A Mehfil of Mystic Poetry, Dastangoi and Music

A specially curated mehfil that brings together the poetic worlds of two timeless mystics: Jalaluddin Rumi and Sant Kabeer.

Performers: Ashwin ‘Afraad’, a national award-winning actor for the acclaimed Marathi film Shwaas; and Sawani Shikhare, a classically trained vocalist under Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar

The Legacy of Nelson Mandela

Speaker: Shri Anand Grover, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India and Human Rights Jurist
Introduction by Programme Director, South African High Commission 

Opening remarks: Suhas Borker, Convener, Working Group on Alternative Strategies 
Closing remarks: H.E. Prof. Anil Sooklal, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa

The Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture was instituted at IIC in 2018 to mark the Centenary of Madiba
                              
(Collaboration: South African High Commission and Working Group on Alternative Strategies)

Surbahar Recital (Cancelled)
By Bhushan Koshti from Mumbai, disciple of Pt. Pushpraj Koshti
Accompanist : Vivekanand Kurangale ( Pakhawaj )

At 18:30 
Bharatanatyam Recital

By Dr. Debaldev Jana from Kolkata, disciple of Guru Thanjavur B.Herambanathan & Kalamandalam V.R. Venkitt 

Directed by Geleck Palsang

The film offers a powerful tribute to the extraordinary resilience, courage and compassion of Ama Jetsun Pema- the first female cabinet Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and the unwavering force behind the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV), a beacon of hope and a home to thousands of Tibetan children in exile.

The screening will be followed by a conversation with TCV alumni.

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

Re-cast(e) ing the State Policy: Ascription, Identities and Democratic Politics
 

Speaker: Prof. Surinder Singh Jodhka, Professor of Sociology, Jawaharlal Nehru University and recipient of the ICSSR-Amartya Sen Award for Distinguished Social Scientist.

Welcome and Introduction: Prof. Nitya Nanda, Director, Council for Social Development

Vote of Thanks: Prof. Biswajit Dhar, Vice President, Council for Social Development

The post-independence Indian state has had a rather ambivalent attitude towards caste. Caste could not enter the imaginations of India’s development establishment and found no place in the vocabulary of economic growth spelt out in the planning models of the Nehruvian state.
The announcement to enumerate caste in the forthcoming national census marks an important turning in the attitude of the Indian state towards caste. Through his presentation, Prof. Jodhka will attempt to provide a political journey of caste and its changing relationship with the state policy.

(Collaboration: Council for Social Development)
 

By Rahul; Sangeetha ; Nandita Krishna Kumar and Arti Mehta ; Shreyas Hariharan; Poornima Gopal
Disciples of Vid Swarnalatha Subramanian

Followed by recital of Vid Swarnalatha Subramanian and her disciples.

Accompanists: E S Ashwini, Sowmya Kannan and Kiran Pandey (violin); Ratul S Kumar, G Swaminathan (Mridangam); M Sriram (Kanjira ); and Shounok Bannerji (Ghatam)

(Collaboration: Gayathri Fine Arts)
 

By Brajeswar Mukherjee, disciple of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty
 

Accompanists: Durjay Bhaumik (Tabla); Sumit Mishra (Harmonium); and Debjani Das (Tanpura)

(Collaboration: ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata)

Badariya Baras Rahi : Songs from Eastern UP

A celebrated exponent of Kajri from Mirzapur, Padmashri Urmila Srivastava will present an evocative evening of monsoon songs. With a repertoire of over 10,000 folk songs and a legacy spanning five decades, she brings the soulful traditions of eastern Uttar Pradesh to the stage.

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

Women have been part of Buddhism since the 5th century BCE, when they were ordained as bhikkhunis and led nunneries despite a patriarchal culture. Over time, restrictions ended full ordination in many regions, and female monastic lineages declined. However, in some countries, women continue to receive full ordination and run their own nunneries and teaching centres, preserving the spiritual legacy of early female practitioners.

Screening of two films followed by discussions

At 15:30
The Geshema is Born (56 mins; 2019, English)
Directed by Malati Rao
Followed by discussion with Dr Kaveri Gill, Senior Fellow, Centre for Excellence in Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar University

At 17:30
White Robes, Saffron Dreams (44 mins; 2013; English)
Directed by Teena Gill 
Followed by a panel discussion moderated by Teena Gill with Dr Uma Chakravarti, Historian and film maker; Shantum Seth, mindfulness teacher and peace builder; and Dr Renuka Singh, sociologist and Director, Tushita Mahayana Meditation Centre, Delhi

The Crisis of Higher Education in India: Disturbing Present and Worrisome Future
 

Speaker: Deepak Nayyar, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 
Honorary Fellow, Balliol College, University of Oxford, former Chief Economic Adviser, Government of India, former Distinguished University Professor of Economics, New School for Social Research, New York and former Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi

Moderator: Dr Meenakshi Gopinath, Life Trustee, IIC