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

PTA (80 min)
 

Play in English written and directed by Chandini Agarwal and Jonas David
Presented by Wings Cultural Society

A poignant and heart-wrenching exploration of grief, misunderstanding, and the desperate search for answers in the wake of unimaginable tragedy. The play unfolds during a parent-teacher conference between Meera, a mother who has just lost her son to suicide, and Karan, his teacher.

(Collaboration: Wings Cultural Society)
 

Carnatic Vocal Recital
By R. Anirudh Subramanian from Chennai, disciple of Shri Abhishek Raghuram and Shri Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna

At 19:00
Bharatanatyam Recital
By Swarnali Kundu from Delhi, disciple of Smt Rama Vaidyanathan
 

S.H. Raza: The Very Essence (India)
(51 min; English & with English subtitles)
Director: Laurent Bregeat

The film will be introduced by Shri Ashok Vajpeyi

The film captures the essence of one of India’s most compelling modernists, Raza. A founder member of the Progressive Artists’ Group, Raza’s style evolved over the years from the early expressionistic landscapes of his childhood in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, to more geometric representations of French landscapes after he moved to Paris. The film traces this journey to his final non-representational style that expressed itself in the iconic ‘Bindu’

(Collaboration: The Raza Foundation)
 

Advent of the Truth (India)
(40 min; 2006; English and with English subtitles)
Director: Monty Gupta

Auroville was envisioned as an international community free of government, money, religion, and strife. A place where this new way of living is being worked out; as a new centre of accelerated evolution where man must begin to change his world through the power of the inner spirit.

Screening will be followed by a discussion on The Idea of Community Living Sustained by Shared Convictions

Curated by Rajiv Mehrotra

Still Tibet (USA)
(52 min; 2025; English)
Director: Miguel Angel Cano Santizo

Filmmaker Miguel Cano embarks on a journey through one of the most remote ethnically Tibetan areas of China’s Sichuan Province. Using a mix of hitchhiking, motor biking, and hiking, he reaches parts of the region typically untouched by tourists. Through stunning cinematography, Cano explores this sacred land, meeting those fighting to preserve their spiritual and national identity, while revealing a vulnerable civilization that still retains an extraordinary mystical essence

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

Hindustani Violin Recital
By Johar Ali from Delhi, disciple of Ustad Gohar Ali Khan    

At 19:00
Kathak Recital

By Deepti Gupta from Delhi, disciple of Pandit Rajendra Gangani