Kriti-SAMHiTA: The Plurality of Indian Knowledge Systems

Recovering the Plays of Māyurāja

Conversation between Prof. Andrew Ollett, University of Chicago, and Prof. Naresh Keerthi, Ashoka University

Chair: Dr. Sudha Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director, IIC-International Research Division

The speakers will share their experiences of editing and translating two plays composed by the eighth-century poet Māyurāja, Tāpasavatsarāja (“Udayana the Ascetic”) and Udāttarāghava (“Raghu’s Exalted Descendants”). They will refer to the challenges posed by the manuscripts, of which there is only one extant for Tāpasavatsarāja, and only one accessible to scholars of Udāttarāghava.

Prof. Andrew Ollett works on the literary and intellectual traditions of South Asia, including works composed in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsha, Kannada, and Chinese from the first millennium of the common era. He is the recipient of the Infosys Prize for 2025.

Prof. Naresh Keerthi is Head, Department of Sanskrit, Ashoka University and researched on the semantics of colour in Sanskrit, at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. He is interested in kāvya and nāṭya literature in Sanskrit and Prakrit, and their interactions with South India’s literary cultures. He studies topics at the intersection of the lexicon, grammar and poetics, and is investigating the development of poetic topoi in kāvya literature.

Sixteenth in a series of lectures organised by IIC-International Research Division with the support of Ministry of External Affairs

Power Within (45 min)
Intimate Theatre
Director: Dilip Shankar; Producer: Mrinalini Chawla; Lights: Mukesh Chaudhary; Actors: Gauri Saxena, Dilip Shankar 
A tentative woman shares her journey of realizing the power 'within her' through situations and relationships. She explores visualization as a way to navigate life! And practices her power of choice in her journey. Life triggering the 'power within' and the 'power within' translating into life.

(Collaboration: Centre for Creative Expressions)
 

Darshan: Gaze of Grace
(207 min;2024; English)
A film on Sri Ramana Maharshi
Directed by Japna Tulsi
 

A cinematic meditation on the silent presence of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi where stories, poetry, and song become the medium through which his luminous stillness is revealed.
 

(Collaboration: Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama)
 

Exploring the cultural exchange between India and France, these talks examine how comics and cinema reflect and influence societies across borders. From Astérix to Amar Chitra Katha, and the Lumière brothers to Bollywood, both mediums reveal deep mutual impact – shaping narratives, styles and artistic dialogues across time and geography.

Speakers: Krithika S. and Anuj Sharma, teachers at Alliance Française de Delhi.

Moderator: Rohini Rangachari Karnik, teacher at Alliance Française de Delhi.

(Collaboration: The Alliance Française de Delhi)

Duration: (68 minutes; English, Hindi, Marathi with Subtitles)

This unique film revisits the golden era of radio, before television, mobiles, and social media. It explores radio’s deep impact on passionate individuals, featuring a vintage radio museum in Bengaluru, the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing commentary, Ham Radio’s role in disasters like the Tsunami, and beloved programs like Binaca, Geetmala and cricket commentary. The film also highlights school radio keeping the tradition alive.

Awarded and screened at over 80 festivals in 36 countries, it’s recognized by UNESCO and featured on AIR.

Intimate Theatre

Director: Dilip Shankar

Producer: Mrinalini Chawla

A tentative woman shares her journey of realizing the power 'within her' through situations and relationships. She explores visualization as a way to navigate life! And practices her power of choice in her journey. Life triggering the 'power within' and the 'power within' translating into life.

(Collaboration: Centre for Creative Expressions)

Exploring the cultural exchange between India and France, these talks examine how comics and cinema reflect and influence societies across borders. From Astérix to Amar Chitra Katha, and the Lumière brothers to Bollywood, both mediums reveal deep mutual impact – shaping narratives, styles and artistic dialogues across time and geography.

Speakers: Krithika S. and Anuj Sharma, teachers at Alliance Française de Delhi.

Moderator: Rohini Rangachari Karnik, teacher at Alliance Française de Delhi.

(Collaboration: The Alliance Française de Delhi)

Awareness and Capacity Building Workshop on Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Technology, Policy and Regulations: Towards a Net Zero Strategy
 

Introduction by Dr. Malti Goel, President, Climate Change Research Institute (CCRI)
Welcome Address: Prof. D.P. Aggrawal, Chairman, Governing Council, CCRI and former Chairman, UPSC

Inaugural Address by the Chief Guest: Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, Niti Aayog and Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University

Keynote Address: Shri Alok Kumar, National Advisory Board, ACBCCUS and former Secretary, Ministry of Power

(Collaboration: Climate Change Research Institute)
 

A talk by K.K. Shailaja, popularly known as Shailaja Teacher, her exemplary leadership during the COVID-19 crises in Kerala earned her global recognition. Former Minister of Health, Women & Child, and Social Justice with the Govt. of Kerala, she was named as one of the most influential women in 2020 by the Financial Times and Kerala’s Acclaimed Health Minister by The Guardian. Shailaja currently serves as an MLA in the Kerala Legislative Assembly

(Collaboration: Business & Community Foundation)
 

Excavations at Sarnath: 2013-14: New Evidences
 

Illustrated Lecture by Prof. (Dr.) B.R. Mani, esteemed field archaeologist, numismatist, and art critic; presently Director General of the National Museum and Vice Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Heritage (IIH)

The lecture highlights the latest archaeological findings from one of India’s most significant historical sites.

(Collaboration: Tibet House)