Gandhi and Music

An illustrated lecture by Dipankar De Sarkar

The talk explores Gandhi’s world of music – the songs and hymns that inspired him through the darkest hours of India’s freedom struggle.

Dipankar De Sarkar is a journalist and amateur musician who writes on politics, music and the politics of music.

Poetry Reading by Ranjana Argade from Ahmedabad, Shobha Akshar, Vimal Kumar and Vinod Bharadwaj, all from Delhi

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)

From Revolution to Evolution: A Journey Through 20th Century American Modern Dance
An illustrated lecture presented by Sharon Lowen

A panoramic visual overview of 20th century origins of early Modern Dance through Post Modern to Contemporary. Sharon Lowen’s distinguished 52-year classical dance career in India was preceded by 17 years of modern dance and ballet training in the USA and an M.A. in Dance, University of Michigan.

Winners of the International Booker Prize 2025 Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi in conversation with Sujata Prasad

(Collaboration: Ahad Anhad)

Book Discussion Group

The Conscience Network: A Chronicle of  Resistance to  a Dictatorship

By Sugata Srinivasaraju (Vintage Books; 2025)

Discussants: Ashis Nandy, political psychologist and social theorist; Coomi Kapoor, columnist; Neerja Chowdhury, veteran journalist; Dunu Roy, social activist and environmentalist; and Sugata Srinivasaraju, author of the book

Moderator: Suhas Borker, Editor, Citizens First TV (CFTV)

This will be followed by a conversation between the book’s principal protagonists, Ravi Chopra, SR Hiremath, Anand Kumar and the author

No. Join us for an evening of an enchanting story that travels across Vietnam, China and Japan. An ancient Asian Epic written between1766-1820. And with this a chance to rediscover our Asian neighbours, their culture, their politics and some of their policies. An initiative in soft diplomacy…

Storytelling by Neha Bansal, Founder Director ‘Asianism-Retold’ – an initiative in preventive diplomacy and new models of development based on the influence that Asian values including China have in shaping global geo-politics, development frameworks and international concepts

Introduction: Akshay Mathur, Senior Director (Head), Asia Society Policy Institute, Delhi

The workshop will be conducted by Sanya Tyagi, Yoga expert and Odissi artist; and Alka Tyagi, Yoga expert, poet and academic

The workshop will offer five components of Yoga in short 15 minute capsules. The five components will cover Posture – for body alignment, flexibility and physical health; Breathing Practice – for detoxification and vital energy; Yogic relaxation (Yoga Nidra) – for relaxing brain centres; Mantras – for wellbeing and will power; and Meditation – for creativity and intuitive wisdom  
 

Vihangam: Gangapath ke Bhagirath Aakhyan
By Abhay Mishra (Penguin Swadesh: 2025)

Discussants: Shri Rambahadur Rai, President IGNCA; Prof. Pushpesh Pant, historian and former Professor of International Relations, Jawaharlal Nehru University;  Ms Vaishali Mathur, Editor, Penguin Random House India; Shri Abhay Mishra, author of the book

Moderator: Shri Vyomesh Shukla,poet, critic and translator
 

POSTPONED

Raghu Rai: Waiting for the Divine
By Rachna Singh (Hawakal Publishers: 2024)

Discussants: Shri Raghu Rai, well-known phototographer and photojournalist ; Ms Roobina Karode, Director & Chief Curator, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi; Dr. Rachna Singh, author and Editor of The Wise Owl, a literary & art online magazine and author of the book

Moderator: Mandira Nayar, Senior journalist 
 

I’m Kabir and I’m Not, says Kabir
 

Whose Kabir? Which Kabir? Did the historical Kabir actually write “Ud Jayega Hans Akela” made famous by Kumar Gandharva? Is Kabir the most faked signature/chaap/takhallus ever? How is it that a million couplets are aggregated in his name? What kind of Kabir is never sung? How may we read Kabir via the Buddha and Ambedkar? Poet, translator, publisher and musician Anand will try to unwrap the many Kabirs that are wrapped in the diaphanous fabric called Kabir.

Anand is the publisher at Navayana, a student of Dhrupad with Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar, and is the author of the recent book, The Notbook of Kabir: Thinner than Water, Fiercer than Fire.