An illustrated lecture by Priyamvada Natarajan

Chair: Dr Shailesh Nayak, Life Trustee, IIC, Director, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Prof. Natarajan will present and discuss the latest results from the James Webb Space Telescope that have started to radically transform our understanding of the formation of the first stars, galaxies and black holes. Starting with the overall context and the current framework used to comprehend the cosmos, she will present the new ideas and theories that have been put to test by James Webb, including her own work on the new pathway to form the first black holes by direct collapse of gas in the very early Universe.
 

Solo guitar concert by Sidharth Sarangi, classical guitarist, pianist and composer from Odisha

The artist will present compositions by F. Tárrega; I. Albéniz; A. Bárrios; Gary Ryan; P. Steidl; and C. Domeniconi

(Collaboration: Delhi Music Society)
 

The 20th IAWRT Asian Women’s Film Festival: 6 to 8 March 2025

Programme Details

The 20th edition of the festival brings together a rich collection of fiction, non-fiction, animation and short films from different parts of Asia. Curated by the noted festival director and programmer, Bina Paul, the festival includes masterclasses, seminars and panel discussions; and exhibitions. These include panel discussions on Women and the Arts; Climate Change and Gender Justice; and Archiving. Conversations with Payal Kapadia, Hwang Hei Rim, and Akiko Ashizawa; and a tribute to Manjira Datta and Aruna Vasudev, two stalwarts from the world of films.

Organised in collaboration with International Association of Women in Radio &Television, Chapter India; NFDC Cinemas of India; Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. Of India; Embassy of France; Institute Français, New Delhi; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung; Delhi Tourism; Max Mueller Bhavan-Goethe Institut; Delhi Tourism; Kerala Travels; The Japan Foundation; InKo Centre; Yellow Streets; and Kumbaya

Screenings will be held in the Auditorium on 6, 7 and 8 March 2025 from 09:30 onwards. Some of the filmmakers will be present for post-screening discussions

Highlights of the festival include:
From 6 to 8 March 2025, 11:00 to 19:00 in Gandhi-King Memorial Plaza
Memory as Movement: Archiving Feminist Histories
An exhibition of photographs, songs, letters, artworks, books, notebooks, reports, and newsletters from women’s organisations in Delhi spanning the last 40 years. The exhibition creates a vivid and visceral history of the women’s movement. A testament to the resilience, creativity, and determination of that fueled feminist organisations

On 6 March 2025 from 09:15 to 13:30 hrs in C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium
Memory as Movement: Archiving Feminist Histories
Panel discussion

On 6 March 2025 at 18:00
Opening Ceremony
Followed by screening of the film

The Sharp Edge of Peace (Afghanistan)
(95 min; 2024; Persian with English subtitles)
Director: Roya Sadat

A feature-length documentary that follows the only women on the Afghan government negotiating team as they navigate the hard road to peace and broker a shared political structure with the Taliban.

Followed by
A Conversation
Nupur Basu in conversation with Alka Sadat

On 6 and 7 March in Conference Room II from 10:00 to 17:00
Workshop on The Once and The Future of the Documentary
 

The oversaturated media landscape we inhabit is both a provocation and an invitation to deconstruct ways in which images are produced, circulated and consumed.  How are images produced? How are they circulated? Should they be archived? What and who is the collective if we think about personal and public images produced and archived? 
Filmmakers, archivists and independent groups working with the moving image come together in this workshop. Participants, including independent filmmakers, video and media collectives, present their material and discuss the challenges of putting their work in the public domain.

Registration at the venue on a first come first serve basis.

Vocal Recital
By Smt Kalapini Komkali

At 19:30
Flute Recital
By Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia

In memory of Shri Vasant Sathe

(Collaboration: Sarvajanik Utsav Samiti, New Delhi; and Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial National Committee)

Hindustani Vocal Recital
By Dhanashri Ghaisas from Mumbai, disciple of Vidushi Dr Ashwini Bhide Deshpande

At 19:00 
Hindustani Music Instrumental
Fusion music presented by Aditya Shanker (tabla); Kartikeya Vashisht (flute); Neeraj Kumar (percussion); and Shailendra Wakhlu (Guitar)
 

Swing Time in Limousin (France)
(75 min; 2019; French with English subtitles)
Directors; Dilip & Dominique Varma who will introduce the film

Screening will be followed by a discussion

‘Swing Time in Limousin’ recounts a little known story in the big history of Jazz through the reminiscences of Jean-Marie Masse, a French drummer and unconditional promoter of black American music, just after the war when segregation and racism were still terribly active. It is a story of friendship and music which attracted to Limoges, a small town in the centre of France, some of the greatest jazz musicians and legends, like Duke Ellington or Lionel Hampton, with whom he played on stage. This documentary feature tells the story of how a musical genre, which rose out of oppression and revolt, ended up transmitting friendship and pure joie de vivre.

