INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE V O L U M E X X VI

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INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE v o l u m e X X VI. No. 1 January–February 2012

a trait that allows diversity, even eccentricity, to IIC Annual Day flourish. And, of course, we have our share of uni- SPEECH: Hon’ble Vice President of India dimensionality—from the sublime to the mundane. Mr. Hamid Ansari, January 22 The ambience permits sufficient space, perhaps in actualization of the poet Ghalib’s perception: Mr. Soli Sorabjee, Professor Menon, a houseful of Dair nahin, haram nahin, dar nahin, aasthan nahin friends, ladies and gentlemen. Anniversaries are oc- Baithe hain reh-guzer pe hum, ghair hamain casions to celebrate and there is much to celebrate uthae kyun on a fiftieth anniversary. I am happy, indeed hon- Personally speaking, I would like to characterize oured, to be here today, doubly so because it was a the reh-guzer or pathway as a meadow of the mind, very distinguished predecessor of mine Dr. Sarvepal- a location and an ambience that allows for pursuits li Radhakrishnan of revered memory who presid- ranging from philosophical speculation to artistic ed over the inaugural ceremony of the Centre on creativity and to what Disraeli called ‘the hair-brained 22 January 1962. chatter of irresponsible frivolity.’ The stated purpose of the venture emanating from Some years back, the Centre published the book, Birds a pooling of ideas and models from different lands of the IIC. These include the spotted owl. For us here, was for the quickening and deepening of the true therefore, Hegel’s owl of Minerva is a resident entity and thoughtful understanding between peoples of ever ready to demonstrate the capacity to understand nations. Jawaharlal Nehru, present on the occasion, existing realities or even go beyond Hegel and was realistic enough to accept that the Centre will of prognosticate on emerging ones. Talks, lectures, course not change the nature of the world but will discussions, seminars, exhibitions all contribute to the help in the process which is very essential today. Half process. The peripatetic amongst us finds welcome a century on the impulse to look back is irresistible. refuge in the Lodi Gardens, only to return and A perceptive historian at the turn of the century had quench the thirst with reviving liquids on offer! And, sought to gaze into the world of tomorrow. He used the symbolism of meadow, park and garden and went on to describe the characteristics of each. And I quote, ‘In a meadow all is profusion, randomness, variety. A park is for the most part publicly maintained, highly regulated with different sectors for different uses. A garden is smaller and more inwardly turned; it aims for the sublime, not the efficient or the just.’ My own experience of the Centre suggests the presence of all three, in proportions that vary from individual to individual, occasion to occasion, pursuit to pursuit. Herein lies its multi-dimensional character, iic annual day

of course, a good and wholesome cuisine does help five decades, however, the import of these concepts since a full stomach usually leads to moderation of stands modulated. approach and eschewal of radical deviations. Globalization, economic and cultural, has done Friends, a question may well be posed. How does this much good and some harm and has led to calls for contribute to a deepening of understanding amongst a re-erection of dykes. The same holds good for peoples and nations? universalization of political values. Justice, democracy, I submit for consideration a general preposition. Since human rights, good governance, nationally and human behaviour is often shaped by apprehensions globally, are impeccable in themselves but often stand or misunderstandings, the removal of these should diluted or abandoned for other considerations. Butros have a primacy in the promotion of welfare of Ghali’s aspiration, ‘to maintain the integrity of each humankind. The twentieth century, it has been said, while finding a balanced design for all’, is yet to be was characterized by mega-myths and mega-deaths. It achieved. Each of these propels us towards a quest for saw the end of colonialism and apartheid but not of greater understanding amongst peoples premised on disparities within and between nations. It witnessed closer scrutiny of values and institutions. Prescription great ideas of social transformation succumbing to would not work. The challenge would be to eschew their own contradictions. Writing in the last decade hegemonic or homogenizing models and contribute of the century, a historian said the world risked both towards the promotion of justice, equity and diversity explosion and implosion and needed change. And reflective of the ground reality of the world we change did come, in ample measure but accompanied live in. by its own limitations. On one side, converging In a cynical essay, Bertrand Russell once wrote that technologies and emerging social trends changed philosophers are constitutionally timid, dislike the the landscape in societies and in their functioning; unexpected, and that ‘few of them would be genuinely on the other, the new actuality is yet to mature in happy as pirates or burglars’. But have we not had thought processes. Both enhance the scope for non- enough of pirates, burglars and adventurers, some understanding and misunderstanding. in present-day incarnations, who have destroyed Some years back Professor Rajni Kothari had urged societies, systems and peace for misperceived gains? his audience, in its quest to better comprehend the Would we not be better served if those among us fast-changing Indian reality, to think beyond the who care to introspect devote energies to locating merely political and tap the deeper psycho-spiritual the sources of misunderstanding and promotion dimensions of the Indian reality. I would venture of common good? The imperative of patience and to suggest that the IIC’s intellectual charter was and understanding, in a period of great change and remains this, but riveted on a wider, global scale where crumbling certitudes, is evident. It requires cultivation a perceptive observer would note rapid emergence of of tolerance as a virtue, acceptance of diversity as a new situations and patterns of behaviour. Both result necessity, imbibing a spirit of enquiry as imperative, in fresh perspectives in culture, and adoption of scientific temper economics and politics. The as desirable. difficulty is that the tools of analysis, I am confident the IIC fraternity, and the vocabulary of discourse, is each in his or her own perception, often embedded in a past that was would continue to contribute to qualitatively different. this noble venture and make our In a period of nation states, national shrinking world a better place for sovereignty, economic autarchy coming generations. I thank the and exclusive cultural identity, Trustees and the members of the the founders of the IIC spoke Centre for inviting me today. of peoples of nations. In the past ■ Jai Hind 2 stamp release

of this august occasion to celebrate one of Commemorating the India’s premier non-government institutions. He commended the Centre for continuing the vision of Golden Jubilee the early founders, in particular the contributions of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Radhakrishnan and On 9 February 2012, a commemorative stamp to Dr. C.D. Deshmukh. He described it in the words of celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the India Inter- architect Joseph Allen Stein as ‘a place where a certain national Centre was released by the President of In- kind of relationship exists—between the garden and dia, Honourable Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, in the building, and the water and the earth and the sky, the awe-inspiring Rashtrapati Bhavan. and the learning and activities that take place, and In his opening speech, Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee, President the things that happen.’ The Centre continues to of the Centre, said that the IIC had attained the age be a liberal space for public opinion, understanding of 50, and was still young. and discussion that has The Centre has lived up to influenced intellectual and its name, he said—the India cultural life. He called the International Centre—and is a stamp the Centre’s ‘paper platform for discussion and ambassador’ that captures sharing of diverse interests, all its dimensions. from Plato to politics. At Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh the pinnacle of this was Patil then released the the historic release of the stamp to loud applause, stamp which was a ‘stamp’ following which Dr. on the sands of time. He Kapila Vatsyayan gave the concluded by saying that vote of thanks on behalf there could be no greater of the Trustees of the honour and privilege than IIC, past and present. She to have the stamp released thanked Mrs. Pratibha by the Honourable President of India. Devisingh Patil for having graciously released Chief Guest Mr. Sachin Pilot, Union Minister of the stamp, and Mr. Sachin Pilot for his speech State, Communications and Information Technology, which had so beautifully captured the spirit of the in a brief but eloquent Centre. Dr. Vatsyayan also remembered the great speech said that it was contribution of the Founders; for having changed his privilege to earth into non-earth. The stamp, she said, depicts be part the Centre’s ethos in a visual language and articulates the Centre’s presence and role at the local, national and international levels. It represents the true spirit of the Centre and communicates the vision of Dr. Radhakrishnan, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. C.D. Deshmukh, Mrs. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Mr. Joseph Stein. The morning ended with an elegant tea hosted by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil. 3 talks diary

went on to be instated as UNESCO World Heritage Rediscovering Geography Sites. She spoke of Bijapur, Badami, Hampi, Halebid, Talk: Inspired by India’s Landscapes Belur, Tranquebar; her forages into the Western Speaker: Dr. Rita Gardner Ghats; and the study of the Red Tari Sands which, Chair: Ravi Bhoothalingam she revealed, betrayed the evidence of monsoons Collaboration: Royal Geographical Society in some distant past. What emerged was a love of landscapes, of people and environments, of the spaces with IBG, January 10 we occupy and the way we change it. The places she visited have probably changed beyond recognition in Dr. Rita Gardner, Director of the Royal Geographical the intervening years, yet they are those places still, Society, held an audience spellbound with tales of and it is this changing landscape and the wisdom and travels she had undertaken through the southern states understanding that come with the appreciation of it of India more than thirty years ago. The anecdotes and photographs from her impulsive journey through some that Dr. Gardner aimed to communicate. of the most fascinating interiors of these states proved If we travel with receptive senses and an open mind the highlight of the evening, and her adventures as she full of inquiry, the world becomes our classroom and navigated these unfamiliar terrains, inexperienced as our life an education. And this is what Geography she was and armed with nothing but a research plan, an really means to Dr. Gardner, and why she considers unreliable ambassador car and tons of spunk, were a it so important to spread the love of the subject delight to hear told. Her experience, she admits herself, among today’s youth. As she put it rather succinctly forever changed the way she lived and thought. by quoting the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford: ‘I believe She traversed an unconventional route between passionately in the importance of Geography. How Mumbai and Kanyakumari via some of the most could you not?’ fascinating spots of India’s heritage, some of which ■ PRAGYA MUKHERJEE

