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Home , Balasaraswati, Khushwant Singh, Kumar Gandharva

diary Price Re.1/- INTERNATIONAL CENTRE volume XXVIII. No. 6 November – December 2014

'All That Jazz...and More’ EXHIBITION: Jazz in India Inauguration by Soli J. Sorabjee November 26—30 MUSIC APPRECIATION PROMOTION: A Short History of How Jazz Became an Indian Music Presentation by: Naresh Fernandes Collaboration: Archives and Research Centre for Ethnomusicology, American Institute of Indian Studies November 26

Jazz!! The very sound of the word evokes visual images of self-taught African-American instrumentalists, some formally trained, and odd individuals of immigrant and dilettante classes playing a wide range of startling and vibrant music in the smoky bars of burgeoning ports, river cities, labour camps and industrial centres of early 20th century America. Tracingthe history of jazz in India from the time the first American jazz bands visited the country was a remarkable audio and video exhibition curated by writer and curator Naresh Fernandes from his own personal collections and the archives of renowned jazz enthusiast, Niranjan Jhaveri. Naresh's extensive presentation recounted how jazz became the world's first pop music assisted by the invention of the phonograph and the spread of radio. Spreading quickly to distant corners of the world, jazz music caused both excitement and alarm. By the mid- musicians also worked to find a way to create a fusion of 1920s, bands in Indian cantonment settlements, railway Hindustani classical music and Western jazz. From the colonies, hill stations and residency towns were belting late 1970s, the greatest jazz musicians found a warm out ‘hot music’ as jazz was called in India in those days. welcome in India at the bi-annual jazz festivals held in Indian musicians took to jazz with a passion, as did their Mumbai, , Goa and Bengaluru, in a series of audiences. From the mid-1940s, the music of the ghettoes presentations that continued till 2003. These 'jazz yatras' of New Orleans was to be heard in the subcontinent, and also helped facilitate many Indo-Western jazz jazz became an important ingredient in Hindi film music, collaborations between traditional Indian classical and putting the swing into evergreen favourites such as Sunday ke Western jazz musicians. Sunday (Shehnai, 1947), Mera Naam Chin Chin Choo and Today India is home to a host of third-generation jazz Ina Diga (Asha, 1957), and Howrah Bridge (1958). musicians who help to ensure that jazz continues to have a vigorous life in the subcontinent, another example of Using carefully preserved coloured and sepia-toned India's ability to grab influences from around the world photographs and archival recordings, Naresh Fernandes and transform them into a music uniquely its own. It demonstrated how, within a decade, jazz became an really is a case of ‘it don't mean a thing, if it ain't got important ingredient in Hindi film music. In addition to that swing!’ the functional fusion of the Hindi film studios, Indian DEEPAK CASTELINO 1 film diary

The film on water harvesting in Barmer in Rajasthan, Films on the Environment When Every Drop Counts looked at the ways in which local FILM FESTIVAL: Quotes from the Earth – An Environment communities have come together to fund and make Film Festival equitable forms of water preservation for the dry and hot summer months in the Thar desert. The film showcases Collaboration: Toxics Link the ways in which traditional modes of rain water December 5–6 harvesting such as the underground public and private tankas (tanks) are slowly making a comeback after This festival invoked the Earth through the theme of the modern methods of water generation have failed. Here, environment and its protection. The 24 films screened the film documents one of the successful projects of the showcased a wide variety of issues related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment environment, ecology and the politics of conservation. Guarantee scheme wherein BPL families worked on The festival was inaugurated by the classical danseuse tankas for the village and got funding to make their own Guru Shovana Narayan. In the inaugural address, she private tankas as well. The result: fresh and clean drinking spoke of the ways in which the earth is being poisoned by water in the harshest months of the year. humans akin to the ways in which Kalki, the mythological The lyrical and beautifully filmed Song of Niyamgiri snake poisoned the river and was subdued by Lord Krishna. documented a folk song of the Niyamgiri tribe through The film screenings on the first day were linked through a animation. The brush strokes followed the voice and panel discussion on the ‘The role of media in shaping vocal strains of the song sung by one of Niyamgiri’s contemporary environmental discourse’. The discussion famous folk singers about the birth of the earth and the centred on how the media was caught in its role within a Niyamgiris and the destruction of their habitat by

market economy in its efforts to generate environmental outsiders. The song and film echoed the fears of bauxite issues and create effective awareness around it. In its mining that threatens to destroy the habitat and local urban-centric and political approach, the media was community of the Niyamgiris. willing to showcase only those stories on the environment Wildlife preservation policy was the focus of the film that fit in with its readership and its larger agenda. ForgottenTigers. It tracked the ways in which ProjectTiger However, against such a bleak image of the media’s role in fails to protect tigers as per its mandate. The film environmental awareness and action were also stories of documents the lived negotiations amongst people living the media’s activism in pushing through emotive, action- in and around natural habitats and the ways in which they oriented reportage regarding issues of wildlife try to understand and respect wildlife, sometimes at huge conservation, toxic waste, river conservation and lead personal cost. The bureaucratic and political machinery poisoning. It was also highlighted in the discussion that it however is not similarly tuned into the ways in which the was often the local media rather than mainstream news forests and tigers need protection and understanding. that were more conscientious and holistic in their coverage of environmental issues and conservation. ANINDITA MAJUMDAR 2 diary exhibition and films

Ruth and her husband was one of Ruth, her daughter Ruth’s World Renana and grandchild. There were images too of the EXHIBITION: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Memorabilia Jhabvala family: Ruth with Shashi Kapoor, Ruth in easy December 8–18 camaraderie with Merchant and Ivory at Ivory’s home in Readings and Discussion: Ruth – Destined to Write Clavarack, upstate New York. December 15 The discussion, ‘Ruth: Destined to Write’, brought out the psyche of Ruth and her uneasy relationship with Much feted author and screenplay writer Ruth Prawer India. The evening began with a brief introduction to Jhabvala (1927-2013) used to shut herself away from the Ruth‘s life and work by her daughter Renana Jhabvala, world a few hours everyday to do what she loved. Her followed by a film where Ruth, Merchant and Ivory output was tremendous—13 novels, eight collections of engaged in playful banter about the making of Heat and short stories and 23 screenplays. India-centric books like Dust. Then came the highlight of the evening—an The Householder and Heat and Dust are as legendary insightful overview of Ruth and her early work by as her original screenplays and adaptations of literary academic and novelist Aruna Chakravarti. Well-known classics for film producer Ismail Merchant and director personalities Averee Chaurey and Minoti Chatterjee read James Ivory. excerpts from Ruth’s A Backward Place, Heat and Dust Tocelebrate the life and work of Ruth, a retrospective was and An Experience of India. The readings were reflective organised that encompassed an exhibition, discussion and of Ruth’s repugnance for fake godmen and the misplaced film screenings. At the core of the exhibition were obsession of Indian men for white women. Yet some memorabilia—collections of photographs (1951-2012), where there lurked her affirmation of India. films scripts, her old typewriter, notebooks, film posters Rounding up the evening was a short discussion of Ruth’s and sketches drawn by her architect husband Cyrus later works by academic Ramesh Shah. Jhabvala. The photographs offered vignettes of her momentous life. Juxtaposed with a striking photograph of KAVITA CHARANJI

hard to keep Shakespeare alive long after the Raj.The film In Three Continents was inspired by the experiences of the Kendal family and IIC FILM CLUB RETROSPECTIVE: Ruth Jhabvala – Her was shot by ’s cameraman Subrata Mitra. A Three Continents – 50 Years with Merchant Ivory Room with a View is a faithful rendering of E. M. Forster’s December 8—22 celebrated novel. The story of the awakening of young Lucy Honeychurch, thanks to the liberating effect of the The Merchant Ivory retrospective conceptualised and Tuscan countryside and the Latin temperament is curated by Renana Jhabvala and Meera Dewan has been a translated with perfect judgment and Forster’s dry sense real treat for film connoisseurs and literary aficionados. of humour. Ruth Jhabvala’s screenplays based on famous novels are In Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, Mr. Bridge, an autocratic Kansas memorable. The adaptations remain true to the original City lawyer, refuses to move with the times. Stunningly and are made even more vivid with superb visuals and photographed interiors and exteriors recreate the 1930s brilliant performances. In her Neil Gunn Lecture entitled to perfection. In Remains of the Day, Stevens is the ‘Disinheritance’, Jhabvala observes: ‘… I stand before you inarticulate butler, a man so fanatically devoted to selfless as a writer without any ground or being out of which to service that he continues with his duties while his father write: really blown about from country to country, lies dying and refuses to question the Nazi sympathies of culture to culture. As it happens, I like it that way. It’s his master Lord Darlington. There is the love element made me into a cuckoo, forever insinuating myself into between Stevens and Miss Kenton, the housekeeper. others’ nests. Or a chameleon hiding myself in false or Jefferson in Paris focuses on America’s first ambassador to borrowed clothes.’ the court of Louis XVIth. There Thomas Jefferson Commenting on her years in India, she says: ‘I still can’t observed the decadence which was to ignite the French describe the impact that India made on my innocent Revolution. Dramatic tension centres on the conflict mind and senses.’ Jhabvala’s last 35 years were spent in between love and convention, or, as Jefferson famously New Yorkobserving human behaviour. expressed it, ‘the head and the heart’. The Golden Bowl In The Householder, a young teacher, Prem finds himself based on the novel by Henry James recreates the period married to Indu, an exquisite but trying girl. There is evocatively. The seemingly innocent New World shows friction and conflict to start with in the marriage but the scheming Old World a thing or two in matters of finally Prem settles for domesticity. Shakespeare Wallah is strategy. We are struck by the visual opulence and the about a group of English-led travelling players striving metaphor of the beautiful but flawed objet d’art. JEHANARA WASI 3 exhibition diary

commercial routes from Lhasa to Assam via Tawang and The Himalaya Narigun added interest to the exhibits. These were EXHIBITION: The Himalaya: A Timeless Quest – Monks, accompanied by photographs by Vidura Jung Bahadur on Traders and Travellers the traders of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. December 19—30 Central-Asian scholar Chhaya Bhattacharya-Haesner curated photographs and text based on the cultural and The Himalaya: A Timeless Quest—Monks, Traders and spiritual interactions between Kashmir, Ladakh and Travellers is the second exhibition of a four-part series that Khotan. Her talk on the ‘Intimate Artistic Links celebrates the eternal beauty of these mountain ranges. Between the Art of Ladakh and Central Asia with This series looks at the region Special Reference to Alchi through the prism of its and Khotan Respectively’ geography, culture, myths, highlighted this. religion and people. It enriches Short story writer, critic and the palimpsest of these visual ethnographer Manju formidable mountains, subtly Kak explored the terrain of the layering the historicity of Uttarakhand Himalayas human civilisation. They are through her documentary, seen through the eyes of They Who Walked Mountains explorers, travellers, monks based on the erstwhile Salt and traders. Their story is told Trade between Tibet and the through paintings, Johari Bhotia communities of photographs, maps, objects, Kumaon. She also curated the texts, audio recordings and section on ‘Woodcarvers of films accompanied by talks and Kumaon’, using acclaimed discussions. The objective Nainital-based photographer through this endeavour is to Anup Sah’s extraordinary sensitise the viewer to our visuals of wooden chaukhats Himalayan heritage and set taken from villages as remote him thinking of the and high as Garbiyang in Kala environmental damage being Pani to the valleys around caused by modern man. Almora. A Himalayan Deb Mukharji, diplomat, landscape by, and a banner on, trekker and photographer- Nickolai Roerich, the exemplar, displayed ten renowned Russian painter- photographs along with write- explorer and spiritualist who ups on eight Indian travellers, made Naggar, Kullu (HP) his pilgrims and Western explorers home lent élan to the of the Himalayas. Some were exhibition. The banner was the quintessential map-makers designed by Mohd. Zeeshan. of Tibet—the Pundits; others The Western Himalayas saw were Sarat Chandra Das, Younghusband,Moorecraft, etc. representation through a magnificent display of artifacts, The section also featured a black and white image of the documents and objects of trade from the collection of the Nathu La Pass, taken in 1959; Taktsang, one of Bhutan’s Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum of Central Asian and Kargil sacred sites of Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Guru TradeArtifacts. These included silver coins, camel saddles Padmasambhava is believed to have meditated in the 8th and riding gear, foot/head wear, ornaments, clothes, Century; Lo Gekar, believed to be the oldest Tibetan books and prayer items collected by the family of the monastery and the birthplace of Tibetan Buddhism Director, Muzammil Hussain Munshi, and set up in their located in Upper Mustang in Nepal. Four antique maps old family Serai in Leh. Also included were a series of showing the route taken by Buddhist monk Dipankara evocative 1930s black and white photographs of Ladakh from Kathmandu to Tho-Lin (Ladakh); cartographer by CRT Wilmont (1897– 1961), a British army officer. Nain ’s journey from Ladakh to Assam (1877); the routes of Babu Sarat Chandra Das through Sikkim and Tibet (1879/1882), and a ‘Bhotia Map’ of SIDDHARTH KAK 4 diary dance

Bharatanatyam. Her abhinaya in ashtapadi was Going Solo commendable. More animation would make her FESTIVAL: Ek-Anant — The Unendimg One expressions communicative. Neena Prasad displayed her November 21–22 command over abhinaya in enacting the story of Draupadi in Mohiniattam. Bimbavati Devi in spirited Subas Pani set the tone at the seminar by explaining the Manipuri, in particular in her own choreography of trends in the present day dance scene. Solo dance forms Shakti, stole the show. by A. Lakshman were heading towards group dances, and group dances (groomed under K. J. Sarasa) revealed old world charm. It were turning into solo dance forms. He emphasised the need for preserving the solo dance form against the preference for group dances. Ashok Vajpeyi gave examples of musicians like and Mallikarjun Mansoor who never lost faith in their solo renderings of Hindustani music. Kiran Seth explained the concept of Alpha Zone in terms of mathematics. Speaking of Kathakali artist Kalamandalam Krishnan Niar, who once stayed with him at his modest apartment, he saw his sadhana and understood what concentration meant. Without that sort of devotion, solo dancers cannot aspire to make a mark. Malavika Sarukkai’s spartan life was an example of sadhana. Till a solo dancer surrenders to the form, she said, he/she cannot achieve the goal. Aditi Mangaldas, describing her journey as a solo dancer, mentioned broadening the base of one’s passion for dance. She said that both solo and group dances can be mastered, and if one decides to, one can perform both. Leela Venkataraman gave the example of , and quoting observed that a dancer is essentially trained as a solo dancer, but can also do group work. However the essence is in solo exposition. Sujata Vijayaraghavan limited her observations to the south, in particular to Chennai. As the moderator, Sunil Kothari drew attention to the fact that solo dance performances require small auditoriums where abhinaya expressions can be seen. Otherwise, barring nritta, pure dance, audiences do not enjoy presentation of abhinaya when seated too far. Like Vishnu Digambar Paluskar used to say, we may not have many ‘tansens’ (musicians), but we need to have many ‘kansens’ (admirers and appreciators of music). Similarly, we need informed audiences to appreciate classical dances. Though Spic Macay has worked towards it in a meaningful manner, it is necessary to train audiences for classical dances. There was a consensus of opinion regarding the preservation would have helped connoisseurs in appreciating his of the solo dance form. sancharis more if he had edited them. Prashant Shah From among the dancers who performed solos on two performed Kathak with the salient features of Kumudini evenings, all placed their best foot forward. Shagun Lakhia’s style. For abhinaya, he would do well to select Butani presented, in Odissi, Ramakant Rath’s songs which would highlight the strength of a male contemporary poem Radha which required better performer instead of a nayika. explanation. Priya Venkataramanhas shown maturity in SUNIL KOTHARI 5 arts diary

The panel not only discussed the general beliefs of the Tribute to author on the socio-political situations arising in the BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP: Suneet Mani Iyer; Patricia country, but also how it affected his life and work. Montalto; and Professor Harish Trivedi discussed two books Mushirul Hasan related how the decline of a professional on Khushwant Singh historian inside of Singh led to the eminence of his Khushwant Singh: Unforgettable Fiction, Non-Fiction, journalistic pick up. An Anglo—Indian writer, Poetry and Humour (, Rupa Publications, 2014) Khushwant Singh was an eminent novelist, lawyer, by David Davidar and Mala Singh, and politician and journalist. He was best known for his Khushwant Singh: The Legend Lives On... (New Delhi: Hay trenchant secularism, his pungent sense of humour and House, 2014) edited by Rahul Singh abiding love for poetry. Chair: Professor Mushirul Hasan November 10 The books contain several articles which discuss Singh’s comparisons of social and behavioural characteristics of ‘There can be no meaningful discussion on a book if you Westerners and Indians, laced with his acid wit. Professor don’t know the author and his assets of writing, his visions Hasan reflected that the reason why he liked the two and literary channels along with the idiosyncrasies.’ It was books in question is the fact that they discuss Khushwant’s the thought shared at the launch of two books on the life identification with Gandhi and Nehru and his inclusive and works of the legendary writer, Khushwant Singh. vision. The book goes on to discuss his systematic and The two books cover his writings and give meaningful assiduous secular outlook on life. glimpses of his personality, vision of the times he lived in, his religion, beliefs and secular outlook. Also, his incredible humour and the mark he left on three generations. DAISY DEKA

moving on to the lighter offerings such as lok sangeet, the Kumar Gandharva padas of Gorakhnath, the of Meera. Centenary In all these varieties, the artists created an aura of FESTIVAL: On the Occasion of the 90th birth anniversary melodious composure through intelligent interpretation of the legendary musician, Pt. Kumar Gandharva of the words, with the mood of the music.Thus, there was Collaboration: Raza Foundation; ; an explicit, studied and innovative presentation using the Sanskriti Pratishthan; and Gandharva Mahavidyalaya madhyalaya tempo in most cases so that the listeners were November 10–12 able to engage with the meditative aura of the music.

The centenary of the late Pandit Kumar Gandharva was The second day of the two-day celebrations was marked marked by the joint performance of the maestro’s greatest by a solo concert recital by Kumarji’s senior disciple inheritors, namely his daughter Kalapini Komkali and Pandit . Though a few of the son Bhuvanesh Komkali. The duo regaled the audiences compositions in his chosen repertoire identified closely with a pick of the late master’s immortal compositions with the format of the previous evening, the mature across a wide choice of genres and . Revisiting approach to the singing added a singular dimension to the Kumarji’s inimitable style of presentation, the artists music. Of note was the tarana chosen by Pandit Mudgal charmed listeners with their expertise in using a single that coordinated the vocal exposition with phrase of the composition and painting a complete image. accompaniment to match. His choice of presentation in Through the classic short, crisp and succinct approach to the madhyalaya tempo gave space for a wider delineations that Kumarji had initiated, they presented a understanding of Kumarji’s artistry. well composed evening of music, explicitly mapping out The release of a volume alongside the musical homage Kumarji’s oft heard compositions in Bahar, duo-raga rounded off the occasion. delights such as Sohini-Bhatiyar among others, before SUBHRA MAZUMDAR

6 diary talks

students and teachers have been taking in Paz in Celebrating the Birth particular, and Latin America in general. The Spanish department at the School of Languages at the Jawaharlal Centenary of Nehru University has produced generations of Hispanists (1914-1998) who have made a valuable contribution to Latin American literature studies. It is not pure coincidence TALK: Living and Creating in Light of India that about half a dozen Latin American writers have been Speakers: Krishen Khanna; Prayag Shukla; Professor awarded the Nobel Prize in literature after the Second S.P. Ganguly; Professor Minni Sawhney WorldWar. Coordinator: Professor Vibha Maurya December 1 Professor Ganguly discussed the issue of identity in the writings of Paz with particular reference to Indian Glowing tributes were paid to the leading Mexican poet, identity. He delved deeply into author, diplomat and India-watcher Octavio Paz at a including Hinduism, Buddhism, Tantra and many other gathering of Indian Latin Americanists. This is also the related aspects and issues. Paz also reinterpreted Mexican birth centenary of this prolific intellectual. Scholars, poets history in his writings. and artists remembered Paz with personal anecdotes and The celebrated Indian painter narrated his encounters incidents from his life in India and elsewhere. with Paz when he was staying at 12, Prithviraj Road in The highlight of the discourse was a profound Delhi as the Mexican ambassador to India. The noted presentation by the erudite former professor of Spanish Hindi poet Prayag Shukla recited his Hindi translations language and Latin American literature, Shyama Prasad of Paz's poems. Ganguly,a sine qua non of the keen interest Indian GUPTA

said that she through her writings of Bengali food has Bengali Cuisine transported the readers to a magical world. Ms Banerji TALK: A Very Bengali Passion — Food beyond the Kitchen discussed Bengali food with anecdotes, folklore, history Speaker: Chitrita Banerji and literary references. Chair: Dr. Pushpesh K. Pant Poets wrote vivid and loving descriptions of food. December 9 Buddhist literature provided a sense of the prosperity of It is a universal fact that Bengalis suffer from a food the age with the description of elaborate food. The fixation. But Chitrita Banerji intensive research on the conjugal love between Shiva and Parvati was subject of Bengali food and cuisine beyond Bengali demonstrated in the works of the medieval Bengali poet. kitchen and homes and how it permeates into Bengali And in Chaitanya Charitamrita, food prepared in various consciousness and makes it's presence felt in Bengali styles by his disciples depicted the devotion of the literature, songs, idioms, religion and secular rituals is disciples towards their guru. Bankim Chandra’s Anand indeed praiseworthy. Food is an intrinsic part of Bengali Math on the background of the famine talked of culture, particularly of the culture of women´s lives. sumptuous food. Rabindranath Tagore's Chira Kumar Beyond the meals prepared and cooked for everyday life, Sabha blended humour, food and satire. Love for food food offerings blessed by the gods are shared by devotees makes its presence felt in Bengali songs too. Special in daily ceremonies as Bhog. mention was made of Hilsa fish, a favourite of the Bengalis. Astonishing methods of preparing foods that are carefully In art and paintings, Bengali food has left its mark. Pata made by the women reveal not only a rich culinary culture chitra on palm leaves and 19th century Kalighat paintings but also a social structure in which ordinary folk had to depicted daily social life with food as a major part. relish just panta bhath while the rich enjoyed elaborate meals.The noted food critic and historian, Pushpesh Pant MANDIRA GHOSH

7 discussions diary

cultural symbols: ‘the quasi-total eradication of American Health Culture Indians with viruses; industrialism bringing new illnesses; DISCUSSION: CULTURE AS CONTINUUM – Health Culture the globalisation of HIV-AIDS.’ as Continuity An approach connecting and enlightening both the past Speaker: Ritu Priya Mehrotra legacy and the present challenges of humanity, the prism Chair: Professor Savyasachi of health culture remains underestimated as three specific Collaboration: Lila Foundation for Translocal Initiatives angles divide and weaken its scope. ‘British colonial December 11 anthropology limited health culture to the primitive backwardness of traditional formulae. The hospital culture of today’s middle class is sceptical of the effects of ‘Health culture is not just medical culture. It is larger, traditional medicine. And many traditional experts of a wider. Ritu Priya Mehrotra argued for ‘Health Culture “holistic’’ medicine are resistant to chemical medicine.’ as Continuity’. The policy-makers of Independent India have extended ‘This is how we moved along, growing a sense of health this triple division. ‘India is the country that recognises care. Communities evolved, developing technologies to the highest number of medicine systems. But it is a complement the environment in support of basic health situation of undemocratic pluralism: certain approaches requirements. Only then did power structures and social get more attention, more funding and more recognition. stratification take place.’ In this long process, phases of Today, it is a dialogue between those various traditions biological plateaus permitted further developments: that is urgently required.’ ‘slowly, a biology-culture balance is arrived at. The community benefits from a low endemicity… till new Ritu Priya Mehrotra presented a dense picture, suggesting disturbances arrive: revolutions, invasions’. In our world the possibilities of bringing together the many facets that history, those disturbances have reached the level of form our health culture(s). SAMUEL BUCHOUL

urged for a reappraisal of Partition studies, to temporally Sindh and Partition relocate the trauma of displacement post 1947 and to DISCUSSION: The Post—Partition Experience of Sindh and remould the narratives of trauma. the Sindhis Thematically resonant of Kothari, Tarun K. Saint's paper Panelists: Nandita Bhavnani; Rita Kothari; Tarun Saint; focused on Shashi Deshpande's story ‘Independence Priya Kumar; and Rakhshanda Jalil Day,’ which illustrates the experience of a Sindhi migrant Chair: Dr. Subarno Chatterji in Bangalore. At the forefront lay the disjunction between Collaboration: Centre for Studies in Violence, Memory and the jubilation of independence and the incoherence of Trauma, Department of English, University of Delhi violence and displacement. That personal histories are December 12 juxtaposed with the public history of national commemoration, and their fragmentation, partly due to The idea behind the seminar was to bring into limelight retaining sanitised versions, formed the crux of his paper. an aspect of Partition studies that has long been Priya Kumar's paper examined the notions of home, neglected—the displacement of Sindhis. The papers hospitality, diasporic consciousness, and the term muhajir examined the nature of displacement, memory, trauma, with relation to 's Sita Betrayed and and the experience of resettlement. Nandita Bhavnani, Kamila Shamsie's Kartography. She illustrated how a lost author of The Making of Exile: Sindhi Hindus and the generation was created as a result of Partition epitomised , elaborated upon the social and in Sita and how nativist claims clashed with muhajir economic factors that allowed for rapid Hindu claims of right to land and ownership. Continuing with ascendency over Muslims, the former being a minority yet the theme of the city and its inhabitants, Rakhshanda Jalil having an upper hand in land-owning and money- shared her observation on 's Agey lending, leading to resentment. The incoming Muhajirs Samundar Hai, set in Karachi, and her translation of it. furthered the minority status of the Hindus, eventually Extending Kumar's argument, she pointed to how leading to the pogrom of January 6. Rita Kothari spoke Hussain constructs the conflict between a people's claim about how, in engaging with the Kutchi Sindhis, she has over a city and a city's claim, if at all, over its people. been made aware of an intensely personal relationship She also disputed the essentialist view of muhajirs and between the Hindus and Muslims of the region. She their experience. TRISHA LALCHANDANI 8 diary talk/discussion

This is in spite of the UNESCO convention on Means of Retrieving Antiquities Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import and Export and Transfer of the Ownership of Cultural Property, TALK: INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY – The Plunder of India’s Past Article 7 of which says that the State party of the Speaker: Dr. Kirit Mankodi convention has to take necessary measures to prevent Chair: B.M. Pande museums and institutions from acquiring illegally December 10 imported cultural property belonging to another State party. However, the guidelines of the convention do not The talk on ‘The Plunder of India’s Past’ delivered by Kirit seem to be implemented in proper spirit by the State parties. Mankodi, an eminent art historian, was inspiring and eye opening to heritage lovers of the country. The efforts The ASI is making its best efforts for the retrieval of made by him to trace illegally exported art objects in illegally exported cultural property and quite a good foreign countries and their retrieval is really appreciated. number of them referred to by Dr. Mankodi in his talk are The Mithuna figures of Attru, the female figurines of the in the process of retrieval. Nagda, Rajasthan, the stone image of Bharhut, MP and The basic issue is, how these priceless antiquities are the Natraja image of Badoli, Rajasthan are a few for which stolen and illegally exported in spite of having several legal Dr. Mankodi has made efforts to bring back to their place provisions in place. However, there are clear indications of origin. that we are not in a position to safeguard antiquities, and These objects are stolen from centrally protected at the same time, there is no proper vigil while passing monuments and fortunately in most of the cases, the through customs. It is possible, however, to discourage documents required for their retrieval are available. But a such activities simply by being more vigilant and large number of objects are stolen and smuggled from sensitive. A proper coordination between the law unprotected sites and no complaints are registered at the enforcing agencies and creating awareness among the time of their theft. The claim of ownership of such masses, would automatically prevent the illegal antiquities for their retrieval has become a major trafficking of Indian antiquities, which would ensure its challenge to the country. safety for posterity. D.N. DIMRI

