Dastangoi Collective presents an evening of performative readings by Mahmood Farooqui, Sunit Tandon, Darain Shahidi, Meera Rizvi, Lokesh Jain and Syeda Hameed in memory of Rahbar-e-Mulk Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, musician, sufi, revolutionary, rasik, scholar and statesman.

Inauguration by Hon’ble Hamid Ansari, former Vice President of India and Hon’ble Meira Kumar, former Speaker of Lok Sabha

Discussants: Prof. S. Irfan Habib; and Amb. T.C.R. Raghavan

(Collaboration: Khwaja Ahmed Abbas Memorial Trust; Rajendra Prasad Academy; and Working Group on Alternative Strategies)
 

Flute recital by Master Skandan Suresh and party 

Vocal recital by Kum. Shreshta Hariharan and party

Vocal Duet by Kum. Saikrupa and Kum. Akshaya Premanand and party

(Collaboration: Gayatri Fine Arts)

To be delivered by Dr Karan Singh, statesman, philosopher and thinker

Welcome Address: Shri Suresh K. Goel, Former Director General, Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Vice President, IC Centre for Governance

Opening Remarks: Shri Prabhat Kumar, Former Cabinet Secretary and first Governor of Jharkhand and President, IC Centre for Governance

Presidential Address: Shri Syed Shahid Mahdi, Former Vice President ICCR and Former Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia

(Collaboration: I.C. Centre for Governance)

Curated by Rajiv Mehrotra

Walk with Me (94 min;2017; English)
A film by Marc J. Francis & Max Pugh

A contemplative documentary featuring Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh and his tranquil Plum Village Monastery, 
The film explores his profound teachings, offering a meditative journey into the lives of Zen monks and nuns dedicated to mindfulness under his guidance. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, it invites viewers to witness their unwavering pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment.

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

Santoor Recital
By Rajkumar Majumdar from Delhi, disciple of Pt. Bhajan Sopori
 

At 19:00 
Dhrupad Recital
By Samit Kumar Mallick from Delhi, disciple of Pt. Ram Kumar Mallick   
 

12 November* commemorates the day on which Mahatma Gandhi made his first and only live broadcast on All India Radio in 1947 and addressed more than two lakhs of refugees at a camp in Kurukshetra from Broadcasting House, New Delhi. Since 2000, this day is commemorated as Public Service Broadcasting Day

10:30 to 11:00 in Gandhi-King Memorial Plaza
Commemoration

11:15 to 12:15 in C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium 
Discussion 

Usha Mehta’s tryst with freedom on radio: reliving the moments with S. N. Sahu, former Press Secretary to President K. R. Narayanan.

During the Quit India Movement, Usha Mehta was arrested on 12 November 1942 and the Underground Radio Transmitter confiscated in Bombay

Discussion on Public Service Broadcasting and Speaking Truth to Power
Lead Presentation: Suhas Borker, Mediaperson and Trustee, IIC

*Note: As 12 November is Deepavali and a holiday, the commemoration is being held on 10 November

(Collaboration: Gandhi Yuva Baradari; and Jan Prasar)
 

Panelists: Navina Najat Haider, Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah Curator-in-Charge, Department of Islamic Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York;  Mitch Abdul Karim Crites, American art historian, who has lived and worked in India for more than fifty years; and Abhinav Goswami from Vrindavan, a trained archaeologist, photographer and temple priest

Moderator: Pramod K.G., curator, author and the co-founder of Eka Archiving Services

Organised in collaboration with Mapin Publishing to mark the recent publication of JALI- Lattice of Divine Light in Mughal Architecture by Navina Najat Haidar
 

Sattriya Recital

By Dimple Saikia from Assam, disciple of Guru Gobinda Saikia

At 19:00 
Bharatanatyam Recital

By Raktim Chanda from Kolkata, disciple of Shri P.T. Narendran   
 

The evening presents new perspectives and directions in the traditional art form of Dhrupad, with new compositions and bandishes with a special focus on reviving the poetry and literary works of the great saint poets

Dhrupad Vocal Recital

By Shilpa Shankar Narain, disciple of the Gundecha Brothers and Shri Sanjeev Jha
Accompanist: Dr. Ankit Parekh on the pakhawaj

Followed by
Dhrupad Vocal Jugalbandhi

By Dhrupad Bandhu – Sanjeev Kumar Jha and Manish Kumar, who have trained in the Dagarvaani style of Dhrupad
 
 Accompanied by Roman Das on the pakhawaj