a holistic approach in this regard. People should be the Safeguarding of Heritage focus because people’s involvement and participation TALK: Rethinking Safeguarding Heritage makes them agents of history; it reflects on the continuity of life. Only through a community-centric during Emergencies approach can sustainable heritage development during Speaker: Professor Amareswar Galla, February 1 emergencies and conflicts be achieved. It is premised on the necessity to respect everyone’s heritage, giving Heritage protection during conflict or emergency has due recognition to people’s culture. been the subject of most of Prof. Galla’s work.  VIKAS TRIPATHI Emergencies like earthquakes involve massive damage, but the concern has largely been about tangible and not intangible heritage; a concern that revolves around movable cultural heritage, stones and artefacts, museums or their sites themselves. However, the intangible heritage of the people who have been living there and are affected by the emergencies remains at the periphery. His lecture focused on two projects in Afghanistan: the Kabul Museum and the Bamiyan Valley. He puts both communities affected by the emergencies at the centre of heritage protection, and argues for the adoption of 4 diary talks

present regime and regional powers such as Iran and Notes from Syria Turkey, it has been reduced to a pawn in the regional TALK: Syria and the Arab Spring power game. Speaker: Ribal al-Assad Branding the regime as a ‘Master of Propaganda’, Chair: Dr. Brahma Chellany, February 6 Ribal pointed out the gap between the regime’s promises and the ground reality, which has seen the Ribal al-Assad is Founder–Director of the killing of 5,000 people in the past nine months. He Organization for Democracy and Freedom in advocated the need for a strong, stable and inclusive Syria. In his talk, he outlined how the Arab Spring opposition that could provide a peaceful alternative has opened up the fault lines in the region and has in a country where minorities form 40 per cent of accelerated region-wide demand for regime change. the population. He cautioned that as a concept, ‘Arab Spring’ is Ribal questioned the benign role being played by the open to misinterpretation as ‘Spring’ is the season of Arab League by bringing out the paradox between the change, signifying hope. Given Islamic resurgence regional body controlled by monarchies known for and the rise of extremist groups, ‘Spring’ might not their tyrannical rule and their attempt at ‘promoting necessarily bring about positive reform. peace and democracy’ in Syria. On a solution to Referring to his surname as the ‘elephant in the the Syrian problem, he stated that the only means room’, Ribal al-Assad said that he is the first cousin is a coherent opposition, independent of external of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has been influence, that evolves and helps in the transition of living in exile for over two decades. Reminiscing power and re-establishes the pillars of a liberal and about his country, he observed that Syria was once secular country that Syria once symbolized. the beacon of secularism in the region, but due to the  VAISHALI RAMAMOORTHY

racy within a federal framework ought to be put under Beyond Federalism reconsideration. However, stresses and pressures DR. C.D. DESHMUKH MEMORIAL characterizing Indian federalism have led to the LECTURE: Beyond Federalism distortion of national vision and collective purpose. Speaker: Justice B.N. Srikrishna, January 14 Communalism, social tension, domestic insurgency and regionalism undermine the success of India’s federalism in evolving an inclusive polity. These In this year’s annual C. D. Deshmukh memorial lec- features hamper the development of the vision ture, Justice B. N. Srikrishna presented his thesis of unity in diversity. The success of federalism in that federalism as understood in India is nothing but India remains contingent anirvachniya—a vedantic concept upon the strong sense of unity meaning that which cannot underlying diverse consti be clearly labelled or defined. tuents. A sense of national Examining Indian federalism integrity among the through the lens of history, of diverse constituents is political theory as well as Su- preme Court judgements in the need of the hour. We India, Justice Srikrishna said need to think beyond that it is neither unitary nor federalism in the federal, but it has been a suc- larger interests of the cess story. So much so that the country. nature of diversity and democ- ■ VIKAS TRIPATHI 5 polity diary

Golden Jubilee Lectures on Governance Continuing its on-going engagement with concerns of governance, the Centre has launched a series of lectures that will debate issues of governance both in its formal structures and systems and its impact on people, together with the role of participatory governance in delivery of services. Two lectures have already been held in this series:

exploitation, and India resides in its villages. Urban TALK: Devolution and Urban Development local governance became the lesser government, a Speaker: Mr. K.C. Sivaramakrishnan feeling that hovers even today. Chair: Dr. Kasturirangan, February 23 The 73rd and 74th Amendments for decentralization tell an interesting story of our ability to amend our ‘“Devolution and Urban Development”, said Constitution from time to time. But it was when Rajiv Mr. Sivaramakrishnan, ‘is a restrictive title because like Gandhi came to power that decentralization got an many stories in contemporary India, it is a mixed story, impetus. He believed devolution to be the only answer neither totally happy, nor totally unhappy. ’ for a country of India’s size and diversity. But, said Beginning with a broad structure of the urban Mr. Sivaramakrishnan, this devolution was a political scene, he went on to the history of devolution. arrangement to expand participation, not a fiscal one. Urban expansion and the growth of great cities Today, according to the 2011 Census, there are 53 like Puri, Madurai, Amritsar had one dominant million cities in India and 31 per cent of 1.2 billion organization—royalty or divinity. In colonial history, people are urban dwellers. While there is no escape, cities like Madras, Bombay and Kolkata were granted and nor should there be, one needs to understand that municipal status, although the sole aim was to protect most urban growth is along transport corridors with the imperial exchequer in the city government. a significant concentration of population. In talking Part of this process was to contain local upsurge, of devolution, then, arithmetic success goes hand in as local governance was considered a cradle for hand with deficits arising out of surplus: functional democracy. Then, with the freedom movement came deficits, financial deficits, structural and administrative the dominant belief that city dwellers are agents of deficits, political deficits and participation deficits.

was passed in 1993, it remains on paper alone. No TALK: Devolution and Rural Development government, even the Congress, has worked towards Speaker: Dr. George Mathew, February 27 strengthening panchayats. Even more shocking, it is the 1894 Land Acquisition Act that prevails to Today, 833 million people live in rural India, of this day. Despite amendments, by this Act neither which 236 million live below the poverty line. Rural the Central nor State government need consult local development, Dr. Mathew argued, will not see bodies before acquiring land. Is it any wonder that fruition without devolution of governance through the Gram Sabhas remain helpless, as happened in the institution of panchayats; without political will, Singur? devolution will remain a dream; and in turn, without However, there is hope. The grammar of politics is local governance and people’s participation, no changing and the upsurge of democratic impulses central or state schemes for poverty alleviation and is leading towards inclusive governance. People are development will yield results. Even after 65 years of demanding accountability and the judiciary is the one independence, our administrative culture is mired in institution that has stood by panchayati raj. Just as imperial distrust of devolution of powers. States had to fight for devolution of powers from the Although the landmark legislation of the 73rd and Centre, local bodies have to demand their rights from 74th Amendments for democracy and decentralization the State powers. 6 diary literature

tory with which it engaged in conversation. Widmer German Literature talked also of how he makes fun of the older genera- READINGS: Long Night of Literature – A Literary tion’s complex about the ‘fatelessness’ of Switzerland in his novel Congo, where the protagonist is offered ‘a Evening on Contemporary Writing in German big fat fate’. Writers: Christopher Kloeble (Germany) / Urs Widmer (Switzerland) / Donal McLaughlin (Scotland) / Kathrin Ilija Trojanow described how in attempting to give Röggla (Austria) / Ilija Trojanow (Germany) voice to the ‘native’ guides of Western explorers, he used the idiom he discovered in a German settler’s Moderator: Sirish Rao primer of denuded German concocted especially Collaboration: Austrian Cultural Forum, German for natives. Reading it over, he was shaken by the Book Office, Max Mueller Bhavan, Pro-Helvetia condescension he found himself feeling towards and Religare Art Gallery, January 18 the character speaking this idiom, and rewrote it in language which, though idiomatically off-centre, As writers read from their work and responded to remained solid and powerful. Indian critics and writers, differences of perspec- Following a compelling reading from her book seek- tive owing to nation and generation were revealing, ing to make palpable the connections between our even as each drew inspiration from observations lifestyles and the ecological processes they unleash, by others. Kathrin Röggla gave an in- Perceptions of fiction con- tellectually vigorous account verged: Christopher Kloe- of her half-resistant, half-ad- ble’s declaration that once miring engagement with how you get under the skin of power is internalized by cor- a character, ‘language hap- porate actors, and of her use pens’ without conscious of interviews in her fiction, artifice found resonance saying she believed not in her with Urs Widmer. Yet each own voice but in the need for generation had a distinct ‘language partners.’ view of the world and his-  NIHARIKA GUPTA

writing, unusually, in Sanskrit. He is best known for Kashmir, Sanskrit and his works on poetics and prosody. This publication, according to Mr. Haksar, is important because Sanskrit Corruption satire is unknown outside the world of classicists and BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP: Three Satires specialists; and because Kashmir—and its present state from Ancient Kashmir by Kshemendra (New Delhi, of turmoil, trouble and bloodshed—are all adequately Penguin 2011). Professor Shashi Prabha Kumar; reflected in Kshemendra’s writings on the Kashmir Mr. A.N.D. Haksar; Professor S.N. Pandita; Mr. S. and corruption of his times. Academic stalwarts shed Majumdar; Dr. Lokesh Chandra, January 27 light on and critically examined the relevance of Kshemendra’s work to the corruption of today. This was an interesting discussion on Three Satires Professor Kumar commented on the purity of the from Ancient Kashmir by Kshemendra, translated Sanskrit text and Kshemendra’s deep concern for from the Sanskrit with an introduction by Mr. the suffering of common people in Kashmir and his A.N.D. Haksar. Kshemendra (c. 980-1070 AD) was desire to end it. ‘Everyone is interested in Kashmir, a brilliant writer and satirist in medieval Kashmir, contd. on page 8 7 music diary