P.P.Shrivastava said that while the Northeast is seen as a Insurgency and Integration backward area, it is in fact one of the richest regions of DISCUSSION: Restructuring the Northeast the country. It has forests, water and land. The problem Speakers: P.P. Shrivastava; Falguni Rajkumar; is one of mindsets. There is a tribal Panchsheel of Professor Bhagat Oinam and R.S. Pandey truthfulness, honesty, transparency and community Moderator: B.G. Verghese feeling, and consensus decision-making. The November 13 contradictions of identity/progress, insider/outsider, grievance/blame need to be sorted out. Finally, the trust At the outset, Falguni Rajkumar said that one must deficit has to be corrected. understand the concept of the Northeast region in three R.S. Pandey said that restructuring has been going on in ways. Firstly in the formal sense, in a geocentric manner as the Northeast. There are grievances against India and a geographically defined place; then in a functional sense within the Northeast. The problems that engendered as states; and finally in the vernacular sense, as more of a insurgency still remain; it is not a problem of physical dimension than the fact that it has human development, but a problem of perception. The beings. A group acquires cohesiveness under external Northeast does not feel politically present in India. pressure. When people of the Northeast come outside their region they are grouped as one, but when they live in Bhagat Oinam tied together the threads of the discussion. the Northeast, they go into their burrows. Ethnic identity He emphasised that mindsets get translated into violence. became politically necessary when Nagaland was created Finally, the communitarian aspect of societies in the in 1963. Regions were divided by the Reorganisation of Northeast needs to be emphasised. States in 1972-73. This was politically desirable, but economically a disaster. Economically, the Northeast needs to combine within itself. RACHNA JOSHI 9 seminar diary

The presentation lauded some of the recent steps taken by Mid-Year Review the government and the Reserve Bank to support the SEMINAR: Mid-Year Review of the Indian Economy 2014 –15 economy while keeping a leash on inflation. The services Main Presentation by Mythili Bhusnurmath sector, which had grown at a good 6.8 per cent rate in the Theme papers by Dr. Seema Sangita, and Dr. Indira Iyer first quarter, was seen expanding much less than potential. Discussants: Dr. B. B. Bhattacharya and Dr. Ajit Ranade Money and credit markets had mostly been stable in the Chair: Dr. Bimal Jalan first six months of the year—while the equity and bond Collaboration: NCAER markets saw some excitement, credit was a little subdued. November 1 However, the stock market rally in the first half was mainly driven by foreign institutional investor flows. The main presentation at the Mid-Year Review of the On trade and commerce, Bhusnurmath pointed out that Indian Economy by NCAER's Mythili Bhusnurmath India's export growth had slowed after a strong show in dwelt on key aspects of the economy to drive home the May and June. The trade balance, too, had improved in point that India's economy had begun the year on a firm the first quarter, but a 26 per cent import surge in footing, but might have been losing steam on certain September again pushed trade deficit to an 18-month high. parameters lately. The recent taming of inflation, though, was seen as a big In agriculture, Bhusnurmath said a deficient monsoon positive. GDP growth in the April-June quarter of this this year could lead to a drop of 2-3 per cent in kharif year, at 5.7 per cent, was one percentage point higher than foodgrain output. On industrial production, her the same quarter last year. Concerns were also raised on presentation highlighted the fact that a welcome 4.2 per the front of fiscal deficit, which the Union Budget had cent growth in the first quarter had been followed by a estimated to be 4.1 per cent of GDP over 2014-15. disappointing near-flat expansion of less than 0.5 per cent Three-fourths of the estimate for the deficit in the entire in both July and August. The manufacturing sector was year had been hit in the first six months itself. seen as the biggest drag, while gross fixed capital formation as relief. Also, better growth in core The review also had two special papers: on financial infrastructure industries in the months to come was inclusion by Indira Iyer and on India’s bilateral trade in viewed as bolstering overall industrial output. services by Seema Sangita. REETESH ANAND

eminent panelists and historians Mridula Mukherjee and World War I Centenary Srinath Raghavan. Shashi Tharoor was a guest speaker and DISCUSSION: The War that Changed the World presented a specially commissioned essay on the theme. Collaboration: British Council Division and BBC There was reminiscence and commemoration of the November 1 contribution of nearly 1.5 million recruits from India in The British Council, India and the BBC collaborated to the war, at Gallipolli, Egypt, Mesopotamia and Africa. present a panel discussion and debate on ‘The War that The gallant actions of these soldiers who were the first to Changed the World : India and Imperialism’ , observing be killed in the trenches was acknowledged and applauded. the centenary of World War I. The legacy and historical Srinath Raghavan explained British troops as being very significance of World War I (1914-1919) which was diverse, a sort of melting pot bringing in forces from undoubtedly a catalyst of change and altered the course of Africa and India. Though India’s contribution was key to the modern world, was discussed passionately among the allied victory, Indian soldiers were unprepared for the panelists and audience alike. harsh cold climate of Europe and even the uniforms were The special debate saw a packed house with Razia Iqbal alien to them. from BBC World service radio as moderator. She sought Mridula Mukherjee rightly put forth the view that the to get the Indian perspective on the great war by urging soldiers were not fighting a war for their own country, and the audience, including students, researchers and war stated that it would be romantic to discuss this as a veterans, to share their poignant stories, hidden behind patriotic army as soldiering was a profession. the statistics, and participate in the lively discussion led by GAURIKA KAPOOR 10 diary lecture/discussion

