Maati Ki Boli: Essence of Land

Dr. Shailesh Srivastava will be presenting the lyrical beauty of Maharashtra’s traditional folk music, featuring Gan–Gondhal, Vagya–Murli, Jagran (Khandoba), Gaulang (Gopi–Krishna dialogue), and Baithakicha Lavani.

Dr Srivastava, distinguished vocalist and recipient of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2022 for Folk Music (Uttar Pradesh). Trained by Padma Bhushan Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra of the Banaras gharana. She is celebrated for her versatility across languages and folk traditions.

Accompanists: Madhav Prasad, Harmonium; Pravin Kumar, Synthesizer; Anil Gawde, Dholki; Aashish Pawar, Naal; Omkar Gawde, Sambal, Chipani; Vishal Kumar, Percussion

(Collaboration: NCZCC, Prayagraj, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India)

Talk by Brig. Ashok Abbey (Retd), a veteran climber with over four decades of experience across the Karakoram, Himalaya and adjoining ranges. He brings deep field knowledge to the history of the Workman explorations.

Chair: Shri Shyam Saran, President, IIC

Guest of Honour: Lt Gen Ata Hasnain (Retd.)

Special Invitee: Ms Kokila Sudha, renowned mountaineer

This talk revisits the extraordinary 1911–1912 expedition of Fanny Bullock Workman. Her pioneering exploration of the 76 km long Siachen Glacier—now the world’s highest battlefield—mapped its chief tributaries and placed the glacier accurately within the geography of the Eastern Karakoram.

(Collaboration: Himalayan Club and The Himalayan Environment Trust)

A piano recital by Andreas König, internationally acclaimed concert pianist and currently piano lecturer for senior students and teacher training at Delhi Music Society.

He will be performing Georg Friedrich Händel, Sarabande; Issac Albéniz, Córdoba; Maurice Ravel, Alborada del gracioso; Enrique Granados, Danza Española no. 2 "Oriental"; Pepe Rodríguez, La Mar Picá (premiere performance); Joaquín Turina, Ensueño; Manuel de Falla, Fantasia bética.

(Collaboration: Embassy of Spain in New Delhi)

A discussion on Hegel’s views on Buddhism and Asia, examining his idea of the ‘East,’ its role in his philosophy, and how Asian thought figures in the transition to modernity and a global philosophical framework.

Moderator: Viren Murthy, Professor of transnational Asian History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and researches Chinese, Japanese and Indian intellectual history.

Prof. Klaus Vieweg is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena Germany and is a foremost interpreter of Hegel in the world, covering his philosophy. He approaches Hegel’s idea of freedom in relation to our contemporary crisis of modernity.

Researched, written, designed and narrated by Sohaila Kapur, under our biographical series 'Lives Lived'

Produced by Anuradha Dar of Katyayani and Three Arts Club Production.

Lights and projection by Burhan Qureshi.

Hind Transcreation of Script and Co-Narration by Nidhikant Pandey

Live Singing by Devanand Jha and Anjila Gugnani.

It is the story of the relationship between the legendary Anand brothers of Bollywood, Chetan, Dev and Vijay (Goldie). The narration, read with warmth and personal anecdotes, is delivered by Sohaila Kapur — their niece. Interwoven with clips from their films, the storytelling flows like a cinematic journey.

(Collaboration: Three Arts Club and Katyayani)

Odissi Recital

By Prapti Gupta from Ghaziabad, disciple of Guru Aruna Mohanty & Guru Alpana Nayak

At 18.30

Bharatanatyam Recital

By Sowmya Laxmi Narayanan from Delhi, disciple of Guru Geeta Chandran

Sitar Recital

By Saptarshi Hazra from Kolkata, disciple of Pt. Netai Basu, Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta and Pratyush Banerjee.

Accompanist: Pt. Ashis Sengupta

At 18.30

Hindustani Vocal Recital

By Priyanka Mitra from Kolkata, disciple of Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar & Guru Anjan Majumdar

An evening dedicated to the revered Kathak Maestro, Guru Munna Shukla. Ahaetuki, a Sanskrit term meaning “that which is without cause,” is a tribute to the Guru–Shishya parampara. 

Through the film The Kettle and the Cup and the Kathak Baithak that follows, the evening celebrates not merely an art form, but the devotion, discipline, and humility at its heart. Through the film The Kettle and the Cup and the Kathak Baithak that follows, it is a celebration not merely an art form, but the spirit of devotion, discipline, and humility that lies at its heart.

At 18:00

Screening of The Kettle and the Cup

(40 mins;2025; Hindi)

Director & Producer: Ruchi Saini

The documentary is created in the loving memory of the revered Kathak Maestro, Guru Late Munna Shukla Ji of the Kalka-Bindadin Gharana. The film honours the sacred bond between Guru & Shishya, offering a rare glimpse into the Maukhik Vidya.

At 18:45

Kathak Baithak

The Baithak will feature Aranya – The Forest Within, a Kathak offering by Ruchi Saini and her students. Aranya journeys into the quiet, breathing spaces where nature and Kathak meet

By Pelva Naik

Dhrupad, the oldest Indian Classical Music genre, was a preserve of male musicians, until Asghari Bai stormed the bastion. In 2015, aged only 29years, Pelva Naik gave a brilliant performance at the prestigious Darbar festival in London. 

She has been privileged to learn Dagarvani from Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar at his Gurukul in Bombay, in the traditional guru shishya parampara. Pelva has performed at major festivals in India and in France, Italy, Spain.

A Festival of Women's Voices in Gurbani Sangeet

“Kudrat de Sab Bande”

The fifth edition of Kirtaniye celebrates the oneness of all creation as envisioned by Guru Nanak Dev Ji- a reflection on nature, equality, and divine harmony in times of ecological imbalance.

Featuring performances by girls from Baru Sahib School, Himachal Pradesh; Gurleen Kaur (Uttarakhand); Avanti Patel (Mumbai); and Nivedita Singh (Patiala)

(Collaboration: Enable India Foundation)