Book Discussion: The Girl With Seven Lives

Vikas Swarup, author of the book and former diplomat in conversation with Manika Raikwar, COO, ILM University, Gurugram

At 15:15

Book Discussion: The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World

William Dalrymple, author of the book and historian in conversation with Nidhi Razdan, Director, Dept. of Communication, journalist and former Executive Editor, NDTV

At 16:00

Sanatan Sangeet Puraskar-2025

With Jyotsna Mohan, Allen Shaw, Shweta Rajpal Kohli, Ragini Maharaj and Aarushi Bhargava

At 16:30

Sanatan Sangeet Peraskar Ceremony 2025

Honourees: Ms Jyotsna Mohan Bhargava, author and journalist, former Senior Editor, NDTV; Shri Allen Shaw, illustrator, animator and storyteller; Ms Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO, Startup Policy Forum; Ms Ragini Maharaj, Kathak dancer and Padma Shri awardee; and Ms Aarushi Bhargava, performer and artist

At 17:15

Kathak Recital

By Ragini Maharaj

Performing Delhi: Stage, Street, and Society

How Performance Arts Reflect and Shape Delhi’s social fabric

Panelists: Ms Geeta Chandra, renowned Bharatanatyam artist, choreographer and guru; Shri M.K. Raina, veteran theatre actor and director; Dr. Anamika, Hindi poet and author; and Ms Smita Sharma, photojournalist

At 15:15

Book Discussion: 2024: The Election that Surprised India

Vir Sanghvi, journalist, author and television host, in conversation with Rajdeep Sardesai, author of the book, journalist, news anchor, and Consulting Editor, India Today Television

At 16:30

Retro Bollywood Music Recital

By Aarushi Bhargava

Programme Schedule

The three-day annual festival brings together leading figures in the fields of literature, ideas, art, social sciences and other public spheres to celebrate the creativity, imagination and ideas that Delhi generates, sustains and embodies. Organised in collaboration with IILM University, the festival presents a series of discussions, dialogues, readings, and recitals

At 14:15

Inauguration and opening Address

By Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Chancellor Emeritus, IILM University, Gurugram and former Chief Election Commissioner of India

At 14:30

Panel discussion on Crossroads of Empire: How Delhi Shaped and Reflects Indian Identity

Panelists: Prof. S. Irfan Habib, historian and former Abdul Kalam Azad Chair, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration; Dr. Swapna Liddle, historian, author and former Convenor, INTACH; RJ Sayema, Radio jockey and Radio Mirchi; Ms Jyotsna Mohan Bhargava, author and journalist and former Senior Editor, NDTV; and Ms Aditi Gupta, Assistant Professor, IILM University, Greater Noida

At 15:45

Digital Delhi: Heritage Meets Innovation

The Intersection of Technology, AI, and Cultural preservation

Panelists: Shri Riyas Komu, artist and Co-Founder, Kochi-Muziris Biennale; Ms Rana Safvi, Curator of Early Days of Delhi Heritage Walk, historian, writer, scholar and translator specialising on Delhi; Ms Manisha Mohan, award winning virtual reality/interactive design artist, Dean, School of Design, Bennett University; Ms Shalini Bansal, Founder, Museum 22, Virtual (AI) driven heritage walks of Delhi; and Dr. Aswani RS, Associate Dean, School of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, IILM University, Greater Noida

Women’s Voices in Gurbani Sangeet (Dakshin)
 

Presented by Bindhu Malini from Bangalore; Vidya Rao from Hyderabad; and Radhika Naayak Sood from Mumbai
Coordinator: Aaradhana Kohli Kapur

Kindly please carry a scarf to cover your head