Karachi resolution of Congress passed in 1931 was The Indian Modern and Nehru’s brainchild and it constructed an alternative picture of independent India, in which the State would be Nehru the major agent of social transformation. Even Gandhi DISCUSSION: THE INDIAN MODERN AND NEHRU – Nehru realised that people supported Nehru’s vision of India and the National Movement codified in the Karachi resolution. A commitment to the Speaker: Professor Irfan Habib universalist understanding of secularism was part of Chair: Professor Mushirul Hasan Nehru’s vision of independent India. November 22 However, Irfan Habib took issue with Nehru’s role in the 1940s. After making his ideological preferences clearly in Irfan Habib spoke on the ways in which Jawaharlal Nehru favour of the Allied powers, why did Nehru agree to fight influenced the nationalist movement. In his view, Nehru’s the Quit India movement at a time when the Allied involvement in the national movement was at two levels. powers were being threatened by the Axis powers? It was At one level, he carried forward the work done by the 19th also in the 1940s that Nehru wrote his third major book century nationalist leaders and Gandhi. At another level, Discovery of India in which there was a clear regression however, Nehru’s involvement was in the nature of a from internationalism to narrow nationalism and from major intervention which helped change the character of rationalism to a celebration of religion However, the year the movement in significant ways. When he returned 1947 was important as the Gandhi stream and the Nehru from Europe in 1927, he noticed a lack of radicalism in stream, that had run parallel to each other, got united. the movement and brought about a major breakthrough The Indian Nationalist Movement is easily the greatest in many ways. One, as against the celebration of religion contribution of the Indian people so far, and both Nehru by Gandhi in his Hind Swaraj, Nehru clearly celebrated and Gandhi contributed to its greatness. reason and took it to the people. Two, he also began to popularise the ideas of socialism and a welfare state.The SALIL MISRA

issues and practical situations necessitating low cost Small Innovations solutions: for example bridges in Meghalaya made by THIRTEENTH BCF ANNUAL LECTURE: Innovation, Honey villagers by tying together roots of trees; bicycles where Bee Network and Grassroots Work both the driver and passenger can pedal helping one Speaker: Dr. Anil Gupta another, etc. Talking about innovations, the small Collaboration: Business and Community Foundation entrepreneur, the sustainability of small innovations, he November 28 showed different examples of small innovations which are known worldwide after getting due recognition. ‘If you Professor Anil Gupta delivered the 13th Annual BCF are unique, you need to do something unique’ was the lecture to a full house of 240 persons in the C.D. overall theme. His aim was to connect, solve the Deshmukh Auditorium with audiences drawn from problems of the unorganised sector, SMEs, and the small management schools, faculty members, people from rural entrepreneur. different sectors, Civil Society, Corporate, NGOs etc. He also spoke about the need to change our culture to His insightful session was full of examples of new come up with new innovations and ideas, and that jugaad innovations made by common people, who came up should not be celebrated as this leads to a temporary with new ideas to make innovations accessible and work solution. This was an inspirational session especially for for the common person while giving them recognition students as most of his examples and innovations are and respect. solutions for ordinary people solving common problems He talked about the potential in people and spoke about which people have just learnt to live with. The lecture his network (Honey Bee) which is celebrating its silver ended with an open house with many questions from the jubilee. He spoke of how people learn from their own audience and a standing ovation. experience, and shared his learning while he travelled across the country having covered 6,000 km on foot in Shodhyatras. Most of his learning came from common PRAVEEN SINGH 11 discussion diary

P. Lama spoke about the achievements and the missed Aspects of SAARC opportunities during the Summit. He began by focusing DISCUSSION: SAARC — Kathmandu and Beyond on issues that arose for the first time at any SAARC Speakers: Dr. Ajay Gondane; Professor Mahendra P. Lama Summit. It was for the first time that: the member and Eric Gonsalves countries thought about the future of SAARC, going Chair: I. P. Khosla beyond national opportunities and looking at the borders December 3 as opportunities rather than security threats; and countries talked of education and people-centric policies. Dr. Ajay Gondane was the first speaker at the panel He said that SAARC is still plagued with structural discussion on ‘SAARC: Kathmandu and Beyond’ who weakness, politics, non-democratic institutional narrated in detail the negotiation process that preceded processes, and no accountability of conventions discussed the SAARC Summit. He pointed out that while regional but not implemented. economic integration has achieved great success in Eric Gonsalves was sceptical about the relationship Europe, South East Asia and other places, we remain between the media and SAARC as the media does not backward. The SAARC Motor Vehicle and SAARC understand what SAARC is doing. He pointed out that Railways agreements were expected to be signed at the one cannot ignore the Chinese presence in the region Summit but were not as some member countries opposed since it is spending extensive money in many countries in it. He remarked that India has unilaterally taken steps to the region such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. boost intra–regional trade, including providing duty free He remarked that a grouping around the Indian Ocean is access to goods from SAARC LDCs, but this will only required but has to be backed by the political will, succeed if other partners also dismantle their tariff and allocation for trans-border working, elimination of non-tariff barriers. However, one achievement of the security threat perceptions, cooperation in intelligence Summit was the Framework Agreement for Energy sharing, and a change in the attitudes of the private and Cooperation that will facilitate development of a SAARC the public sectors. market for electricity. INDRAJIT