Carnatic Jazz Spins a Web of Musical Magic IIC ANNUAL DAY: Fusion Concert. Suma Sudhindra’s Veena Ensemble and the Spinifex (Jazz) Orchestra, January 22

‘East is East and West is West, and Never the Twain Shall Meet’—an age-old adage reminiscent of another time and space didn’t seem to ring true at a unique musical fusion concert by Dr. Suma Sudhin- dra’s Veena Ensemble and the Spinifex Orchestra of Holland which presented the best of Indian Carnatic music and Dutch jazz. Celebrating fifty years of the tha Krishna Sharma and S. G. Pramath Kiran on the India International Centre that evening, an august morchhang and congas. With performances around the international audience of jazz aficionados, senior bu- world, Dr. Sudhindra is a pioneer in cross-over mu- reaucrats, musicians and members of the diplomatic sic. Her mastery of the veena was clearly demonstrat- community was treated to a stupendous virtuoso ‘ju- ed in her effortless blending of intricate Carnatic galbandhi’ not experienced in New Delhi for a long melodies with contemporary and complicated jazz time. Expressive improvisations, thrilling rhythms forms. With a distinct Charles Mingus sound, the woven together with classy instrumentation created Spinifex Orchestra comprising alto an eclectic musical saxophone, trombone, flute, bass aura in the honey- guitar and drums was sheer combed Stein Au- delight. Backed by evocative ditorium so that one melodic lines, precision tim- could almost hear a ing and perfect coordination pin drop at musi- within and without, Spinifex cal intervals. spun a magical musical web with their Indian counterparts. Weaving together Voost Buis’s brilliant trombone traditional Car- solo on ‘Papa Dave’ and the natic composi- amazing percussion duets be- tions with foot-tapping contemporary jazz melodies tween the mridangam, jazz drums and congas made the and rhythms, Dr. Sudhindra’s performance on the musical adventure especially noteworthy. electric veena was accompanied by the internationally- renowned mridangam exponent, Dr. Anoor R. Anan-  DEEPAK CASTELINO

contd. from page 7 and said that with this book, the Kashmiri dictionary Sanskrit and corruption.’ she said, and congratulated has become richer. Mr. Haksar for popularizing Sanskrit. Chairperson Professor Chandra summed up by saying Professor Pandita offered unorthodox and uncon- that after Valmiki, Kshemendra was the most fluent ventional views on Kshemendra, ranging from the writer in Sanskrit. He was not limited to Kashmir, but criticisms of Johann Georg Buehler to Aurel Stein. to all of India. He described Kshemendra as an ‘oracle of his times’  NILANJAN GUPTA 8 diary dance

rage uncontrolled, volcanoes revive, the Arctic melts, Post-modern View of the parched earth is barren and seas rise. The dancer performed in a changing environment. the End Maida’s dancing is characterized by vigorous, robust DANCE: Maida Withers Dance movements, belying her age. She is internationally Construction Company recognized for her innovative approach to Collaboration: American Centre, February 21 choreography, talking during the performances, questioning the audience. Is end-time, absolute finality, merely the product of The second piece was titled ‘Thresholds Crossed’. fevered brains? Or is there more to it? Maida Withers, Choreographed by Maida, the dance was performed the veteran choreographer-cum- by Maida herself and Anthony dancer of George Washington Gongora, an inter-disciplinary University took the view that artiste and teacher at Columbia there might be a final closure in University. Thresholds tackled her modern dance creation, ‘Fare political and social issues. The Well—The End of the World dance-theatre work probed As We Know’ ‘or ‘Dancing Your desire for control, manipulation, Way to Paradise’. domination. It featured vibrant cello music by award-winner Maida is both choreographer and Audrey Chen (USA/Italy). solo dancer of a production which has outstanding visual installations A video by Linda Lewett was by Ayodamola Okunschimde, the backdrop. It was shot on and original music played live by location in a historic building Steve Hilmy. Ayodamola’s critique on Solvoki Island, Russia, built of ‘End-Time’ is symbolic of during the Gulag era. extreme weather conditions. Fires  G. George

