3rd Khwaja Ahmad Abbas Memorial Lecture
By Saeed Akhtar Mirza, filmmaker, screenwriter, and author, widely regarded as a leading voice of socially engaged Indian parallel cinema, and a recipient of multiple National Film Awards.

The lecture celebrates the legacy of journalist, writer, producer, and filmmaker, Khwaja Ahmed Abbas.  
The programme shall begin with a 12- minute documenatry screening on Khwaja Ahmad Abbas.

Followed by a panel discussion titled ‘Khwaja Ahmad Abbas: A Karmayogi’s Polymathic Vision of Humanity’, where Saeed Akhtar Mirza will be joined by Syeda Hameed, former Member of the Planning Commission; Chairperson, KAAMT; Neelima Azeem, actor; and Neville Tuli, Founder, T.R.I.S. The discussion will focus on the vision and ideals of Abbas that defined his writings and work, while contemplating the relevance of Abbas’ work today.  

(Collaboration: Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.) and Khwaja Ahmad Abbas Memorial Trust)
 

Global Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation: India-Nepal Partnership in Buddhist Heritage

Set against rising global conflicts, polarization, and ecological stress, this two-day conference examines how Buddhist principles can inform diplomacy and sustainable coexistence. The conference brings together an eminent group of scholars and policy experts from India and Nepal who shall draw on India and Nepal’s shared Buddhist heritage. The conference explores cultural diplomacy, academic collaboration, heritage preservation, and policy-oriented dialogue to strengthen ties and advance regional and global harmony.

Click here for programme details

(Collaboration: South Asia Foundation)

A Persian palace in Patna?
Looking afresh at the Mauryas and Achaemenids
Speaker: Upinder Singh, scholar of ancient Indian history, archaeology and political thought. She has authored several books, including A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India and Ancient India: Culture of Contradictions and currently a Professor of History, Ashoka University, Sonepat

Moderator: Prof. Nayanjot Lahiri, Professor of History at Ashoka University. She won the Infosys Prize 2013 in the Humanities-Archaeology.

The establishment of the Maurya empire (c. 324/321–187 BCE) roughly synchronized with the demise of the Achaemenid empire (c. 559-330 BCE). The reign of the third Maurya emperor Ashoka overlapped with the establishment of Arsacid rule in Iran. This lecture revisits the interface of the Achaemenids with India and their possible impact on Ashokan inscriptions. It also discusses the hunt for the Maurya palace in Patna, with a special focus on D. B. Spooner’s conviction that he had found a Persepolitan palace in Pataliputra and a Zoroastrian period in Indian history. Even if these theories went too far, the larger point is that ancient India needs to be understood in a global frame, paying close attention to the centuries-long close interactions between India, Iran and Central Asia.

(Collaboration: @Crossroads)

 

Art Matters CVI
Book Discussion on The Joint Indian Family Album: Portraits of a Visual Arts Community by Ajay Shanker

Followed by a panel discussion: Ram Rahman, Meera Menezes and Gary Reid

(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)
 

Art Matters
Arundhathi Subramaniam in conversation with Anamika

(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)

Curtain Raiser Show of Nalanda Literature Festival 2025
 

The Nalanda Literature Festival is a unique celebration of India’s cultural and literary heritage, with a special focus on Bihar and north eastern states’ rich linguistic traditions — Angika, Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Magahi, Maithili, Surjapuri, Bodo, Mizo, Assammese and many more. Through thought-provoking sessions, heritage, creative exchanges, the Festival seeks to revive and promote our regional languages, inspire younger generations, and position Bihar and north eastern states’ literary culture on the national and global stage.

(Collaboration: Dhanu Bihar Trust)
 

DIALOGUES IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS 
Conceptualized by Dr. Ashwani Kumar

Talk and Workshop from 10:00 to 13:00

Part I: CPR from 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Short Talk on: Hands to Restart Heart to Save Lives by Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques.
By Prof Rakesh Garg, A.I.I.M.S, New Delhi

This technique helps to revive persons whose heartbeat or breathing may have stopped. This session will help participants to recognize and respond to cardiac arrest and give high quality CPR. This is a repetitive extensive training on CPR techniques

Followed by Demonstration and performing of CPR techniques including Automated External Defibrillators (AED) by the participants.

Organized by Dr. Ambuj Roy, Professor of Cardiology & Head, Skill, e-Learning & Telemedicine Facility, A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi. Conducted by Prof. Rakesh Garg, A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi, & associates.

Part II: From 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
‘Meaningful Life Despite Arthritis, with Rehabilitation Medicine!’

Organised & conducted with a short talk by Dr Sanjay Wadhwa, Prof. & Head, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, AIIMS, New Delhi.

(Strictly for IIC members & staff members only)
At 16:00                      
A short talk on Freedom from Arthritis, Move Freely Again: The Gift of Joint Replacement
By Dr Vijay Kumar, Professor of Orthopaedics A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi 
Joint replacement surgery is a transformative procedure that significantly reduces chronic joint pain and restores mobility for individuals with severe arthritis or joint damage. It offers a renewed chance to move freely and embrace an active, fulfilling lifestyle.

Followed by Panel Discussion on
Restoring Mobility with Conservative Treatments/Joint Replacement 
Panellists:  Dr Vijay Kumar, Professor of Orthopaedics A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi; Dr. Sanjay Wadhwa, Prof. & Head, Dept. of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi; 
Dr. Danveer Bhadu. Addl. Prof., Dept. of Rheumatology, A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi

Chair: Dr Ashwani Kumar

Followed by interactive Q & A session with the audience
 

IIC/MEDIA DIALOGUES
From Kingmaker to Bystander: Is the Media Still a Force in Indian Elections?

Panellists: Rajdeep Sardesai, Television Anchor; Pawan Khera, Congress Leader; Poornima Joshi, Resident Editor, Hindu Business Line, Delhi; Satish K Jha, Professor of Political Science, Delhi University; Jitendra Kumar. Independent Journalist

Moderator: Bharat Bhushan, Journalist and Editor
(Collaboration: The Media Foundation)
 

The Shifting Logic of the Indus Waters Treaty

Speaker: Dr. Uttam K. Sinha, Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar–Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)

Discussant: Amb. Ashok K. Kantha, Former Ambassador of India to the People’s Republic of China

Moderator: Dr Srinivas Chokkakula, President & Chief Executive Centre for Policy Research

The lecture explores how the Indus Waters Treaty, once hailed as a triumph of technical cooperation over politics, is being reshaped by shifting geopolitical realities, environmental stress, and the erosion of bilateral trust between India and Pakistan.

(Collaboration: Centre for Policy Research)

The Great Case Series: A series exploring landmark constitutional rulings. The discussion on State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor of Tamil Nadu examines the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Governor’s duties in assenting to bills and the constitutional implications of prescribed timelines.

Panellists: Tathagata Roy, Former Governor of Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya; Prof Ashok Pankaj, Professor at the Council for Social Development, New Delhi; Lalit Panda, Author of Heads Held High: Salvaging State Governors for 21st century India

Moderator:  Anshul Dalmia, Research Fellow, Charkha

(Collaboration: Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy)