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INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE v o l u m e X X VII. No. 1 January–February 2013

succinct exposure. A fuller resonation and a visual IIC Annual Day balance alongside was achieved on stage with the GOLDEN JUBILEE CONCERT: Sarod Recital inclusion of two pairs of tabla players, both of them accompanying the sarod in a close-knit compatibility by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan of theka, and ornamental tukras. An alternative take January 22 on the Rabindrasangeet Ekla chalo re, exhaustibly unleashed the immense possibilities that this musical score contained, transforming the familiar notation The Golden Jubilee Concert, held to mark the 50th in much the same way as a bandish is rendered by anniversary of the IIC, was commemorated with a musicians of different gharanas. scintillating sarod recital by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who mapped out his layout with characteristic élan. A sense of history, too, was woven into the proceedings Instead of adopting the rigorous regimen of a of the evening as Ustadji regaled his listeners with classical recital, the maestro converted his rendition anecdotes of his training with his father who tutored into an inclusive him in the art of sarod evening, punctuating his playing by singing out playing with snippets the passages. For the of information. evening’s concert he Contiguous with this followed suit and sang mood was his choice out the entire gat bandish of ragas for the evening of the Kedara number, that forayed into the before elaborating it on more melodious forms his instrument. Also, his of Kedara, Zilla Kafi, tribute to Amir Khusrau Bahar and others, all of through a passage of the which were arranged late poet’s composition with an uncanny sense brought the evening of choreography. to a gracious close. In an ultimate gesture of The Ustad’s civic consciousness, characteristic staccato the entire evening’s play effects across the was offered as a tribute notes culminated in a to Braveheart (Bharat technical extravaganza Mata), balancing that produced delight the commemorative and wonder. The raga evening with expertise layout was presented and care. in a crisp pattern, where the essentials ■ SUBHRA of the raga were given MAZUMDAR talks

jubilations. There are many leaders—national, regional Moral and Political Decline or local—who have been celebrated on their birth and DR. C.D. DESHMUKH MEMORIAL LECTURE: other significant events in their lives. Leaders apart, India’s Golden Jubilations there have been jubilations for great cultural icons too. Speaker: Gopalkrishna Gandhi However, is it the right time for this unending chain of jubilations, unmindful of what is happening to our Chair: Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee, January 14 people? We are not at war, nor are we in the throes of famine, but we are in a condition of deep and chronic Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s lecture was a profound sadness. The people of India are in vipada (distress). reflection upon India’s Golden and other jubilations In reality, we are anything but jubilant. Golden and what they say about us as a people. He pointed jubilations have become a private affair. There is a out four crucial factors for the unending chain of moral and political decline. People are becoming jubilations in India. First, the ever readiness of disenchanted with institutions of political Indians to go into celebration mode. Second, governance, and non-political institutions like the the ‘number-jubilant peoplehood’ of judiciary are gaining public trust. The long- India. Third, our intuitive affinity term survival and success of democracy is for the monarchical or royal contingent upon the moral leadership of mode. Fourth, a predilection for the political class. The great challenge a national guide. today is the restoration of credibility He questions whether we to the political class in India. as a nation are overdoing the ■ VIKAS TRIPATHI

forms of giving—coming to its most important form Globalization and in contemporary India—election funding. This is fuelled in large measure through the Corruption overwhelming cash economy where the notion of TALK: Corruption, Democracy and the Media in ‘black money’ comes to symbolize a ‘moment’ when Contemporary India taxation comes to reconfigure money, changing its Speaker: Professor Arjun Appadurai biography from ‘white-legal’ to ‘black-illegal’. But Chair: Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, January 23 this transition becomes important in the way in which scams, offshore stacking add to the environment of corruption in India. The illegal global flows of Arjun Appadurai’s lecture on ‘Corruption, Democracy money help in the way money travels across borders, and the Media in Contemporary India’ comes at a avoiding detection. time when India as a nation is facing public outrage over corruption and issues of governance. Appadurai commends media reportage of corruption cases, but notes that its sensationalization inadvertently In placing the work of corruption in India within adds ‘glamour’ to scams and corrupt practices. For frames of the ‘everyday’ and the extraordinary, he him, large-scale protests in India over corruption and argues that systemic mechanisms that have always the failure of processes of governance are a signal privileged a hierarchical form of giving to solicit of the ways in which a moment of ‘charismatic patronage have now taken a more egalitarian/ interruption’ has come to symbolize bureaucratic horizontal form in the neo-liberal economy. So the corruption of the everyday colliding with that routine ‘capillary’ corruption that was practiced of the extraordinary. in soliciting the favours of, to begin with, religious figures throughdaan or vratas, later turned into bigger ■ ANINDITA MAJUMDAR 2 films

Mann Faqeeri, a film directed by well-known theatre Kashmiriyat actor M.K. Raina, showed the current status of EXHIBITION: Srinagar – Voices of Hope Kashmiri Sufiana music, its practitioners (including FILM: Mann Faqeeri women) and the musical instruments used. The PANEL DISCUSSION: Kashmir – Dimensions of film also delved into the current status, decline and possible revival of Kashmir’s traditional folk theatre Intangible Heritage ‘Bhand Pathar’ through interviews with artistes. Speakers: Professor Riyaz Punjabi, Saleem Beg, M.K. Raina’ s film on ‘Bhand Pather’, a successful and M.K. Raina adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’, was a tribute Collaboration: INTACH, (Jammu and Kashmir to an experiment in adaptation and synthesis. chapter) and Adabi Markaz Kamraz (Kashmir) The Jammu and Kashmir government has passed January 30 – February 5 a law for the protection of tangible and intangible heritage, which was brought out by the symposium, The concept of ‘Kashmiriyat’ was highlighted in a ‘Dimensions of Intangible Heritage’, chaired by series of multimedia programmes in collaboration Professor Riyaz Punjabi, former Vice-Chancellor with INTACH and the State Government of Jammu of Jammu and Kashmir University, Salim Beg and Kashmir. (Jammu and Kashmir INTACH chapter) and M. K. Raina. Over 50,000 old songs and poems have been It commenced with the photo exhibition, ‘Srinagar— collected, through which the concepts of Kashmiri Voices of Hope’. Over thirty-five exhibits by young Saivite philosophy are being carried forward; old amateur photographers visually documented the legends such as Hemal and Nagraj in which elements beauty of the Valley and its environs expressed in its of Buddhism and Islam are interwoven remain architecture, street life, natural landscape and seasons. popular despite the current political problems in the Included was the photographic documentation of the Valley. All in all, these programmes were a reflection restoration of two heritage buildings in Srinagar by of the spirit of `Kashmiriyat’, or an all-inclusive INTACH and the State Government: the Aali Masjid culture, that is conserved, alive and well. (originally built in 1471), and the Lal Ded Memorial Cultural Centre, Srinagar. ■ SIDDHARTH KAK

and forth from the historic to the current, from the Cinematic Journey cultural to the economic, from the city to the village, Highway to the Asian Century reflects the integration and interaction that our two February 19 regions await. Included are several crisply-edited interviews of key people in these countries which convey national Suhas Borker’s 52-minute documentary, Highway perspectives on the significance, need and urgency to the Asian Century, was screened by the IIC-Asia of the New Delhi-Hanoi connectivity. An earlier Project. It is a cinematic journey that begins at zero screening included a panel discussion around the point in Rajghat, the nation’s memorial to Mahatma film, chaired by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, with Foreign Gandhi in New Delhi, and takes us to the final Secretary Mr. Ranjan Mathai as the Chief Guest. resting place of Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi. It traces Others present on the panel were Ms Lise Grande, this route, from India to Bangladesh, back to India, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, Representative, and Ambassador K.P. Fabian. including a deviation to land-locked Laos. The seamless movement of Borker’s narrative, back ■ SURYAKANTHI TRIPATHI 3 exhibitions diary

Decoding of Paintings Multi-coloured Bronzes EXHIBITION: Drawing as a Mental Exercise, EXHIBITION: Untitled II by Banasri Khan, by Gagandeep Singh, January 21–February 12 7–12 January

True to its title, the exhibits were mental representations In her first solo exhibition in Delhi, self-taught of the artist’s perceptions of physical and social reality, sculptor Banasri Khan drew upon the mythology and but it was more of a cognitive challenge to locate the natural landscape of West Bengal as well as her own exhibits. Gagandeep’s work was autobiographical, as experiences as a woman. Although Khan often works well as an inspiration for artists to be able to go public on a large scale, the exhibition focused on miniature on a shoe-string budget. Sketches on note-size paper bronzes that displayed her technical finesse as well as were tucked away in the crevices of the lovely Pilkhan imagination. trees in the outdoor expanse. Khan managed to convey a sense of movement and The ecology of the display was commendable. A delicacy in sculptures such as ‘Nature Speaks III’, in visitor to the exhibition experienced ‘mental exercise’ which a figure balances on green lotus leaves and flowers in locating the works of art. There were about eight with outstretched arms. In contrast to this harmony to nine spots that hid the miniature works of art. The between humans and nature, ‘In Our World’ depicts a treasure had to be sought without any verbal or non- man and a bird fighting on a bare tree branch. verbal clues, but the pattern was easy to deconstruct Among the most poignant pieces in the exhibition with the first set of drawings. The captions were was ‘Rhythm’, showing a tall woman being held by precise and aided the exercise of mental decoding of people of varying different heights: a metaphor for the drawings. how women balance the demands of life. ■ ASHA SINGH ■ SONAM JOSHI

Tribal Magic Australian Urbanism EXHIBITION: The Magic Makers – EXHIBITION: Now and When – Australian Urbanism Folk and Tribal Arts, January 18–February 3 Inauguration: The Hon’ble Bob Carr Collaboration: Australian High Commission How appropriate that Arpana and Ajeet Caur should January 22–February 1 curate an exhibition entitled ‘The Magic Makers’! They themselves are the ultimate magic makers; this This unusual exhibition, explored issues facing sampling of their collection of folk and tribal arts is only Australia’s highly-urbanized population and, more a small part of their huge contribution to the literary broadly, the challenges facing an ever more populous and visual arts. The exhibition, predominantly from world. Divided into two parts: `Now’, a 3D photographic Eastern and Central India, ranged from dhokra and life- study of the existing Australian urban condition; and size Bastar sheet-metal figures, to Gond, Madhubani, `When’, a series of speculative imaginings of future Santhal, Worli and Patachitra folk paintings and long Australian cities. Moving away from the conventional use Pat narrative scrolls. One is struck by the vibrancy, of gallery spaces, viewers entered a darkened, intimate individuality and contemporary immediacy of the space where on one wall 3D-projected photography and treatment and subjects that cover the environment, computer generated simulations played in a continuous the destruction of the Twin Towers, and the dangers loop and was viewed through special glasses provided of excessive sex! The works make a mockery of the in the gallery. The active participation of each viewer current distinctions and caste system between studio created an exciting way of ‘looking’. and folk art. ■ LAILA TYABJI ■ L.S. TOCHHAWNG 4 diary exhibitions

What though are the chief criteria of the painter’s key Vesture of Being compositions? An art that is integrative, as much as Exhibition: Selected works of Shobha Broota transparent ‘of the inner spirit’; an illuminant, if in an Curator: Keshav Malik, February 23–March 17 indescribable sense; abetting in the interrelatedness of our selves with the world that inexorably turns around us. Sometimes this order of art can take on inexplicit This exposition was a bird’s eye-view of the select forms but which still are intensely affective since they works of Shobha Broota from the beginning of her reflect quintessential aspects of each and all of us; act artistic career—early 1960s to the present. As it is with as reminders of life’s deeper sources and goals. At all persevering painters, her artistic profile over time other moments the works affect a balance between has been painstakingly honed to a razor fineness. If diverse or divisive elements; attain a proportionality we also note certain variations, in media or genre, in and harmony that resonates throughout a viewer’s the body of her metier, such shifts would appear all being. This in turn has the effect of communicating the more to have led to a singularity, a subtlety, as well universal, that is, objective principles of cohesion such as simplicity in the working out of her subsequent as give us the feel of certainty about the very nature compositions, so much so as to betoken an enviable of reality, and of our relationship to the surmised mastery of the crafting of a meaningful art. So, then, at Whole—datum of clean circles, and flowing dots the apex of the works, we can without demur murmur: and lines. the artist lives by the ado that ‘ripeness is all.’ ■ Keshav Malik

books on the brilliant contemporary art of Pakistan Cross-border Art like The Poetry of Images; Vessels; The Rest is Silence; Image EXHIBITION: Truck Art from Pakistan and Identity and books on Sindh and Gandhara art like Curator: Anjum Rana. Pakistan Art Books Unveiling the Visible, Lives and Works of Women Artists of , were exhibited. Exhibition coordinated by Jalaluddin Ahmed of Pakistan FOMMA, Karachi, February 13–17 The exhibition was inaugurated by Ashok Vajpeyi who released the art book, Between Dreams and Reality: The Art of Tabinda Chinoy (Karachi: FOMMA, 2013) Curated by Anjum Rana, this exhibition of hand- by Marjorie Husain. The exhibition proved that art painted objects based on the vibrant and colourful transcends all barriers. truck art of Pakistan was pure delight. She has taken the truck art of Pakistan to a different level, and has ■ MANDIRA GHOSH transposed this kitsch art from trucks to items of daily use, decoration and gardening. Anjum Rana of Tribal Truck Art and a 2008 recipient of the UNESCO Award of Cultural Heritage is the brain behind the idea of providing support to folk artists who are losing their incomes to technology. She represents the new Pakistani woman, entrepreneurial and creative, with an eye for the extraordinary in everyday life. The exhibition of Pakistan Art Books gifted to the India International Centre Library was coordinated by Jalaluddin Ahmed of FOMMA, Karachi. Extraordinary works such as Visions of Divinity: The Art of Gandhara; The Webs We Weave; The Artist and the Self, and several 5 exhibitions diary

UK–India drive highlighted by their meeting in Delhi Zanskar with Prime Minister Nehru who permitted their foray EXHIBITION: Zanskar — The Rainbow Mountains beyond the Inner Line to Zanskar. Switch to the by Usha Vohra, February 9–15 present…some of us old-timers know Zanskar as one of the world’s great mountain crossroads connected via the Shingo La, the Umasi La, the Charchar La, the Pensi La and the Chadar with Lahul, Kishtwar, Leh, Kargil and Nimu. The exhibition of Mrs. Usha Vohra’s photographs, the second in her series, captured the spirit of those early ventures, vividly laying open the scale and colour of Zanskar, its Buddhist heartbeat, peaks, passes and rivers. It amplified the geographic context with visages of the Valley and Siachen as well. As the introduction said, time is measured here in seasons, not days and weeks. Zanskar has that timelessness which is characterized by the way of life of its local Fifty-five years ago, a quiet Himalayan rumble communities and the fragility of its environment. originated in England. Three young women decided Mrs Usha Vohra has performed her Zanskar darshan not to be passive onlookers while their husbands with feeling to which her photographs amply testify. chalked out a mountaineering attempt on the peak called Rakaposhi. The result: a 25,600-kilometre ■ SUDHIR SAHI

Behl and Eiichi Matsumoto. Atisha’s Visit to Indonesia The fine photographs EXHIBITION, SEMINAR, PERFORMANCE and displayed the variety of FILM: 1000 Years of Atisha’s Visit to Indonesia sites, architectural styles Collaboration: ICCR, Central Institute of Buddhist and cultures that form the international character Studies and Benoy K. Behl, January 5–12 of Buddhism. With the support of Suzuki Graphi- Atisha Dipamkara, one of the most famous acharyas Cal Studio and Fuji Film, of his time travelled to Suvarnadvipa exactly a the latest technology of thousand years ago to study with Dharmakirti, the photographic printing was used and especially unique great master of bodhicitta. Born in the village of was the printing of Ajanta’s immortal depiction of Vajrayogini in Bangladesh, Atisha gave up his princely Padmapani on marble. status to become a monk and studied with the greatest A seminar on ‘Vehicle of the Thunderbolt’, focusing philosophers of his time and finally became the abbot on Atisha and Vajrayana Buddhism was inaugurated of Vikramashila. He went to Tibet at the invitation of by Dr. Karan Singh. The monks of Key Monastery in the king where he wrote one of the great masterpieces Spiti presented the cham dances. of Buddhist philosophy, Bodhipathapradipam (A Lamp for the Path of Enlightenment). Seven documentaries on Buddhism, directed by Benoy K. Behl were screened. The IIC was presented A series of events was planned around the 1000th with a sapling from the sacred Bodhi tree which was anniversary of Atisha’s visit to Sumatra. An exhibition, planted in the Gandhi King Plaza. Buddhist Heritage of the World: From India to Japan, was inaugurated by Pavan Varma with works by Benoy K. ■ PREMOLA GHOSE 6 diary lectures

founder Rediff.com, and Kristy Hughes, CEO, Online Freedom Index on Censorship raised important questions and DISCUSSION: Is Freedom of Expression under issues for debate. Among them were: does curbing Threat in the Digital Age? a particular content online actually amplifiy its Panelists: T.N. Ninan; Kirsty Hughues; Milind Deora; spread over the internet; the government’s position with respect to amending Section 66(A) of the IT Ajit Balakrishnan; Sunil Abraham; Timothy Garton Act; is this a question about absolute freedom, or Collaboration: Editors’ Guild of India, Index on should it be about what is appropriate and lawful Censorship, and Sage, January 15 to protect the livelihood of many users and their contribution to local economies; the threats of Coming from varied institutions, the panelists at this online privacy; the role of large states like Brazil and seminar approached the topic from different points India in determining where the global conversation of view. Sunil Abraham from Centre for Internet on freedom of expression goes; poor drafting of and Society; T.N. Ninan of Editors Guild of India; legislation and a legal system ill-equipped for coping Ramanjit Singh Chima, policy adviser for Google; with new technologies; and finally, freedom of Timothy Garton Ash, Director of Free Speech expression as a universal right. Debate, Oxford University; Ajit Balakrishnan, ■ DAISY DEKA

the ‘Reading through libraries movement’. There Spreading the Reading is a need for synergy between the school library and the community library. A joint discussion with Culture the following NGOs was held. Room to Read has SEMINAR: Reading and Library Culture – reached 3500 schools establishing a basic parameter The Role of NGOs that schools must have libraries. Under Read, India, Collaboration: National Book Trust, January 5 Read Endeavour, Pratham, one of the largest non- profit organizations in the country aims to identify gaps in education in terms of dropouts and teaching It was only in its 60th year as a republic that India techniques. The 17000 ft. Foundation—a not-for- signed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory profit social enterprise, has its roots in high altitude Education Act and thus became the 130th nation to Ladakh and is working towards improving education protect the right of children to basic education. Studies in the remotest villages of that region. have established that one-third of our population can’t read even a newspaper in their language. Katha is a registered non-profit organization, started in 1988 to enhance the joy of reading and the love The government’s intervention, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan of books. In 1983, Eklavya set up centres in Harda, (SSA), has provided elementary schooling for 192 Hoshangabad, Pipariya and Dewas and sets of million children across 21 States, and has aligned the children’s books to engage with children. The Rajiv SSA with the Right to Education Act. However, a Gandhi Foundation has nurtured a country-wide survey by Bachpan Bachao Andolan reveals that one community library programme over the last 19 years in six Indians is still unaware of his or her right to focused on expanding the learning opportunities education. for people, especially in the rural areas. This joint Further, there is a gap between supply and demand discussion with the NGOs provided an opportunity in library facilities to city and village communities, to spread awareness and strengthen the cause of a and along with government efforts, several private library culture with the help of public, private and initiatives have also come up to fill the gap and spread philanthropic institutions. 7 lectures diary

The panel regretted that the debate was deflected from Politics of Rape the main issue by the discussion of populist demands DISCUSSION: Sustaining Voices for Justice and for capital punishment for the perpetrators, police Dignity of Women and judicial reforms. There is no dearth of laws; Panelists: Justice R.S. Sodhi; Vrinda Grover; the problem is timely and effective implementation. Shuddhabrata Sengupta; Jagmati Sangwan; Sexual violence should be seen as a continuum from Manisha Sethi; Ayesha Kidwai; Sangeeta Das; sexual harassment, and punishment needed to be Radhika Krishnan equally stern for all such acts that were generated Chair: Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee, January 3 from, and concealed by, antiquated notions of patriarchy. It is alarming that in order to secure the rights of women, almost all the suggestions being Civil society in India has been shaken to the core thrown up in public debate are actually violative by the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in of human rights! However, it was unanimously felt December 2012 in Delhi. The spontaneous outrage that there could be no degrees when it came to that erupted has assumed many forms. One such violating the dignity of a woman. It was agreed was a distinguished panel at the IIC—the first of that the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, introduced many others to follow—that gathered to analyze the in August 2011, was unacceptable in its present form event and recommend social/legal/police reforms as it made the act of rape gender-neutral. to the Verma Commission that has been set up to reform/strengthen existing laws. ■ RITU SINGH

passionate gardeners. Through period illustrations Colonial Gardens of Khajuraho, Mehtab Bagh, Victoria Memorial TALK: Flora’s Empire – British Gardens in India Hall, and even the recently built Akshardham Speaker: Dr. Eugenia W. Herbert temple, Eugenia discussed Lord Curzon’s (Viceroy Chair: Mr. Pradip Kishen, January 17 of India, 1899–1905) vision based on his penchant for landscaping wild overgrowth and dense trees to bring in a sense of a more ordered society, and his Professor Eugenia W. Herbert’s illustrated talk on her fascination with the Taj Mahal. In fact, she revealed new book, Flora’s Empire, on British colonial gardens that although the original Taj Garden created in the in India, traversed the history of spectacular gardens mid-16th century was the classic geometric Mughal cultivated by the Raj in an attempt to not only recreate charbagh with sixteen sunken parterres replete with a sense of home in an unfamiliar environment, but flowers and fruit trees, it was much overgrown by also leave an indelible imprint of civilization in an 1900. Though most visitors considered it to be untamed and chaotic land that was India. The author a part of the Taj’s untouched beauty, Curzon had emphasized that in a colonial society, gardens were it cleared to give an unfettered view of the tomb. not only about taste and aesthetics, but also about Today, his ‘restoration’ with vast expanses of lawns power and knowledge used to convey imperial ideas still stands as opposed to the original Mughal of governance. conception. Interestingly, both the conquerors of the Indian subcontinent, the Mughals and the British, were ■ GAURIKA KAPOOR 8 diary lectures

A fascinating mosaic of ancient times had a architecture and history, Amu Darya and different form. Usually, the talk highlighted the urban areas consist of a importance of Amu Civilizations core region surrounding TALK: The Sliver of the Oxus Borderland – Darya in the development which peripheries of civilizations in Central Medieval Cultural Encounters between the Arabs or suburbs with low Asia. Dr. Sobti pointed and Persians economic development out that while cities are Speaker: Dr. Manu P. Sobti grow. However, in usually built around the Chair: Dr. Arup Banerji, January 19 this area the trend is river, the riverside of just the opposite; the Amu Darya was used by peripheries are stronger the Arab armies for movement while ancient city than the core, which proves there were no centrally formations were away from the river. developed cities but several developed peripheries He tried to link his readings of history with the throughout this region. These two references from knowledge of architecture. Examples were cited architectural history lead to one conclusion: that the from several remnants of ancient cities and its Amu Darya is not a barrier between two countries; building structures through a beautiful pictorial its existence has played a role in the uniqueness of presentation. By showing the ancient constructions this region. of these cities, he tried to prove that the cities in ■ PAULAMI SANYAL

Quoting extensively from connection between India the works of Ferdousi, Ancient Ties and Iran back at the time Dr. Akbarzadeh argued TALK: Three Points on the Historical Relations of the Sasanid Empire. that India, the land of between Iran and India based on Sasanian and He cited the example of the Buddha, has a lot Post-Sasanian Texts terms like Maharaja in of similarity with the Speaker: Dr. Daryoosh Akbarzadeh the texts of Ferdousi and Sasanian culture. He threw Chair: Professor N.C. Shukla, January 28 others, even the king of light on Ibn Nadim’s Iran at that time, who was report which proves referred to as Maharaja. that Buddha in India and Adam in Iran might The similarity of games like chess in both countries have been contemporaries as their tales resemble the mention of Indian tales and anecdotes in Iranian each other. literature during Sasanid times; and the similarity According to his findings, there is a unique mention in the texts of Sanskrit and Avasta convinced him of ‘Hindugan’ in the Zoroastrian Pahlavi book of that both the countries shared good relations. Buddhism which could have been a reference to India He also mentioned the stories famous during the or the whole of South Asia including China. In 224- reign of Khosrow I (501-579 AD): Sindibaad tales, 651 AD, Pahlavi was the official language of the Savitri Satyavaan tales, Panchtantra, Suka Saptati Sasanians. There are various other instances which text etc. compel Akbarzadeh to believe that there was a ■ MANJARI SINGH 9 lectures diary

The lecture connoted the six basic ideals to be upheld, Bathing in the Eternal incorporated and practiced. The Unity of all existence, i.e. whatever has ever existed, or exists now, or will Sunlight of Wisdom ever be brought into existence, is permeated by the TALK: Major Schools of Indian Philosophy same divine light. The universe is not the product of Speaker: Dr. Karan Singh an accident, but a magnificent manifestation of the Chair: Rajiv Mehrotra all-pervasive divine. The Atman (the Individual Self) Collaboration: Foundation for Universal encapsulates the spark of the divine, the all-pervasive Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Brahman residing in the heart of every being. Yoga is January 30 the union of the Atman with the Brahman, signifying the methodology and the philosophy of such a union and realization. The introductory talk by Dr. Karan Singh in a monthly He went on to speak about the concept of the series of lectures on the ‘Six Indian Schools of World as a Family and the Essential Unity of all Philosophy’ highlighted the contemporary relevance religions and the prevalence of a single truth despite of the Vedic scriptures. It attempted to signify how, the varied paths that lead to this truth. These with the onset of globalization and the evident failure principles have a congruous bearing in today’s world, of phenomena like capitalism and colonialism, the owing to the epidemical threats to humanity in need of the hour is not the abandonment of religion; varied forms. it is the reinterpretation, rearticulation and renewal of the roots and the concept of religion, and the quest for inner clarity and spiritual development. ■ SONAKSHI SAMTANI

experiment with democracy—a ‘lab test’—attempts Democracy and Exile to harmonize these polarities. The current Dalai TALK: Future of Tibet Lama’s commitment to democracy from his early Speaker: Hon’ble Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay days in Tibet has resulted in democratic practices such Introduction: Vijay P. Naik as a sovereign constitution, elections and women’s Collaboration: Indian Association of Foreign representation. Tibetans take democracy and non- violence seriously; their success would make them a Affairs Correspondents, February 2 good model for others. Today, Tibet is burning, though there is verbal Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Prime Minister of the Tibetan support from across the globe. China’s strategic Government-in-Exile, was elected in 2011 in a inroads compromise India’s security as well. Chinese radical step in Tibet’s politico-cultural history and plans of constructing dams to control the rivers— yet represents continuity with Tibet’s past as the ‘white gold’—flowing from Tibet has deep ecological sovereign head, His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, consequences. The erudite and confident Dr. Sangay traditionally handed over authority to him. thanked India for hosting Tibetans for fifty years He pointed out that democracy and exile represent and invoked the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Arab divergent sets of expectations. The former thrives on Spring, and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi to assert diversity, freedom of speech, an active opposition; optimistically that ‘Tibet will succeed’. the latter represents a cause, requiring unity, a clear goal and a single leader. The exiled Tibetans’ ■ MAYA JOSHI 10 lectures diary

A day earlier, Ratnam’s most talked about film, An Evening with Baradwaj Nayakan, was screened at the Centre to an appreciative audience. This film about the rise and fall of an Rangan... underworld figure based on Vardachari Mudaliar, TALK: Focus on Mani Ratnam Baradwaj Rangan the man from Matunga who ruled the Bombay in conversation with Jai Arjun Singh underworld in the 1960s, catapulted him to fame Introduction: Akhila Krishnamurthy and fortune, not least because of Kamal Haasan’s Collaboration: Aalaap, February 21 outstanding performance in the title role. Rangan suggested that it was the breakthrough film in the director’s career. Film critic Baradwaj Rangan from Chennai, in When asked how he would compare Ratnam conversation with Jai Arjun Singh, a Delhi- with a director like Satyajit Ray, Rangan based journalist who writes on English replied that Mani Ratnam was a mainstream language, literature and cinema, spoke about his entertainer and that he would rather book, Conversations With Mani Ratnam, the compare him with the old master celebrated mainstream Tamil film-maker showmen of Hindi cinema like who has also made Hindi films likeBombay, Raj Kapoor and V. Shantaram. Dil Se, Yuva and Raavan, not to forget He was spot on. the double-version Roja, which was the centre of the conversation. Singh very The evening ended with the easily drew out the author to share his release of Conversations With views on the director-producer, who is Mani Ratnam by the author, eclectic in the choice of subject matter sans fanfare and formality. for his films and is aware of his role as an entertainer for a large viewership. ■ PARTHA CHATTERJEE

cloth worn by sari-clad Indian converts to hide what History of Goan Costumes the priests considered to be the unseemly span of the PUBLIC LECTURE: The Emporia of the Raj in waist. The anthropological interests of the Portuguese Portuguese Goa thus generated a genre which later came to be called Speaker: Wendell Rodricks, February 13 the Company Period of art and the much later Raj- generated volumes, The Peoples of India, published under the aegis of Lord Canning (1868-1875). Wendell Rodricks’ lecture demonstrated how European fashion in costume came to dominate Rodricks surveyed the impact of the Industrial the world of globalized formal wear which is also Revolution in terms of the creation of new markets reflected in that of Goa. for the Raj and the mechanization of the cotton manufacturing processes. He also delved into the Early Portuguese impact was depicted through the significance of the new India-derived dye, Khaki, adoption in female formal wear of the Pano bhaju, which quickly generated a huge demand in costume. an ornamental Malay-derived lower wrap-around It was the preferred colour not only of the police suspended from the hips, worn even today during and the army but also used as the covering of the performances of the Mando and on weddings by Shola Topi, that wonderful shola pith-lined protective members of the older generation. Another interesting head gear which shielded the Sahib from the burning feature was the coverage of occupational groups tropical sun. including the water carrier, the dhobi and the barber. Not to be overlooked was the shroud-like cover-all ■ LOTIKA VARADARAJAN 11 lecture/dance diary

matter? What is the nature of dark matter in the universe? Higgs Boson Particle? How does the universe evolve?’ TALK: Answering Gauguin’s Questions with the The particle discovered last year at the CERN is Large Hadron Collider exceedingly likely to be the one that physicists have Speaker: Professor John Ellis been looking for nearly half a century. Called Higgs Collaboration: University of Edinburgh boson, it is named after Peter Higgs, the Scottish February 15 physicist from the University of Edinburgh, who, among others, postulated its existence in 1965. In his famous painting of 1897, Paul Gauguin (1848- It is the last missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle in 1903) had inscribed the following philosophical the otherwise highly successful theory called the questions in French on its right hand corner: Where Do Standard Model of Elementary Particles formulated We Come From? What are We? Where Are We Going? in the 1970s. ‘At the deepest level’, Professor John Ellis said, ‘the ‘At least we hope to provide some of the answers aim of particle physics, the aim of the Large Hadron using the LHC. Maybe the first of the answers is Collider (LHC) at the CERN (European Organization emerging: namely, ‘why things weigh’?’ Ellis said.’ for Nuclear Research) is to find answers to those The Higgs discovery is certainly significant; if there questions. Only that the same questions are posed in were no Higgs; there would be no mass and there a different way in the language of physics: What is would be no atoms or things or people.’ matter made of? Why do things weigh? What is the origin of ■ R. RAMACHANDRAN

monkeys and us’? Titled ‘Aaj ki Kanya’, it was based What is the difference on a poem written in an easy-to-understand Hindi and had something important to say; she used her between Monkeys felicity in the medium of dance and her articulate and Us? verbal interventions to challenge the methods and Odissi Recital by Sonal Mansingh, systems of a patriarchal society. The treatment January 11 required close and flexible orchestral support which was provided effectively by three men: Sangeet Acharya Bankim Sethi (Vocals), Abrar Ahmed Sonal Mansingh’s performance that evening was (Sarod) and Prashant Mangaraj (Pakhawaj). She left one of the best in her stage career of 53 years. the audience with a statement about the essentiality Shorn of costume and jewellery, her programme of women’s empowerment being accompanied by was a statement of activism. men’s enlightenment. She was evidently motivated by Nirbhaya, and it showed in her treatment, words, Opening with the Shyamala Dandakam Shloka of Kalidas, she explained the choice as contemporary, position, politics and passion. Sonal Mansingh since it celebrated the image of Devi as a advocated the role that the arts must play to awaken combination of grace, beauty and power. Her next the mind, question, and be the voice of conscience piece was more direct and she refaced it by asking of the society it serves. the question—‘What is the difference between ■ ARSHIYA SETHI 12 film diary

timely diagnosis, adequate and appropriate treatment, Cinema and Health and social responsibility to deal with these health FILM: Health and Cinema, February 21–23 issues sensibly, without biases and prejudices which could affect each one of us at any point of time. Four award-winning films, one in Hindi and three in Clearly, as the films and the discussion at the seminar Marathi, and a seminar on ‘Cinematic Diet for a Healthy highlighted, there is a need for a change in attitudes: Life’, conceptualized and coordinated by Dr. Mohan from superstition to compassion, an understanding Agashe were part of a three-day event of meaningful of the pain and suffering of the affected, and promoting psychological well-being. cinema and fruitful discussion. The films—Badha (The Possession), Zindagi Zindabad (Long Live Life), Devrai ■ MALA KAPUR SHANKARDASS (Sacred Grove) and Nital (Crystal Clear)—highlighted health related issues that are largely stigmatized in our society, be it the battle between fear and faith, dealing with the transmission of HIV and living with AIDS, coping with schizophrenia, and suffering from Vitiligo with consequences for self-esteem and the perception of beauty. Each of the films is a sensitive treatment of the respective subject, well acted and skillfully directed by Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar. Viewing the films was a heart warming experience, bringing in greater awareness of health-related matters such as

Notices Obituary Annual Subscription A-3965 Prof. Deepak Malhotra This is to inform A-4340 Smt. Leela Bery you that your annual A-5236 Smt. Jayanthi Pai subscription for the A-5485 Ms Janak Nanda year 2013-2014 is due L-0018 Shri S.P. Virmani L-0039 Shri Mansinh M. Rana in April 2013. You are L-0189 Shri Prehlad Singh requested to pay your L-0307 Shri Hira Lal Sibal annual subscription for L-0325 Pt. Ravi Shankar the year 2013-2014 in L-0354 Smt. Sundari K. Shridharani time. Members should L-0377 Shri Madanjeet Singh specifically indicate M-0179 Shri H.S. Singhania membership number M-0186 Shri M.Y. Ghorpade M-0489 Shri A.L. Ralliaram for payment of M-0822 Shri Naresh N. Khanna annual subscription, M-1551 Shri R.P. Billimoria IIC Quarterly, and M-1711 Shri M.S. Madhusoodanan other bills on the back M-2505 Dr. P.L. Sanjeev Reddy of the cheque. M-2656 Shri M.R. Agnihotri The Book SECRETS M-2839 Shri Raj Kumar Malik from the kitchen M-3685 Shri Sri Nath Published by Niyogi Books is available for sale at the IIC 13 futures diary

Highlights for March-April 2013

Le c t u r e s 21 May 2013 at 6:30 pm in Conference Room – I 22 March 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Annexe Lecture Room – II From the Shadow of a Capital City to a Cultural Capital: Rediscovering Old Bhubaneswar The Wonders of Illustrated lecture by Dr. Sanghamitra Basu, Associate Swat Professor, Architecture and Regional Planning Illustrated lecture by Department, IIT Kharagpur, Member, National Dr. Luca Maria Olivieri, Monument Authority University of Bologna (Collaboration: National Monument Authority) Chair: Professor Himanshu Prabha Ray, Lecture Series on Science and Technology Chairperson, National 5 April 2013 at 6:30 pm in Seminar Rooms – II Monuments Authority and III, Kamaladevi Block 28 March 2013 Symmetries in Nature at 6:30 pm in Speaker: Professor R. Rajaraman, Emeritus Professor Conference Room – I of Theoretical Physics, School of Physical Sciences, Endgame in Afghanistan: For Whom the JNU Dice Rolls 3 May 2013 at 6:30 pm in Seminar Rooms – II Discussion around the new book by Hiranmay Karlekar and III, Kamaladevi Block (New Delhi: Sage 2012) Universe: Its Histories and Mysteries Panelists: Ms Arundhati Ghose, former Indian Speaker: Professor T. Padmanabhan, Distinguished Ambassador; Mr. H.K. Dua, senior journalist; and Professor and Dean, Core Academic Programmes, Mr. Hiranmay Karlekar, senior journalist who will look at IUCAA, Pune issues raised in the book and on the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and its consequences Series coordinated by Prof. Shobhit Mahajan, University of Delhi Chair: Mr. Salman Haider Pe r f o r ma n c e s 3 April 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Annexe Lecture Room – II 21 March 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium Concert Mu s i c Ap p r e c i a t i o n Pr o m o t i o n Presented by Haydn Baryton Trio from Budapest – Pandit Ravi Shankar: Balázs Kakuk Tansen of Our Times (barytongamba); On his 94th birth József Spengler anniversary, musicologist (violin); and and writer S. Kalidas András remembers the Kaszanyitzky extraordinary (violoncello) genius of the (Collaboration: late Pandit Hungarofest; Ravi Shankar, Balassi Institute, his life and Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre; and Delhi his music Music Society) 14 futures diary