9 exhibition diary

exulting in freedom, yet tethered. The Sangha In his series of collographed monoprints of the EXHIBITION: The Sangha by Shakti Maira mendicants bowl (being exhibited for the first February 24 – March 2 time), the graphic quality is mesmering. A simple bowl, a few grains of rice and dal become ‘a visual The impact of a group of life sized figures as soon meditation on giving and receiving and on reciprocal generosity’. as you enter the exhibiton hall is incredible. They invite you to enter their sangha, after which you go Shakti Maira. Artist, sculptor and printmaker. And around each of the twelve figures partaking of their Spiritual seeker. In this unique exhibition he seeks to offering….of delight, of uplift and transform both laughter, of devotion, of himself and the viewer by contemplation. Then you engaging the senses, the go around them once emotions and the mind. again because you want to I will take back this embed them in the recesses exhibition with me in my of your mind to return to mind and in my heart. As them at another time. Shakti says, what is deeply There are moments of in- felt lingers and tends to trospection. I am particu- appear in one’s imagination larly drawn to the smaller lone figures, quiet and com- and dreams. plete. And so solid. Then I am lured to two figures,  Poonam Bevli Sahi

pets from Germany, stunning fabric puppets from Puppet Festival Taiwan, and clay puppets from Iran were the high- EXHIBITION: Puppets ka Ishara lights. Puppet theatre performances by the foreign Collaboration: Ishara, February 2 – 10 visitors and skill-sharing workshops by tradi- Celebrated puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee unveiled his tional Indian puppet- exhibition of puppets and figures and launched eers from Rajasthan, the tenth anniversary celebration of the Ishara Orissa and Andhra International puppet festival in Delhi, Gurgaon and Pradesh using string, Mumbai . It was an exciting fusion of puppet glove and shadow theatre, performances, lectures, demonstrations, puppets were a workshops, films and exhibitions. It provided a rare treat for puppet enthusiasts. The exhibi- platform for puppeteers from around the globe tion itself was a celebration of Dadi’s journey and India to share techniques and discuss over the years which included puppets of vari- problems. Groups from countries such as ous sizes, genres and techniques, conveying the US, Taiwan, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan, interpretations originally from Vikram Betal Bulgaria, Australia and Italy—which are at and Thomas Mann stories; puppets mod- conflicting ends of the political spectrum— elled on Mahatma Gandhi conveying his came together, cutting across boundaries, message of peace; and themes such as and presented a kaleidoscope of cultures. journey of life based on excerpts from Unique innovations in contemporary the Mahabharata. puppet production using soft textile pup-  GAURIKA KAPOOR 10 exhibition diary

Only seven elderly torsos are visible, as are the looks Jiru Photography of concentration if not consternation. In another EXHIBITION: Two Generations of Jiru memorable image entitled `swinging grannies’, three Photography: Vaclav Jiru and Jiru Jiru Czech matriarchs zing through the air, their bonnets and voluminous skirts billowing. February 15 – 21 In 1993, Jiru became personal photographer to President Vaclav Havel, and accompanied him on The black-and-white photography of the Jiru duo— a state visit to India the next year. The occasion uncle Vaclav and nephew Jiru—from Czechoslova- is memorialized with the kia provided an insight into the pot photographer shooting the pourri of everyday urban life. There backs of three motorcycle was no central theme, but one’s riders and bits of the cavalcade wavering attention was rescued by through the windscreen of his thoughtful curating. A group of car. There were a few well- photographs where both lensmen taken compositions of nudes, focused on parts of the body were streetscapes, railway lines in interesting: Jiri Jiru’s of the back, Siberia, steps in Prague and a Vaclav’s of many hands waving in mélange of faces and people the air as they reached out for what scattered through the exhibition. appeared to be suspended balls, and Focusing on the work of men a hilarious one of two sets of mid- from two different generations, dle-aged chess players, engrossed the photographs help plot a in their game while sitting in what visual map of change in this appeared to be a hot spring. Four part of Europe. others, including a portly lady, are gazing intently at their moves.  MALAVIKA KARLEKAR

