Melody meisters, Ruchika and Deepak Castelino 

In conversation with Sujata Prasad and Oroon Das

(Collaboration: Ahad Anhad)

Speaker: Prof. Akeel Bilgrami, Sidney Morgenbesser Professor of Philosophy, Professor, Committee on Global Thought, Department of Philosophy, Columbia University, New York

Chair: Prof. Tanika Sarkar, Visiting Professor of History, Ashoka University

Akeel Bilgrami will seek to situate Gandhi’s views on caste as well as his disagreements with Ambedkar within the framework of Gandhi and Ambedkar’s differing views on the inevitability and scope of both liberal modernity and the capitalist economic formation to which the liberal notion of the state are tied.  He will consider the ambivalences into which he was forced on caste by Ambedkar’s skilful appeal to these emerging liberal institutions under colonial rule. 

Odissi Recital

By Vani Madhav from Gurugram, disciple of Guru Sudhakar Sahu

At 19:00
Bharatnatyam Recital

By Swati Athmanathan from Chennai, disciple of Prof. C. V. Chandrashekhar and Smt. Jaya Chandrashekhar
 

Violin Recital

By Yadnesh Raikar from Mumbai, son and disciple of Pandit Milind Raikar

At 19:00
Hindustani Vocal Recital

By Madhumita Ray from Delhi, disciple of Ustad Asad Ali Khan and Pandita Naina Devi

Curated by Rajiv Mehrotra

Mindscapes…of Love & Longing (India)
(54 min; 2011; Hindi, English)
A film by Arun Chadha

Recipient of National Award 2012 for Best Film on social issues

Followed by a discussion with the filmmaker

Spotlighting the lives of individuals with disabilities, the film seeks to sensitively unpack misconceptions, prejudices and myths around their sexuality. Through personal narratives, it offers an intimate look into how they negotiate biological, medical, and socio-cultural beliefs to explore their identities and ultimately reclaim their sexual rights.

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

Public Administration and Corporate Governance

Speaker: Shri K.M. Chandrashekhar, retired Civil Servant who was Cabinet Secretary from 2007-2011

Remarks by Shri N.N. Vohra, Life Trustee, IIC

Chair: Shri Shyam Saran, President, IIC 

Dramatised readings from A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” by Sunit Tandon and Sohaila Kapur

Love Letters is a play by A.R. Gurney, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play centres on two characters - Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. Though geographically located in different places, they sit side by side and write letters to each other, discussing what has passed between them throughout their separation. 

The play has had some popular adaptations in India. It was adapted into Urdu in 1992 as Tumhari Amrita with Farroukh Sheikh and Shabana Azmi. Kaif Aur Main, written and performed by Javed Akhtar along with his wife Shabana, was also inspired by it, as was another play, Aapki Soniya, starring Sonali Bendre. 

The play in its original form was first enacted by Sunit & Sohaila about three decades ago. It was directed by the late Arun Kuckreja under the banner of Ruchika Theatre.  

It is perhaps more age appropriate for the actors today, since the characters are celebrating a friendship of 50 years. 

Produced by Anuradha Dar & Sohaila Kapur for Three Arts Club & Katyayani.

Presented by the Ao Naga Choir from Delhi

Principal Conductor: Akala Akangmeren

The choir will present a repertoire of classical choral music for Christmas and well-known carols

Other Kohinoors, The Rocks of Hyderabad (India)

(49 min; 2022; English)

Director: Uma Magal who will introduce the film

Screening will be followed by a discussion

A resonant documentary love letter to the unique rocky terrain and culture of Hyderabad. Celebrating how the landscape inspires the culture in its art, craft, folklore, poetry, songs, architecture, cuisine. Marking the affection and respect with which the landscape is held. With an energetic rap song as 'Sutradhar narrator' carrying the storytelling there is also a sharing of the sorrow over what has been lost in the past decades. Beautiful animations styled in local art and craft traditions enrichen it. This could be called a 'Rasa' documentary showcasing as it does the different moods/rasas in the city's relationship with its distinct terrain, in the manner of an Indian masala or 'Navarasa' film.

Edited by Gopalkrishna Gandhi (Aleph: 2023)

Release of the book followed by a discussion

The book will be released by Shri N.N. Vohra

Reading of selected excerpts from the book

By Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Followed by a discussion with

Prof. Tridip Suhrud, writer, political scientist, cultural historian and translator; Prof. Rudrangshu Mukherjee, historian and author of several books on history, Founding Vice-Chancellor, Ashoka University where he is presently the Chancellor and Professor of History; and Smt Aruna Roy, social activist, professor, union organiser and former civil servant; President, National Federation of Indian Women and founder, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan