sign in sign up
<<
Home , Anasuya Sarabhai, Andre Beteille, Devaki Jain, Ela Bhatt, Kartar Singh Duggal, Pushpesh Pant

Price Re. 1/-

INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE v o l u m e X X V. No. 4 July–August 2011

condition of being an individual being and a citizen’. Bharat Mata Ki Jai A cavalcade of key figures through several decades ROSALIND WILSON MEMORIAL of history from 1857 onwards were selected to show LECTURE 2011: Mother how effectively millions were mobilized at exceptional Speaker: Gopalkrishna Gandhi moments—Bahadur Shah Zafar, Vivekananda, Chair: Shri Soli J. Sorabjee , Ambedkar, Ramanujan, Aruna Asaf Ali, Tagore, Nehru, , to name just Collaboration: Rosalind Wilson Memorial a few. Trust, July 28 Be that as it may, in contemporary times, the icon ‘Mother India/Bharat Mata’—religious motif, nation- needs to be honoured and rescued from ‘elitist alist icon and symbol of rights—is a volatile and escapism’ on the one hand and ‘narrow jingoisms’ incredibly complex subject at best, evoking a plethora on the other, making it more relevant—in terms of of strong emotions and national and territorial security, imagery. Unravelling its and the sacredness of the land complexity in his signature itself, not just as an asset but style, Gopal Gandhi’s talk much more, as heritage. He used drew widely from myth ’s film, Mother and metaphor, modern India, to illustrate the inviolability Indian history, art, religious of a peasant family’s bond with iconography, literature and that land. film. Gandhi briefly touched on the Although an archaism Fatherland and Motherland for the modern urban conundrum—are we a female elite, the middle-class and country trapped in a male rural Indian, nevertheless, nation?—the status of Mother enshrines Mother India India’s daughters and its ‘ecological as a ‘living antiquity’, a dower’, and the public’s search for goddess-like figure who integrity in non-political public protects her children. The voices over issues of corruption concept sustains two related that speak for Bharat Mata assumptions: one is the in urban India, such as Anna ’s bond with Hazare’s crusade. In an emotional territorial integrity; and, two, conclusion, the melodious strains the bond with the land— of ’s song from zameen, mati. Gandhi stressed Kabuliwala filled the auditorium… that citizens in a nation-state need just such a resource ‘in Tere daman se joi ayiin un havaon ko terms of an idea, a belief… salaam … to hold onto the existential Bharat Mata by Abanindranath Tagore  RITU SINGH documentaries

and his struggle as a writer. The film also presents Tribute to Ajneya Ajneya’s literary place as seen by his contemporaries. FILM: Saarswat Van Ka Baawara Aheri In his interview, poet Girijakumar Mathur considers Director: Durgavati Singh Ajneya’s greatest contribution to be his poetry about Producer: Doordarshan, August 8 nature. On the other hand, Prabhakar Machave believes that Ajneya’s compositions are intellectual As the lights fade, a new life begins to acquire shape: ruminations that do not create an impulse. Noted a life of nature, of solitude and wanderlust. In short, critic Namvar Singh feels that Ajneya is a poet with it brings forward a man who was always fraught great loftiness, but has limited concerns. In his own with serious discomfort when investigating the inner words, Ajneya considers that the greatest concern of corners of the human mind. his poetry is to relate it to reality. As a centenary tribute, Durgavati Singh’s documentary In an era of limited technical facilities, the film showed an extraordinary writer-poet-philosopher, and with its awesome visuals, locates Ajneya’s writings a portrait of an aesthetician. Made for Doordarshan —particularly his poems—in the very surroundings almost three decades ago, the film itself can be that inspired their composition. So, while on one viewed as a long poem, and is an internal journey into hand the film enters into the dense backwoods, on the enigmatic poems of Sachchidanand Hiranand the other hand, it depicts the wider dimensions of Vatsyayan, commonly known as Ajneya. the flux and serenity of water. Here, the colours are Enriched by interviews, the film tells the tales of natural and vivid. As an effort to consider the most Ajneya’s birth, his memories of the revolutionary controversial poet of in modern times, the film movement of Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar is a commendable effort. Azad, his subsequent association with the British army  REYAZ-UL-HAQUE

meticulous in its historical details, and accompanied Tracing the Guru’s Path by the comprehensive visual documentation of FILM: In the Footsteps of Guru Gobind Singh Ji the sites gives us a complete document of the by Thakur Ranvir Singh, August 20 Guru’s life. Born in 1666, Guru Gobind Singh lived in times of Thakur Ranvir Singh’s docu-drama and labour of love great historical turbulence, an age where he faced the traces the life and tumultuous times of the tenth Sikh hostilities of both the Mughal rulers and the Rajas of Guru from his birth in Patna to his final departure at the Shivalik. The film takes us through the different the age of 42 at Nanded in Maharashtra. Himself a places and sites, now memorialized as Gurudwaras, non-Sikh, Ranvir spent four years and traversed eight with interesting legends and nomenclature. These thousand kilometres across eight states, filming the include Gurudwara Handi Sahib at Danapur near sixty-one Gurudwaras associated with the Guru. The Patna, where the Guru and his entourage received project—in his own words, a kar sewa—is a cinematic food from a small handi, and Gurudwara Tibbi Sahib pilgrimage, entirely self-financed and a first of its near Muktsar, where this hill (Tibbi), was used by the kind to limn the Guru’s life. Guru for self-defense. Interspersed with the actual Operating within the genre of the docu-drama, the footage of sites are paintings and re-enactments film uses re-enactments with actors, juxtaposing that that flesh out the story, though one wished that the with paintings and illustrations to drive the narrative voices were not dubbed in English. At 150 minutes, forward, with a voice-over in the background and one could complain of it being slightly long, but a smattering of interviews. The script, penned superficial and cursory it is surely not. by eminent Sikh writer , is  AJAY JAISINGHANI 2 diary music

professional flourish lacing her performance with a Varied Fare gamut of behlavas, simulating the shringar or romantic PERFORMANCES: Monsoon Festival, mood of the Purab-ang thumri style. The characteristic July 25 and 26 strident quality of the classic kajri performer came off in an accomplished and confident style in her This two-day dance and music festival featured performance of the evening. musician Savita Devi and Odissi dancer Kavita Dancer Kavita Dwibedi knitted the dance bhava of Dwibedi. In a riot of monsoon melodies and a selection her compositions into a close relationship with the of poetry presented in the Odissi dance format, the presentation merged the age-old celebratory mood rains. Her technique remained purist but the numbers of the monsoons in a creative overlay. were selected from classical to contemporary, where the poetry of Kalidas’ Meghdoot and Amrit Barsha were As the music of the rains is best presented in the light interpreted amicably. The instrumental accompanists classical genre, Savita Devi mapped out a concert on the flute, sitar, and vocal support alongside, of rain melodies around the styles and dadra, kajri enhanced the bhava enunciated on stage, with their instead of giving audiences a strictly solo rendering, clear diction and appropriate musical score. The she had the vocal support of her disciples singing final reference point of theRaas Leela as the ultimate the refrain of these numbers in a choral rendering. realization of the divine in a garb of the symbolic Her accompanists on the tabla, sarangi provided professional support to the vocal rendition, giving rainbow above the rain-drenched earth, concluded a fullness and volume to the singing. In her role as the evening on a serene and melodious note. the lead singer, Savita Devi gave the music a perfect  SUBHRA MAZUMDAR

rich Dharwad region, the birthplace of this gayaki, Amalgam of North and South and how it has been an amalgam of Carnatic and Music Appreciation Promotion: Kirana Hindustani music. In response, Mevundi rendered Gayaki – Innovations in Traditions, August 26 a couple of compositions in Raga Puriya Dhanashree, echoing his unmistakable resemblance to the voice The IIC’s ‘music appreciation and style of the late Pt. series’ presented a unique , a doyen of this programme recently when . Jayteerth Mevundi, the gifted The audio clips of immortal vocalist of the Kirana gharana, voices like Ustad Abdul Karim not only performed but also spoke Khan, Abdul Waheed Khan, about ‘Innovation in the Tradition Sawai Gandharva, Ameer of Kirana Gaayaki’, discussing the Khan, Roshanara Begum, salient features of this venerable Suresh Babu Mane, Hirabai tradition. Mevundi regaled the Badodkar, Saraswati Rane, invited audience and all those music lovers across the Firoze Dastoor and Pt. Bhimsen Joshi et al were world who may have watched the event on the web, an added treat. Comparing their musical nuances, thanks to the Centre’s recent initiative of webcasting Mevundi explained how each had a separate identity; special events. Here was a practising musician who establishing the fact that innovation is possible within could demonstrate while analyzing the music of the tradition, if one is groomed in the Guru-Shishya great masters of his tradition, played as audio clips by Parampara. Jayteerth Mevundi’s melodious rendering Praveen Shevade, who was in conversation with him. of ‘Mandar bajo...’, the famous composition of this To acquaint the audience with Kirana gayaki, Shevade gharana in Shuddha Kalyan, was the befitting finale. initiated the discussion by talking about the musically  MANJARI SINHA 3 discussions diary