11 film diary

their displacement from their comfortable lives in Persistence–Resistance Gujarat, these six young men and women struggle to find a footing in an economically and socially 2012 harsh landscape. Support comes from the large FILM FESTIVAL: Persistence Resistance 2012 Indian majority neighbourhood in London where Collaboration: Magic Lantern Foundation the immigrants feel at home. The film follows their February 13 –15 journey from home to foreign shores, and in some cases, back home. Home comes to represent parents, traditional ties, and most importantly the promise of This year saw the screening of a diverse set of films, comfort and a life of ease––yet coming back is not documentaries and stories speaking about the ways in always a sought-after option. which society, people and communities persist while they resist. The idea of home is put under scrutiny in two films. Birds/Parinday (2010) is a fictional rendition of a real- The beauty of a disappearing tradition like calligraphy life story of a female convicted for the murder of her is chronicled in the short documentary on The husband, trapped in her past life and her navigation Musalman (2011)––an Urdu daily brought out in of the future, and shows her angst at her daughter’s Chennai by a group of katibs (calligraphers). It was suffering on account of this. founded by Syed Azmatullah in 1927 to safeguard the art of the handwritten newspaper. Today, The The mobile theatre of Assam navigates a sense of Musalman is perhaps the only handwritten newspaper home and away in The Nine Months (2010) where in the world. Syed Nasarulla, the grandson of the the director engages in conversation with actors, founder speaks of his father’s dying passion for the production teams, and producers of various theatre paper, and his worry that the art of calligraphy and groups to get a sense of what drives them. Started the newspaper would die with him. in the 1940s by Brajnath Sarma, its continued The uncommon subject of this film finds an echo popularity now boasts a membership of over 20 in the ‘common’ lives of six Gujarati migrants mobile theatres. to the UK in Living Like a Common Man (2011). In  ANINDITA MAJUMDAR

12 focus diary

is not a true science of wealth, since the doctrines Ruskin and Gandhi of free market capitalism in fact presuppose the TALK: Ruskin and Gandhi – The Wealth that is Life poverty of the labourer, tend to increase inequality, Speaker: Dr. Paul Sawyer, January 12 and completely ignore the presumed end of production—i.e. the making of things good for use and enjoyment. Second, Ruskin insists that Dr. Paul Sawyer’s lecture dealt with how Gandhi was this false ‘science’ abstracts from human nature influenced by John Ruskin’s moral and economic all consideration of ‘the affections one man owes project in his essay ‘Unto This Last’, an attack on another’, replacing affective social bonds with what the doctrines of competitive industrial capitalism, in Thomas Carlyle called the ‘cash nexus’; without a order to consider what it said to Gandhi about Swaraj theory of social cohesion, capitalism degenerates and what it says today. inevitably into a war of all against all. Finally Ruskin Ruskin’s attack on the social ills of industrial society insists that political economy falsely divides science in mid-nineteenth century Britain is an attack on from morality by directly opposing the principles the ideology of ascendant capitalism, the so-called of Christianity, Britain’s professed religion (which ‘Manchester School’ or system of laissez-faire preaches brotherhood and compassion). economics. Laissez-Faire economics claimed to be a Both Ruskin and Gandhi challenge us to re-think science; Ruskin claimed, as did Marx, that the ‘laws’ the weaknesses of this model for imagining a future of political economy are no more than abstractions in which wealth (defined as something other than designed to teach individuals how to become rich: it return on capital investment) can be shared by all.

development’, he stressed that the role becomes Libraries and Nation highly significant if libraries are in a position to promote knowledge. Mr. Jagmohan also said that Building the recommendations of the National Knowledge DISCUSSION: Libraries – The Partners in Commission must be accepted and implemented Nation Building immediately. Prof. Tandon too laid emphasis on the Panelists: Mr. Jagmohan; Ms. Linda K. Parker; recommendations of the NKC. Professor S.K. Tandon; Mrs. Shailaja Chandra; Linda Parker spoke about how the Americans have Dr. H.K. Kaul built up a strong library movement. Every city and Chair: Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee, January 6 town in America has its library, and all citizens have a say in library affairs and books. Welcoming the distinguished audience, chairperson Mrs. Shailaja Chandra, while giving a historical of the programme, Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee described this account of the Delhi Public Library, said that the as a very historic meeting. Libraries play a definite system is no longer considered to be a drain as much role in a democratic society, he said, and information improvement has been made and it now has a share and knowledge are tools to combat prejudices. They in nation building. also play a role in nation building and in fostering Dr. Kaul summed up the proceedings and said international relations. that there is a total mismatch between what the Mr. Jagmohan said aptly that libraries are the living readers require and what is made available to public memory of human civilization, the repository of the libraries. Even the Commission has not taken up the best that has been thought about in human affairs. task of properly identifying the needs of the local In answering the question, ‘Do libraries have a role communities. in nation-building given their declining status in ■ SUPRABHAT MAJUMDAR 13 notices diary

are requested to pay your annual subscription for the Notices year 2012-2013 in time. Please write your Membership number and ‘Annual IIC Quarterly Subscription for the year 2012-2013’ on the back of the cheque. In case you choose to deposit cash, please To commemorate the IIC’s Golden Jubilee, the next inform the accounts department that the amount issue of the IIC Quarterly is a Festschrift in honour deposited is towards the annual subscription for the of Dr. C.D. Deshmukh, one of the IIC’s Founders and year 2012-2013. its fist Life President. Titled The Golden Thread: Essays in Honour of C.D. Deshmukh, it is a collection of 26 IIC Annual Report 2011-2012 lectures delivered annually, each by a distinguished and For the convenience of our members, the Annual eminent person as the Dr. C.D. Deshmukh Memorial Report 2011-2012 is available on the IIC Website: Lecture. This volume will be available to members by end-April. (www.iicdelhi.nic.in).