Avery’s path-breaking research was celebrated with a talk Molecular Mix and Match by this distinguished and equally original scientist on DISCUSSION: DNA@70. DNA—Not merely the Secret of Life using DNA’s chemical information for the bottom-up Speaker: Professor Nadrian 'Ned' Seeman nanoscale control of matter. Seeman made this complex Collaboration: Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance and rather technical subject highly accessible with December 22 fascinating examples from sources as diverse as the Paris catacombs, a chandelier in the Capuchin monastery in Seventy years after Oswald Avery showed that DNA, Rome, the tiled flooring of the Pergamon Temple exhibit rather than cell proteins, was responsible for the in Berlin and the amusingly absurd idea of marshmallows mysterious ‘transforming principle’ of heredity, science being impaled by uncooked pasta! His work is interesting has used this discovery in myriad ways to advance our in two ways: as engineering for its own sake, it explores all understanding of and intervention in biological the ways in which a topologically linear molecule whose processes. But in the 1980s, as crystallographer Nadrian constituents have specific tensegrity characteristics can be Seeman sat in a campus pub looking at a woodcut by the rearranged using sticky-ended cohesion to make anything remarkable graphic artist M. C. Escher showing a from knots, chains and lattices to microscopic smiley seamless 3D arrangement of fish, he realised that DNA faces, text messages written with molecules and tiny, could also be synthetically manipulated to form lattices self-propelled synthetic objects that walk like and other structures by cannibalising and rearranging its earthworms. As the basis for applications that could constituents. Seeman founded the cutting edge field of transform our lives, it has profound implications for structural DNA nanotechnology, which works with nanorobotics, DNA-based computing, targeted drug DNA as a nanoengineering construction material rather delivery,materials science and much else. than a genetic molecule.

MAHADEVAN RAMASWAMY 12 diary lecture/discussion

During his talk, he didn’t forget to mention the role of key Asia’s Burgeoning Cities architects and planners who had a huge impact on urban HIMAL LECTURE 2014: Between the People and the and rural people’s lives. According to him, in 2011 it was Polis – Southasia’s Mega Cities and the Urban Future estimated that the total urban population of South Asia Speaker: Arif Hasan was 243 million, of which 34 per cent lived in megacities. Chair: Kanak Mani Dixit But in today’s figures, it is already 40 per cent. And in this Collaboration: Himal Southasian, Kathmandu case he finds it very difficult to believe but evidence November 7 suggests that this is so. While delivering the lecture on the growth of mega-cities While delivering his lecture, he also didn’t forget to cite in South Asia, renowned urban philosopher and teacher the most important reason for the increase in migration based in Karachi, Arif Hasan, expressed his views from a and marketisation taking place in and around rural areas different perspective.The current socio-economic change across the South Asian region. And last but not the least, and the state’s response towards the immediate change in he also mentioned Gandhi’s admiration for villages. investment terms was the main focus of the lecture. While quoting him, Hasan said, ‘the village today depends entirely on urban produced goods and is no At the beginning, he cited the example of three fast longer self-sufficient, a self-sufficiency that Gandhi growing capitals of South Asia. The Indian capital, Delhi admired very much.’ with a population of more than 24 million; Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, projected at 18 million for 2015, and Karachi, which has grown at a phenomenal rate. It was 11 million in 1998, but today it is about 21 million. M. SHAHID SIDDIQUI

Mention was made of the dissent of previous politicians: Naxalism and Development that of P. Chidambaram’s policy of ‘clear, hold and BOOK DISCUSSION: Countering Naxalism with development for the region’ being countered by Digvijay Development – Challenges of State Security and Singh. The need for a holistic approach to the Social Justice development of the region, that embeds inclusion of the Edited by Dr. Santosh Mehrotra (Sage Publications) communities there, that deals with land displacement Panelists: Santosh Mehrotra, Rahul Pandita, consequences and the distribution of rewards from Prakash Singh and P.V. Ramanna development was reiterated. Finally, the need to deal with December 20 the violence and to negotiate with the guerilla The speakers discussed the reasons for the sustained and commanders was discussed. The current forces in charge recurring rise of violence being an unequal redistribution of security in these regions were unclear about their of mineral wealth in the region along with development, mandate. The comment that the government was the lack of political consensus resulting in the increased surviving without significant terrorist attacks through use of the CRPF by the government to counter violence sheer luck with the real threat of a massive terrorist attack in the region. There has been an explosion of violence in looming large was debated, along with comment on the the regions which are now covered by Maoist guerillas. favourable effects of the Land Acquisition Act 2013. The The nexus of the guerillas with the PLA, criminal closing comment was that if not addressed holistically, the elements and dissident and separatist factions in Jammu problem of Naxalism may minimise and/or be resolved in and Kashmir, the Telengana and ULFA of Assam is a the next four to five years but with some pain and with disquieting trend. A concerted political, economic and some uncertain consequences. security aligned consensus approach is required from the government at the centre. MEKHALA SENGUPTA 13 futures diary

Highlights for January – February 2015

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15 diary notices Reg. No. 28936/77

Annual Subscription

All members are requested to pay annual subscription for the year 2015-2016 in time. An extract of Rule 9 of the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations is given below for information: ‘Subscriptions towards membership are payable in advance for each financial year and shall be due for payment on the 1st April of each year. It shall be the responsibility of the members to ensure due and timely payment of subscriptions.’ Do please write your Membership number and ‘Annual Subscription for the year 2015-2016’ on the back of the cheque. In case you choose to make electronic/online payment, please inform the accounts department that the amount deposited is towards annual subscription for the year 2015-2016. New Facilities The inauguration of the new Self-service Lounge overlooking the Fountain Lawn as well as the new Staff Cafetaria and Gymnasium took place on December 5, 2014. The new facilities were inaugurated by the President of IIC, Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee.

Obituary

L-0004 Shri R.K. Chhabra A-2082 Shri M. Varadarajan M-0366 Shri J. K. Khanna A-3964 Shri R.B. Wadhawan M-3061 Smt. Birjees Kidwai A-4615 Smt. Sushila Mehta A-0658 Shri B.G. Verghese

The issue of the Dairy has been assembled and edited by Omita Goyal, Chief Editor, Rachna Joshi, Senior Asstt. Editor and Ritu Singh, Senior Asstt. Editor. Published by Ravinder Datta, for the India International Centre, 40, Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi - 110 003, Ph. : 24619431. Designed by Sanjay Malhotra at IMAGE PRINT,N-78, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi-110015. Ph. : 41425321, 9810161228

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