinaya Nagajothy

Followed by
Odissi Recital
By Shashwati Garai Ghosh
 

Organised in collaboration with Natya Vriksha; Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India; and with the Support of Friends of Natya Vriksha

IN THE MULTIPURPOSE HALL FROM 10:00 TO 13:00 
Movement Workshop
Conducted by Tanushree Shankar

Open to all dancers of all classical styles

AT 16:00 IN C.D. DESHMUKH AUDITORIUM
Lifetime Achievement Award
The 6th Natya Vriksha Lifetime Achievement Award will be conferred upon Dr. Kiran Seth, Founder, SPICMACAY Movement

Talk: Embodying Histories: Dance, Choreography and Narrative
Speaker: Dr. Jeff Friedman, Dance Studies Scholar, Rutgers University, Fulbright Specialist at the Department of Art, Media and Performance, SHSS, Shiva Nadar Institution of Eminence

At 18:30
Young Dancers Festival
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Madhura Bhrushundi

Followed by
Kathak Recital
By Dheerendra Tiwari
 

By Dr. Gaurav Sood, disciple of Pt. L.K. Pandit. Dr. Sood also specialises in songs of the Golden Era of Hindi films

The concert will be preceded with a tribute to K.L. Saigal and Pran Nevile by Shalini Bhargava

Organised to mark  K.L. Saigal’s 121st birth anniversary and Pran Nevile Centenary Celebrations

(Collaboration: K.L. Saigal Memorial Circle)

Speaker: Prof. Krishna Kumar, well-known educationist, Honorary Fellow, Panjab University, Chandigarh

The concept of ‘social change’ has roots in India’s freedom struggle and modernisation theories, with education playing a central role. Traditional inquiry into social change focuses on caste, community, gender, and rural–urban relations, while an educational perspective offers deeper insights based on personal experiences of learning. Prof. Kumar will examine how education shapes individual perceptions of social change, challenging generalised modernisation theories. The lecture will highlight how the state of the education system and personal circumstances influence one’s understanding of societal transformation. By exploring education as both a structural institution and a personal experience, this lecture will provide fresh perspectives on how knowledge and learning shape societal evolution in India.

The 7th Social Change Annual Lecture

(Collaboration: Council for Social Development; and Sage India)

The Zoom Link: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86300571581?pwd=hbMBhHlXaX13PGHUmISx3ODpj0oivf.1

Meeting ID: 863 0057 1581
Passcode: 758957

Exploring the concept of Punjabiyat - beyond class and borders, not limited to a religion, not limited by a singular language and how plurality is germaine to the musical oeuvre of Punjab. 

Recital by Ms Sunaini Sharma,  Punjabi ethnomusicologist and poet, grand-daughter of  the legendary Punjabi singer Surinder Kaur

In conversation with Ms Beeba Sobti, historian and Suhas Borker, Editor, Citizens First TV (CFTV) and Trustee, IIC 

(Collaboration: D. S. Borker Memorial Foundation)
 

The Winning Formula: 52 Ways to Change your life

By K.J. Alphons (Bloomsbury India: 2024)

Discussants: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science & Technology (Independent Charge) and Minister of Earth Sciences (Independent Charge), Govt. of India; Hon’ble Chief Justice Shri Manmohan, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court; Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament and author; and Shri Rishabh Shah, Founder and former President, India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN)

Ms Rini Khanna, journalist and anchor will be in conversation with Shri K.J. Alphons, former Union Minister for Tourism (Independent Charge) and former IAS Officer, MLA and MP; and author of the book

Chair: Shri Shyam Saran, President, IIC

Conceptualised by Dr. Ashwani Kumar

World Diabetes Day 2024: Diabetes and Well-Being

From 10:00 to 13:00
Screening Camp for Diabetes 

Screening for diabetes risk including weight, height and waist check; random blood sugar testing; screening of complications for those already having diabetes including blood pressure, vascular and foot and eye check-up

To be conducted by Dr. S.V. Madhu and his team of doctors, officers and staff from University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delh

Open to IIC members and staff members of IIC

At 16:00
Challenges of Living with Diabetes – Tips for Improving your wellbeing

Speaker: Prof. S.V. Madhu, Director Professor, Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi

Followed by a panel discussion on: Diabetes and Wellness: Managing Health for a Better Life 

Panelists: Dr. S.V. Madhu; Dr. J.S. Titiyal, Chief, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Sandeep Mahajan, Professor of Nephrology, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Rajesh Sagar, Professor of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi; and Smt Neelanjana Singh, Dietician, Nutrition Therapist, New Delhi

Chair: Dr. Ashwani Kumar
 

Baul and Folk Music

Presented by Krishna Das Baul

(Collaboration: Impresario India)

Conceptualised by Dr. Ashwani Kumar

To Mark World Sight Day 2024
Theme: Love Your Eyes
Eye camp and talk

From 10:00 to 13:00
World Sight Day – Eye Screening Camp 
A comprehensive camp which will include screening for Refractive errors; Presbyopia; Cataract; Glaucoma; and Diabetic Retinopathy
The camp will be conducted by a team of doctors, Officers and staff from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre (RPC) for Ophthalmic Sciences under the supervision of Dr. Jeewan S. Titiyal, Professor and Chief of RPC, AIIMS, New Delhi

Open to IIC members and staff members of IIC

At 16:00
Love your Eyes Kids
Speaker: Dr. Jeewan S. Titiyal, Professor of Ophthalmology and Chief, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences and Dean (Research), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi

Followed by a panel discussion on: How to Protect your eyes from common and serious problems
Panelists from the Faculty of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS – Dr. Jeewan S. Titiyal; Dr. Tanuj Dada; Dr. Praveen Vashist; Dr. Rohit Saxena; and Dr. Rohan Chawla

Chair: Dr. Ashwani Kumar

Eye problems may affect all ages and dramatically affect the quality of life. Poor vision can significantly impact life in various ways by affecting independence of individuals, reduced engagement in activities, negative impact on mental health, limitations to education and increased risk of accidents. The public lecture and panel discussion will focus on eye problems that may affect individuals of all ages with special emphasis on childhood related eye problems