and universalism at a more general level. Overview of Beteille’s Work The discussion was taken further by Professor Gupta, DISCUSSION: The Omnibus who drew attention to how Professor Beteille had Meet the Author: Professor Andre Beteille incorporated world sociology into Indian scholarship. Panelists: Professor Dipankar Gupta; Professor He also pointed at the relevance of Beteille’s work in S.S. Jodhka; and Professor Nandini Sundar realizing the principle of equality in Indian society Chair: Shri Soli J. Sorabjee, August 19 and its impact on key policy initiatives in the country. Professor Jodhka argued how Beteille’s seminal This programme presented the well-known essay ‘Caste, Class and Power’ belonged more to the sociologist, Professor Andre Beteille, in discussion tradition of ‘agrarian studies’ in the country, than to with a distinguished panel of fellow academics and ‘village studies’ primarily undertaken from a social- sociologists. The session was chaired by Shri Soli J. anthropological perspective. He also emphasized the Sorabjee, who delivered the opening address. This significance of Beteille’s approach in understanding was followed by a short but insightful speech by the dynamics of power and inequality in Indian Professor Beteille who introduced and shared some society without falling into the trap of Orientalism, of the key ideas espoused in the three texts brought which several of his contemporaries inevitably did. together by the recently-published volume, The Andre Professor Sundar highlighted how, far from being Beteille Omnibus. He mentioned how an initial interest outdated, Beteille’s ideas continue to remain extremely with the inequalities of caste, class and power in a relevant, and how Beteille constitutes one of the South Indian village led to his sustained preoccupation most influential voices in Indian public opinion in with caste inequalities on a wider canvas, and an contemporary times. eventual engagement with the notions of equality  ANaSUA CHATTERJEE

Keki Daruwalla, in his introduction, questioned why Achieving Universality a scientist is interested in poetry. He mentioned that TALK: The Poetry Society, India – at one time the poetic, the mythic and the scientific First Annual Lecture were all one. Basically, both the poet and the scientist Speaker: H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam have a spirit of enquiry. Chair: Professor M.G.K. Menon Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in his speech said that poetry Collaboration: The Poetry Society India, has no boundaries; poets can be at the place of war or July 8 peace, poverty, suffering and prosperity. A poet’s work can cross boundaries and become ageless. Tagore, The First Annual Poetry Society Lecture was Shakespeare and the poetry of the Bhagwad Gita, among delivered by the former President of India, H.E. others, achieved universality. He mentioned that there Dr. Abdul Kalam. The welcome address by H.K. was a 100 year old Arjuna tree in his residence 10, Rajaji Kaul, mentioned that The Poetry Society (TPS) was Marg which was the age of his father (100) and near established in 1984, and its aim was to promote that of his mother (90). He had written a poem about Indian poetry. TPS has organized readings by it called ‘The Great Tree in My House.’ He reiterated famous Indian poets, such as Dom Moraes, Nissim that poetry had a unique power for its message was Ezekiel and A.K. Ramanujan; published a journal conveyed through the music of words. and several anthologies, among other publications. He mentioned that Dr. Kalam was a well-established The Presidential Address was given by Professor poet who had a universal vision. An honorary Life M.G.K. Menon while the vote of thanks was delivered Membership of TPS had been awarded to Dr. by Keki N. Daruwalla. Kalam.  RACHNA JOSHI 4 diary music

moved on to a lyrical piece, Autumn Moon by Chan, Touching a Chord a Chinese composer. Then followed Memories in an MUSIC: Piano Recital by Ang Li Ancient Garden by a Canadian composer, Louie, where Collaboration: Music Society, July 16 Ang introduced a touch of jazz by strumming the piano strings. The young pianist concluded the opening The Chinese child prodigy, now accomplished US- part of her concert with a set of three Schubert-Liszt based pianist, Ang Li, presented glimpses of her compositions that were carried through despite the understanding and appreciation of the music of untimely applause. Ferenc Liszt, whose two Ang Li resumed after the hundredth birth anniversary is intermission with Liszt Sonetto being celebrated this year. Ang, 104 del Petrarca and followed holder of a Master’s Degree from it up with Consolations No. 2 in the Julliard School, is hailed as E Major and Les jeux d ’eaux a an international star pianist. This la Villa d’Este. The finale was young pianist’s extensive repertoire Liszt Ballade No.2 in B minor. ranges from early Baroque to The encore was Liszt No. 3 in contemporary piano music. Db major. Her IIC performance lent Ang Li is representative of substance to this assessment, for Chinese pianist Ang Li Ang was confidence personified, displayed good China’s increasing presence in technique and an unflappable temperament that Western classical music where, buoyed by a vibrant made light of two interruptive bouts of applause. piano-manufacturing industry, more Angs will Beginning with a spirited rendering of the Wagner- surely emerge. Liszt Liebestod from the opera Tristan and Isolde, Ang  G. GEORGE

After the interval, came Frederic Chopin’s Etude Dexterity and Skill in C sharp Minor, Op. 10 No.4, Etude in A flat Major, CONCERT: Susan Sobolewski Op.25 No. 1, Etude in C Minor Op. 25 No. 12. This Collaboration: Delhi Music Society, August 10 was followed by Leonard Bernstein’s Chorale, Eight Variations, and Coda and James van Heusen and Bill Making her third appearance in Delhi, this young Evans’ Here’s That Rainy Day. Edvard Grieg’s sparkling American pianist gave an as impressive performance Wedding Day at Troldhaugen from Lyric Pieces, Op. 65 as on the two previous occasions. An accomplished No. 6 concluded the recital. pianist, Susan Sobolewski has a deep knowledge of For the encore she chose the well-known 2nd movement music that enabled her to pass incisive comments on Adagio of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8 ‘Pathetique’. the pieces she had chosen for her performance. Susan’s grasp of the technicalities of piano playing Susan began with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita is impressive as is her broad-based understanding of No. 1 in B flat Major, BWV 825, played in six various compositions. She has performed extensively movements, praeludium, allemande, corrente, sarabande, in North America, Europe and Asia under the auspices Menuet I- Menuett II, and gigue. Ferenc Liszt’s Trois of the US Information Agency. Susan holds a Doctor Etude de Concert Un Sospiro (No.3) followed, and of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of then another Bach composition, Preludio (from the Music as well as degrees from Oberlin Conservatory E Major Sonata for violin) transcribed by Sergei and Ithaca College. Rachmaninoff.  G. GEORGE 5 gender diary

The lecture began by illustrating how economic Durgabai Deshmukh measurement, valuation and progress inherently denied the value invisibly embedded in the lives Memorial Lecture of women from the masses. It was not long ago TALK: What is Wrong with Economics? Can the when women were clubbed with the destitute, the Aam Aurat Redefine Economic Reasoning? handicapped and widows in household surveys. She Speaker: Dr. went on to highlight prominent economists, like Joan Chair: Dr. Robinson, Amartya Sen, Mahbub Ul Haq, Adam Collaboration: Council for Social Development, Smith and Stiglitz, who worked towards bringing July 15 openness to economic theory. Devaki Jain refuted the perception of women as solely objects of social This insightful and comprehensive lecture was welfare and pointed to the value of spaces occupied organized in honour of Durgabai Deshmukh, a by women, who not only contribute to earnings, freedom fighter, social and political activist, and but also savings and export. Nevertheless, they are also the first chairperson of the Centre for Social the first to lose their livelihood in the face ofany Development. Devaki Jain’s insightful lecture adversity, and young daughters become surrogate emphasized the need to revisit applied economics mothers. The lecture concluded with a demonstration and policy-making to include women’s indispensible of how building on policy and a framework based role as partners in growth. She illustrated her points on an understanding of the aam aurat could usher in through tales and narratives, including her encounters sustainable growth and equitable development. with Durgabai Deshmukh.  SHUBH SHARMA

The following discussion was lively and wide-ranging. Inspiring Women As well as the continued importance of Sarabhai TALK: Celebrating Women’s Leadership and other female leaders of the past, the future of governance and unions, economy, women’s leadership Speaker: spoke on , Chair: Professor Aparna Basu, August 27 and their place in Indian society were discussed. Bhatt ended the discussion with a timely call for a common vision amongst women regarding our goals The first female trade-unionist in India, Anasuya and how to inspire younger generations: a sentiment Sarabhai and her significance as a female leader was wholeheartedly supported by most women. duly celebrated by a largely female assembly. A brief Ela Bhatt’s warm and inclusive talk emphasized history of Sarabhai’s life was delivered wonderfully the very qualities that she had earlier highlighted as by Aparna Basu, followed by Ela Bhatt who, soft- the hallmarks of good female leadership. It left her voiced, shared generously with us the Anasuya listeners enriched and inspired, reminding them that Sarabhai she knew—a woman who silently changed true leadership comes across effortlessly whether society in with her work among textile stridently articulated or softly and firmly displayed. mill workers. The talk was beautifully delivered, sprinkled with touching details of Sarabhai’s life, her Judging by this session, the series of programmes relation to Bhatt and quotes from Sarabhai herself. celebrating women’s leadership hits the mark perfectly Bhatt recollected working with Sarabhai in the last 17 with their aim to inspire. It was a joy to attend—the years of her life very fondly, and her memories truly next event is eagerly awaited. brought Sarabhai back to life for all who attended.  GUDRUN CECILIE E. HELLAND 6 diary environment

point, said that Bhatt urged people Tribute to learn about the ecology of the outside world and DISCUSSION: The Environmentalist of the Poor – taught them to see things in a larger perspective. A Tribute to Sunita Narain emphasized that Bhatt’s teachings are Discussants: Anupam Mishra, Shekhar Pathak, even more relevant today than they were in the 1980s. Ramesh Pahari, Ramchandra Guha, Jairam Ramesh She lamented that today’s environment degradation was due to a flawed lifestyle, which believed in producing Chair: Professor Pushpesh Pant pollutants and then hugely invested in cleaning them, Collaboration: PAHAR and NBT, July 19 thus creating a vicious cycle. In contrast, Bhatt and the Chipko movement emphasized On the occasion of the release of the need to give autonomy to Bhatt’s book Gaon Gaon Basti Basti, local people. prominent environmentalists paid rich tribute to this founder of the Jairam Ramesh urged Bhatt to famous Chipko movement. fight against power projects, illegal mining activities and deforestation in The programme was chaired by for another decade. He Professor Pushpesh Pant, who was also warmly recommended Bhatt’s deeply inspired by Bhatt. Journalists book to all those who wish to know Anupam Mishra and Ramesh Pahari Chandi Prasad Bhatt(L) with some comrades more about India. termed ‘Chipko’ a movement of love and respect towards nature as it redefined human relationship with Humble Chandi Prasad Bhatt lamented illegal mining, the forest. Recalling Bhatt’s pioneering work towards sale of land to outsiders, lack of infrastructure and emancipation of women and Harijans in the region, exploitation by corporations. He also paid tribute to Pahari said the movement was also about making us dedicated grassroot workers. understand our dependence on trees. Developing this  ANKIT AGRAWAL

Bagmati river had to be raised, and the consequence Reviving Rivers of this intervention was flooding and silting of the DISCUSSION: Living Rivers, Dying Rivers, right bank of the Bagmati. Kosi / Bagmati River Dr. Mishra pointed out that a perennial planning Lead Presentation: Dinesh Kumar Mishra feature encountered all along the river systems of Chair: Ramaswamy R. Iyer, August 23 is embankments built on them. As a result, starting from 1963, the Kosi has been regularly Dr. Dinesh Mishra spoke of the river systems of breaching its embankments. The year 2008, when Bihar, chief among which are the Kosi and Bagmati. an upper embankment was breached in Kusaha in He acknowledged the contribution of ancient Nepal, it resulted in widespread devastation in the sages, epic writers and poets such as Ved Vyas, plains of Bihar. Kalidasa, Bhartihari towards an understanding of the Minister Dr. K.L. Rao said in Parliament in 1967 that importance of rivers in sustaining civilization. it was on account of the peculiar nature of the Kosi This same wisdom is often displayed by local people, that the government had taken up the Kosi Project he felt. ‘I met a primary school teacher (in Khagaria (of building embankments). However, in 1954, after district)’, Dr. Mishra said, ‘who asked me: Have you a visit to China the same Dr. K.L. Rao diluted the not read Pascal’s law?’ What the teacher was asking whole embankment debate. Mishra was why the waters of the river Bagmati Dr. Mishra concluded his lecture by advising were forced to meet the Kosi, even though the latter caution while trying to control and tamper with flowed at a higher level. To do this, the level of the natural features. 7 exhibitions diary

view of the Potala Palace, the chief residence of the Tibet in Transition Dalai Lama. EXHIBITION: Tibet Then and Now The second section displayed photographs taken Assembled by Namgyal Takhla and Jane Moore in 1979 by Lobsang Samten Taklha, elder brother Inauguration: of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. These showed the Collaboration: Bureau of His Holiness the immense love and affection that ordinary people in Dalai Lama, ; and Songsten Library Tibet felt for His Holiness as well as the sorry state Dehradun, July 8–14 of Tibetan monasteries, Sakya, Tashi Lhunpo and Ganden among many others—some that were even With the arrival of Lobsang Sangay, the next Kalon shelled during the ‘Cultural Revolution’. This series Tripa (or Prime Minister) of the Tibetan Government effectively chronicled the destruction of Tibet’s in Exile, the disputed territory finds itself at another traditional life. important political juncture ripe with possibilities. The The last section captured the predicament that faces exhibition was, in this regard, a successful endeavour, a historically weighted region such as Tibet in times skilfully exhibiting the many transitions Tibet has of rapid ‘modernization’—entire hillsides cleared to undergone in the last hundred years. supply timber to China, plans to mine gold, uranium Divided into three sections, the first displayed and zinc. Even the development of the railroad photographs taken between 1914 and 1958 in the from Lhasa to Beijing, though useful, was somewhat Tibetan provinces of Amdo, Kham and U-Tsang by disturbed by the inevitable extension of Chinese Dudul N. Tsarong, a former Tibetan control in the region. government official and Alexandra However, sidestepping the binary David Neel, French traveller and also divide of China and Tibet proved to be interestingly the first ‘western woman’ a blessing since the resultant showcase to have entered Tibet. A haunting image was a vivid portrait of the many traces of this period was that of the People’s of Tibet, then and now. Liberation Army holding a military parade and raising Chinese flags in  ISHAN TANKHA

images. Despite the simplicity, almost childish in The Triumph of Dance its technique and in its desire to encapsulate all the PAINTINGS: Setareh Felizadeh, August 25–31 symbols of her own tradition, the work nevertheless conveys the richness of the classical Persian style. The Persian artist Setareh Felizadeh comes from a Leaving aside the details of dress—the turban, flowing land that boasts the highest traditions of a classical robes, pointed shoes, which are obviously identifiable art style that still inspires contemporary artists today. —the attempt appears to be to combine both the Persia was also where the finest of poetry, literature, realistic and the abstract. There is an abandoned sense and scholarship thrived. And then there were the of bold colours, as well as controlled delicate lines. legendary Sufi mystic-poets—Hafez, Sa’di, Rumi and Dancing through the canvases are sinuous figures, calligraphy, iconography, borders, jaalis, flowers, and others. It was in Rumi’s time that the dance of the a stark reminder of the reverence in Islamic tradition dervishes became a ritual ceremony of the Mevlevi for not actualizing the face of the Prophet, even order, practised in order to achieve religious ecstasy. though the figures themselves here are only dancers. Setareh’s paintings resonate with both the mystic and Omar Khayyam, referred to as an agnostic hedonist, literary traditions of Persia. is also a source of inspiration for this charming The dance is interpreted, rather, performed, through oeuvre focusing on the eclectic dances of Persia. a series of exceedingly colourful and impressionistic  RAZIA GROVER 8 diary culture

Co-author Rukshana Shroff spoke about the genesis Parsi Heritage and journey of the book—from the Farohar Club for BOOK LAUNCH: Joyous Flame – Parsi children, which started in a ‘tentative fashion’ The Parsi Zoroastrians several years ago but soon became invaluable in Authors: Rukshana Shroff and Kerman Mehta, familiarizing them with the tenets of their religion, illustrated by Naasha Mehta and especially to allow them to interact with other Parsi children. As the teachers of the group, she Released by Wajahat Habibullah and Kerman Mehta were often asked to bring out a Chair: Fali Nariman book of their teachings that would be valuable for Collaboration: Parzor Foundation, August 5 generations to come, and thus Joyous Flame was born. Naasha Mehta, a trained graphic artist, was responsible Parzor Foundation’s latest publication takes the form for the vivid and engaging pictures present on of an illustrated, reader-friendly edition that is aimed nearly every page of this book, as well as the layout at the youth, and hopes to inform children of all and design. faiths as well as children of Parsi Zoroastrian families about their rich heritage. The Foreword by His The Farohar children—fondly referred to as the Holiness The Dalai Lama commends the Parsis for Von Trapp family of the Parsis—then delighted having made, like his Tibetan community, an effort the audience with Gujarati hymns, a song about ‘to preserve our religious and cultural identity’, which the Gathas, and one highlighting what seems to be he believes is ‘in large part a tribute to the warm and the inherent sense of humour of the community. generous welcome we have received in India’. This This was followed by a high tea with traditional book highlights the common strains of compassion, Parsi snacks. love and mercy that bind all religions.  KRITI BAJAJ

transcendence of the hostile dichotomy liable to Contemporary Debates structure perceptions of the ‘Oriental.’ He also TALK: ‘Orientalism’, Anthropology and the South charged Said with denying the colonized agency. It Asia Institute may be argued Said did refute such charges when Speaker: Professor William Sax revising his work, so Sax spoke more compellingly Chair: Dr. Mala V. Thapar, August 23 for human contact and agency when describing the ‘bright, dedicated’ schoolteachers in the Tons valley William Sax’s background in South Asian studies and today, and how he ‘shivered’ when subjecting his anthropology informed his interventions in debates book to the scrutiny of Dalit youths. on Orientalism and area studies, fields that have been Turning to Willem van Schendel’s thesis that ‘area attacked, reclaimed and reconfigured from multiple studies’ emerged in the interests of former colonial disciplinary perspectives. experts and cold warriors, Sax was broadly in Choosing to begin and end his presentation as an agreement that the reification of state boundaries anthropologist, Sax described ethnography as the should give way to studies of borderlands and practice of living with the people one studies to transnational flows. Yet he argued that even under accumulate data for inductive inferences about globalization the nation remains an important locus human nature. For, he maintained we do have a of identity and conflict. For Arjun Appadurai, the shared nature, even if our conceptual categories are regions defined by area studies are mere devices for contingent on our cultures. Anthropologists seek to the study of global processes. Sax observed that this demonstrate this contingency and simultaneously to obscures how people simultaneously operate with transcend difference, morally and epistemologically. multiple scales, local to global. In contrast, Sax claimed, Edward Said forecloses  NIHARIKA GUPTA 9 announcements diary

IIC Quarterly Notices The Summer 2011 issue of the IIC Quarterly is Annual Membership Subscription now available to readers at Rs.125.00 at the IIC Publications Division. Members who have not paid the annual subscription so far, are requested to immediately pay their annual Forthcoming (Autumn 2011) subscription along with all previous dues. The annual The Autumn 2011 issue, to be released at the IIC payment for the IIC Quarterly may be sent separately. Festival of the Arts in October, is a tribute to Gandhian As per Rule 9 of the IIC’s Memorandum of ideals and practices. Shiv Visvanathan writes on the Association and Rules and Regulations, it shall be symbolism of khadi, while , Tridip the responsibility of the members to ensure due and Suhrud and Santosh Desai explore various aspects of timely payment of subscriptions and a default in the ‘Gandhiana’—, Rajghat and the practice timely payment of annual subscription would result of fasting. Other writers include Ajoy Bose on the in removal from the membership roll. Teen Deviyan, and Shobha Bondre’s delightful vignette of the Bombay Dabbawallas. In keeping with the IIC Membership Card Gandhian ethos, the life and works of two eminent In view of security and other administrative reasons, Indians—Chandi Prasad Bhatt and S.H. Vatsyayan all members/spouse members are requested to carry —are profiled by Pushpesh Pant and Manas Mukul their membership cards while visiting/using IIC Das, respectively. Jason Taylor’s photo essay evokes facilities and show them on request. Please renew your the ‘small is beautiful’ concept while paying a tribute old membership cards with your latest photograph. to the intrepid Indian farmer. Members are requested to enter details of their guests in the registers provided at the Lounges/Dining Hall and Bar. List of House Committee Members Shri Suresh Neotia, Chairman Dr. U.D. Choubey Shri A.K. Merchant Shri Sharat Kumar Shri G.C. Modgil Smt. Gulshan Nanda Shri L.K. Joshi Shri Kisan Mehta Shri M.S. Gill

Obituary A-1384 Shri B.G. Deshmukh A-1481 Smt. Nirmala Kapur A-1833 Shri Satnam Singh Recent Occasional Publication: A-1996 Dr. B.N. Chopra A-2163 Smt. Malati Chibber The Discovery and A-2739 Smt. Sudarshan Jain Appropriation of a People’s A-3677 Shri Asad Farooqui Past: Mesopotamia Nineteenth A-3854 Ms. Bimal Manmohan Singh to Twenty-first Centuries by A-3963 Professor Inder Jeet Singh Shereen Ratnagar (No. 30) A-4894 Dr. Anil Kumar Pandey A-5231 Smt. Sumitra Charat Ram Forthcoming: M-1118 Shri K.K. Banerjee Magarpatta Story: M-1817 Mr. William T. Warden Farmers Building Sustainable M-3215 Dr. N.H. Antia Cities by Satish Magar M-3800 Dr. (Mrs.) Neela Mukherjee (No. 31) 10 future highlights diary

Fourth annual Kovalam Panel Two : Robbing the Earth- The Fight for Literary Festival Bhu Swaraj at IIC, New Delhi, September 29, 2011 Panel Three : Rejuvenating the Soil Pre-Lunch session: Session Three: Education as Poetry in Motion Anuradha Roy reads from The Folded Earth Empowering the Future Generation for followed by QA Building an Earth Democracy Mirza Wahid reads from The Collaborator followed Reading of Tagore’s ‘The Parrot’s Story’ and by QA with Basharat Peer book release Presenting short story writers Savyon Liebrecht, Panel Four : Education as Poetry in Motion: and playwright Professor Motti Lerner Tagore’s Legacy for Empowering the Future from Generations for Building an Earth Democracy Post-Lunch session: Screening of the movie ‘Harmony’ Rujuta Diweka talks on her best selling book Don’t Session Four: The Champa and the Cherry Lose your Mind Lose your Weight Blossom – A Cross Cultural Dialogue on Beauty Arvind Mehrotra reads from his translation of as Harmony between Nature and Living Beings Kabir’s poems Songs of Kabir followed by QA Session Five: Learning from Tagore – Mohammed Hanif reads from Our Lady of Alice Strengthening the Green Movement Bhatti. In session with Manu Joseph Tagore Play by Neel Chaudhary and the Tadpoles Jug Suraiya on his new book Panel Five : Learning from Tagore: Strengthening Amit Chaudhuri reads from The Immortals the Green Movement Fatima Bhutto reads from Songs of Blood and Sword, Concert by Vidya Rao : A Tribute to Bhoomi followed by QA The Champa and the Cherry Blossom Dinner : A Evening session: Three book launches Celebration of Friendship Wildlife Trust of India book by on tigers of Dudwa National Park Kapila Venu Presents Anita Nair’s poems Malabar Minds, HarperCollins PARVATI VIRAHAM at IIC, New Delhi, September 27, 2011 Suresh Menon’s biography Bishen, Penguin India Concert by Ska, Vengers Parvati’s Love Quarrel in Nangiar Koothu (Solo performance BHOOMI lEARNING FROM NATURE, section of female performance in Kutiyattam) REMEMBERING TAGORE at IIC, New Delhi, October 1, 2011 Introduction: Kutiyattam Theatre. This acting skill is considered to be Session One: Tagore’s Vision of Nature and the highest quality of a performer. Reverence for the Earth One of the ancient documents of Invocation to Mother Earth (Rabindra sangeet by second century A.D. relating to a school choir) performer of Kutiyattam describes the performance Opening statement by Dr. Vandana Shiva of a Chakyar(Actor) enacting as Ardhanareeswara form Panel One: Tagore’s Vision of Nature and of Siva by the merging of masculine and feminine Reverence for the Earth energies as Siva and Parvati. Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth, Signing of The IIC experience the declaration and Diya Lighting Ceremony a Festival of the Arts 2011 Session Two: Robbery of the Soil at IIC, New Delhi, October 15-21, 2011 The Robbery of The Soil: Puppet Montage Details in following Director’s Note 11 Reg. No. 28936/77 diary

A Note from the Director

s we near October, our thoughts turn to and its distinctive style of Hindustani music will be the annual IIC Experience. This landmark presented by Pt. Laxmanrao Pandit and Meeta Pandit; Aevent has grown from strength to strength and and her students will present since its inception in 2004, and brings together in the the traditional Odissi repertoire of Guru Kelucharan course of a week, the various currents of intellectual, Mahapatra. A concert, White Tiger—Jazz in Motion, cultural and social thought in good fellowship. Many music inspired by Aravinda Adiga’s book, will be outstation members plan their visit to Delhi keeping performed by Yuri Honing and Wired Paradise. the IIC Experience in mind and it is always a pleasure Since this year marks Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary, to catch up with old friends as together we enjoy we will also hold Using a Poet’s Archive to write the History the exhibitions, music, dance, talks and roundtables, of a University: Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantiniketan cinema and cuisine. Institutions, an exhibition with photographic material This year, the IIC Experience will be held from from Vishwa Bharati University and Dr. Uma October 15-21. And, since the Centre is entering its Dasgupta. Another exhibition on the vintage prints Golden Jubilee, it was thought that we should actively of Delhi from the Alkazi Collection of Photography, involve our members in the events being planned. dating from the 1860s, will celebrate the centenary of After all, many of them have been part of India’s the founding of New Delhi. Other exhibitions are by own intellectual and cultural journey as a nation. the Delhi Crafts Council and the Raza Foundation. Indeed, whether in performing and visual arts, The film festival—Great Films, Great Film-makers literature, cinema or cuisine, our members have made —will pay tribute to some of the greats of world contributions that deserve to be celebrated. cinema, as well as screen films that shaped the film We open with Stories in a Song, a musical collage of club movement of the last five decades. The IIC Film theatre, literature and history, directed by Sunil Club is presently the oldest film club in Delhi and has Shanbag. The music has been selected and composed contributed to the dissemination of good cinema in by and Aneesh Pradhan. This play, the capital. premiered recently at the Prithvi Theatre, is about music making in India and stories of the struggles All evenings conclude with a festival of cuisine and and hardships faced by musicians, both real and this year’s fare includes delectable spreads from imaginary. We will conclude with Hey Ananta Punya, a Varanasi, Awadh, Delhi, Chettinad, Southeast Asia, dance-drama by Shadona from Bangladesh, inspired Classic Continental cuisine and the ever popular by Tagore’s Notir Puja. Banglar Ranna. T.M. , the celebrated Carnatic vocalist, All of us at the IIC look forward to seeing you at The will present Vichaara—The Inner Quest, a personal IIC Experience of 2011. journey into Carnatic music; the Gwalior Gharana  Kavita A. Sharma

This issue of the Diary has been assembled and edited by Ira Pande, Chief Editor; Rachna Joshi, Senior Asst. Editor; and Ritu Singh, Asst. Editor. Published by Ravinder Datta, for the India International Centre, 40, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi-110 003, Ph: 24619431. Designed by Poonam Bevli Sahi at FACET Design, D-9, Defence Colony, New Delhi - 110 024, Ph: 24616720, 24624336 and printed by Mastan Singh at I.G. Printers, 104, DSIDC Shed, Okhla Phase-I, New Delhi - 110 020. 12