The 11th Literary Activism Symposium

Doing the Dirt on Tragedy

Uses D.H. Lawrence’s preference for “liveliness” over “grandeur” to rethink the boundaries of Western and non-Western literary traditions.

Speakers: Amit Chaudhuri, novelist, poet and Professor of Creative Writing and Director of the Centre for the Creative and the Critical, Ashoka University; William Harris, critic, writes essays for n+1, New Left Review, Jacobin, etc; Jatin Nayak, translator, literary critic, and Professor Emeritus at KISS University, Bhubaneswar; Sumana Roy, author, critic, and Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing, Ashoka University; Saikat Majumdar, novelist, critic, and Professor of English and Creative Writing at Ashoka University; Aditya Bahl, poet and critic, Assistant Professor in the Department of English at UCLA; Udayan Vajpeyi, Hindi poet, essayist and Associate Professor at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal; Simon Cooke, scholar of Victorian and modern literature and Associate Professor of English Literature at Durham University; Tishani Doshi, award-winning poet, novelist and dancer, and Professor of Practice in Literature and Creative Writing at NYU Abu Dhabi; Kirsty Gunn, acclaimed novelist and short story writer, and Professor of Writing Practice at the University of Dundee.

(Collaboration: Ashoka University)

 

Architecture & Environment
Speaker: Kazuyo Sejima, Founder of SANAA and Professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan, Visiting professor at Japan Women’s University and Osaka University of Arts, an Emeritus Professor at Yokohama National University, and Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum. Her notable works include House in Plum Grove, the Inujima Art House Project, and the Japan Women’s University Mejiro Campus. She directed the 12th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale (2010) and is the recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the Venice Biennale Golden Lion Award, the Praemium Imperiale, and the Royal Gold Medal, among other honours.

Moderator: Prof. KT Ravindran, architect and former Head of Urban Design at School of Planning and Architecture (SPA).

About 40 years ago, Kazuyo Sejima began exploring how architecture might create a more seamless relationship between interior and exterior space. Her central question was: What kind of architecture can truly connect people with their surrounding environment? Over the decades, she has come to believe that achieving this connection enables us—those living in the present—to shape new landscapes while honouring the ones that already exist.

(Collaboration: International House of Japan and Japan Foundation, New Delhi)

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

India and Her Futures
By Gopalkrishna Gandhi (Bloomsbury, 2025)

Discussants: Dr. John Brittas, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Diplomat and Former Governor, West Bengal and author of the book

Chair: Kamal Haasan, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Actor and Founder, Makkal Needhi Maiam
Moderator: Mrinal Pande, Author, Journalist and Former Chairperson, Prasar Bharati
 

Dialogues in Health and Wellness

Conceptualised by Dr. Ashwani Kumar

Talk & Workshop from 10:00 to 13:00

Preventive Health Check-up with Oncology Focus

Conducted by a team of Medical Consultants: Dr. Hari Sagiraju, Associate Professor, Dept. of Preventive Oncology, National Cancer Institute; Dr. Pallavi Shukla, Associate Professor, Dept. of Preventive Oncology, IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Associate Professor, Dept. of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Institute; and Dr. Aparna Sharma, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute

Activities will include NCD Risk Assessment (Diabetes, Hypertension & Common Cancers); General Health Check-up (Blood Pressure, Random Blood Sugar, BMI, Waist–Hip Ratio); Blood Investigations (Blood Counts, Kidney & Liver Function, Lipid Profile, Anemia Workup, HbA1c);  Biomarkers (PSA, CEA, CA-125, CA 19-9 — for those at risk); Oral & Breast Health Check-up with Self-Examination Guidance; Self-Sample HPV-DNA Testing; and NCD Awareness & Educational Material

(Reports will be shared digitally within the stipulated time.)

(Strictly for IIC members and staff members only)

At 16:00

A short talk on Cancer: Risk, Reality, and the Road to Freedom
By Prof. Sameer Bakhshi,

Followed by a Panel Discussion on:

Outsmarting Cancer: Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment

Panelists: Dr. Sameer Bakhshi, Medical Oncology Consultant; ; Dr. Suman Bhasker, Professor & Head, Dept. of Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; and Ms. Sonal Sharma, Patient Advocate, CanKids KidsCan

Moderator: Dr. Alok Thakar, Former Professor & Head, ENT & Head–Neck Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Former Head, National Cancer Institute
Chair: Dr Ashwani Kumar                                  

Followed by an interactive Q&A with the audience.

Art Matters
AE Krishna Sobti, An evening on Krishna Sobti writings.
(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)

Art Matters
AE Krishna Sobti, An evening on Krishna Sobti writings.

(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)
 

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

Signing in the air: Poems
By Malashri Lal

Discussants:Namita Gokhale, writer, editor, and Festival Director, Jaipur Literature Festival;Dr Rakhshanda Jalil, writer, translator, and literary historian; Prof. Malashri Lal, writer and academic. Convenor, English Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi

Theatrical interpretation of selected poems by Ms. Annu Priya, Film Actress and NSD Alumna (Batch: 2023)

Moderator: Dr. Kiriti Sengupta, Poet, Editor, and Director, Hawakal Publishers

Dialogues in Health and Wellness

Conceptualised by Dr. Ashwani Kumar

Talk & Workshop from 10:00 to 13:00

Workshop on Alcohol related Health Risk Assessment

Alcohol-related health risk assessment involves evaluating the amount and pattern of alcohol use, identifying harmful or dependent drinking through screening tools like AUDIT or CAGE. Basic laboratory tests and identification of high-risk groups such as pregnant women, people with diabetes, obesity, or liver disease. Based on findings, individuals are categorized into low-risk, hazardous, harmful use, or alcohol dependence, allowing timely counselling, brief intervention, nutritional support, lifestyle modification, or referral for de-addiction services to prevent long-term organ damage and improve overall health.

Followed by

- Filling of Proforma based on Self-Assessment of Alcohol intake & it’s possible effects. (For those who consume alcohol)

-Clinical evaluation: BP/BMI/Systemic evaluation (For those who consume more than daily recommended daily amount)

-Guidance on Biochemical evaluation for those who are at risk.

-Management and Preventive Guidelines.

By Dr. Prayas Sethi, Associate Professor, Dept of Medicine, AIIMS            

(Strictly for IIC members and staff members only)

At 16:00

A short talk on Lifestyle and Liver Disease!

By Prof. S.K. Acharya, Former Professor & Head, Department of Gastroenterology and Dean (Research), A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi

Normal Steatosis Liver Damage Fibrosis/Cirrhosis

Lifestyle and liver disease globally is an obesity epidemic. About 1/3 of global population including India are either obese with or without associated diabetes. They may cause increase amount of fat in vessels and vital organs & may result in various organ dysfunction including liver. Such metabolic dysfunction currently are major drivers of various noncommunicable liver disease like Cirrhosis and liver cancer. Fat in liver can be easily identified by obesity (identified by BMI, increased abdominal girth and other simple techniques and tests). These changes in metabolic dysfunction can be prevented, diagnose early & reversed and even advanced diseases can be successfully treated.

Followed by Panel Discussion on Influence of Alcohol Metabolic Dysfunction Associated with Liver Disease (MASLD). Fat & Alcohol: Are these fire and fuel?

Panellists: Dr. Naval K. Vikram, Prof. of Medicine AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. S. V. Madhu, Director Professor, Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, UCMS & GTB Hospital, Delhi; Dr. Govind Makharia, Professor of Gastroenterology, AIIMS, New Delhi.

Moderator: Dr. S.K. Acharya, Medical Consultant

Chair: Dr Ashwani Kumar
                                 

Followed by an interactive Q&A with the audience.

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)