25 March 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium for Best Dramatic Documentary, DocuFest Atlanta, 2009; Swar Katha Upanishad Grand Jury Award, Mexico International Film Festival, Presented by Sunaad from Bangalore led by Tara Kini 2009; and Award for Best Spiritual Film, Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival, 2009 The group uses Dhrupad as a base and elements of theatre and story-telling in its presentation 23 April 2013 at The Katha’s timeless tales is a dialogue between Yama, 6:30 pm in the the God of Death, and Nachiketa, a committed teenager Auditorium seeking the truth A Picture of You Director: Ajay Noronha 4–6 April 2013 in Gandhi King Plaza, who will introduce Auditorium and Main Verandah the film Azamgarh Festival Screening will be Performances; exhibitions and live demonstration by followed by a master weavers of Mubarakpur who will showcase discussion traditional Benarasi saris and potters of Nizamabad (Collaboration: Indian Trust for Rural Heritage Ex h i b i t i o n s and Development) 4–14 April 2013, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm daily 17 April 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Annexe in the Art Gallery, Lecture Room – II Kamaladevi Block Hindustani Classical Music – Sitar Abu’s World Lecture-demonstration by Meera Prasad, senior artist from An exhibition of original work Delhi who will highlight the facet of Jugalbandhi of Swar by the noted cartoonist, and Taal Abu Abraham 26 April 2013 at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium 18–26 April 2013, 11:00 Off Broadway – An Evening of Music from the am to 7:00 pm daily Broadway Musicals in the Art Gallery, Voices: Aching Shaiza and Reuben Israel Kamaladevi Block Piano: Aching Shaiza, Kyoko Ito People of India An exhibition of 11 April 2013 at photographs, 6:30 pm in the curated by Aditya Auditorium Arya Films on Spirituality and 19–24 April Faith 2013, 11:00 The Human am to 7:00 pm Experience daily in the Director: Charles Annexe Art Kinnane Gallery Recipient of the Life in the Mountain Audience Choice Award, Paintings by Tenzin Jamyang from Dharamsala, American Cinematic Experience Festival 2009; Award Himachal Pradesh 15 Reg. No. 28936/77 diary

A Note from the Director The Library is the magnet that draws writers, researchers and leisure readers to itself. A document was prepared to show the activities of the Library from 1961 to 2010. It also tells of the 167 members associated with the Library Committee at various points of time who have contributed to its growth and evolution. Today, the Library is a loved space and is used extensively as is evident from the study conducted by the Library to assess the usage of its collection. It was found that out of 34,342 books available, 12,926 had been in circulation from January to December 2012. Encouraged by the 38% usage, which is good by most standards, the Library has undertaken a pilot project to make it more user-friendly and valuable to researchers. The attempt is to make the online public access catalogue more comprehensive with the addition of information on the chapters in edited books that are part of the IIC collection. The Library has been building up its collection of CDs and DVDs. It now has about 2,000 CDs and DVDs containing talks, lectures and discussions held at IIC; interviews and conversations; classical music, proceedings of seminars and conferences; and full length documentary films on social, cultural and economic issues. Of these about 250 have been contributed by IAWRT (The International Association of Women in Radio and Television, India Chapter). Information is also sought to be provided about the wealth of writing available in the IIC Quarterly by some of the best known scholars and practitioners in their respective fields. With this end in view, a bibliography has been compiled of the interviews, dialogues, discussions, lectures and reviews that have been published in the issues from 1961 to 2010. Another important initiative undertaken by the Library was the preservation and conservation work of its valuable rare book India Collection with the help of the experts from IGNCA. They finished the work in record time by cleaning each and every page of the infected books and identified about thirty books that need to be digitized. The documentation and conservation of the Walter George (the renowned architect of several important buildings in Delhi) collection is also underway with the help of IGNCA. This is a Collection of rare documents, which includes letters, drawings and photographs, and makes up 36 packets! The Library has put together photo albums containing about 7,000 photographs taken between 1959 and 2010. In spite of some gaps, these provide a valuable visual record of the activities of the Centre during this time and bring back many a memory for long-time members. Some significant documents containing letters, correspondence, papers and articles on a wide range of subjects written in various capacities by and on Dr. C.D. Deshmukh and Dr. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay have been acquired from the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. An audio CD of the 98-minute interview of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay conducted by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan in 1972 was also procured from AIR. Apart from these initiatives, the Library has been full of activity, conducting 25 Book Discussions including the Meet the Author Programmes. In addition, two seminars deserve mention. The first was in collaboration with the Himalayan Club on the theme ‘Ladakh Revealed’; and the second under the chairmanship of Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee was on ‘Reading and Library Culture: The Role of NGOs,’ which has been covered in this issue of the Diary. ■ Kavita A. Sharma

This issue of the Diary has been assembled and edited by Omita Goyal, Chief Editor; Rachna Joshi, Senior Asst. Editor; and Ritu Singh, Senior Asst. Editor. Published by Ravinder Datta, for the India International Centre, 40, Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate, 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. 16