T HE GOL DE N H R E A D Bar-coded IIC Membership Cards The Executive Committee, during its last meeting, decided to make it mandatory for all members to have

CONTRIBUTORS Bar-coded membership cards. Members are requested KARAN SINGH R. A. MASHELKAR M. G. K. MENON BIMAL JALAN The MOHAMMAD HIDAYATULLAH P. CHIDA MBARAM L. K. JHA B. G. VERGHESE to show them to the IIC staff when required to avail KAMALADEVI CHATTOPADHYAY NARAYANA N. R. MURTHY GOLDEN THREAD MALCOLM S. ADISESHIAH J A Y A N T VISHNU NARLIKAR L. M. SINGHVI P. N. TANDON of B. K. NEHRU R. K. PACHAURI Essays in Honour of the facilities at the Centre. KAPILA VATSYAYAN SHASHI THAROOR SOLI J. SORABJEE H. Y. MOHAN RAM C. D. Deshmukh JACQUES DELORS SHYA M BENEGAL RAJNI KOTHARI N. N. VOHRA V. RAMALINGASWAMI B. N. SRIKRISHNA All Members are requested to kindly have their card SPRING 2012 SPRING 2011 WINTER

WINTER 2011 WINTER 2011 SPRING 2012 SPRING 2012 renewed. Lost / misplaced cards may also be remade. You are required to submit the following: 1) one colour passport size photo each of the Forthcoming Occasional Publication member and the spouse. The Wealth that is Life: Ruskin’s Words to Gandhi by Paul 2) photocopy of existing Membership card. Please Sawyer (No.36) note that members who already have Bar-coded cards (plastic) are not requried to make new cards. Annual Subscription Members are requested to enter details of their This is to inform you that your annual subscription guests in the register kept in the venue for the for the year 2012-2013 is due in April 2012. You purpose.

Obituary

L-0033 Shri B.R. Thadhani L-0210 Shri P. Gupta L-0061 Smt. Savitri Bagla L-0304 Shri K. C. Kulish L-0087 Shri S. P. Punj M-1428 Shri Kan D. Mariwalla L-0122 Dr. Jugal Kishore M-1678 Shri A. K. Damodaran L-0195 Maj. Gen. Arjan Singh OA-058 Mrs. Kamla Chopra

14 futures diary

Highlights for March - April 2012

Performances Ex h i b i t i o n s 16–18 March 2012 at10:00 am – 8:00 pm daily 21–27 March 2012 Bodhi Awakening Fragments This programme of talks, An exhibition of sculptures by Blake exhibitions and performances Exhibited in India for the first time, on Tibetan culture includes Blake’s purposefully de-constructed discussions on modern brain human forms explore traditional ideas of science and the Buddhist beauty adapted to reveal the destructive yet enduring concept of mind, displays nature of mankind into modern times. Each sculpture of thangkas and of Tibetan is named after a different landmine medicine, and performances (Collaboration: Kehrig Fine Art) of sacred dance and music (Collaboration: Tibet House) 28 March–3 April 2012 30 March 2012 at 6:30 pm The City in the Archive: Calcutta’s Tarang: Fusion Music Concert Visual Histories Led by Saraswati Rajagopalan (veena), Narendra Pal Curated by Tapati Tony (saxophone), Saeed Zafar Khan (sitar), Kailash Guha-Thakurta. Emerging from a 15-year project Sharma (flute) of archiving and documentation at the Centre for This Ensemble brings out as- Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta, this exhibition pects of Indian music which conceives of Calcutta of the 19th and 20th centuries harmonize with Western, while through the prism of illustrated books and journals, retaining their elegance, grace popular paintings and prints, commercial art, modern and traditional character art, theatre and cinema (Collaboration: Sunaad) The Art of Living and Dying: The Heart Essence of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying 3 April 2012 at 6:30 pm Speaker: Sogyal Rinpoche Santoor Recital by (Collaboration: Rigpa Foundation) Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Golden Jubilee Lectures Accompanied by Yogesh Samsi on the tabla and Takahiro Arai 4 April 2012 at 6:30 pm on the tanpura Electoral Reforms Among Indian classical musicians, Pandit Shivkumar Speaker: S.Y. Quraishi, Chief Election Sharma’s eminence rests on his achievement in Commissioner bringing to the world concert stage the santoor, a 16 April 2012 at 6:30 pm folk instrument from Kashmir used to accompany Sufi music. His extensive repertoire includes ragas The Demographic Dividend: India’s Future that deal with divine and secular love in its various Speaker: Professor Sandeep Shastri, manifestations—unrequited as well as happy. The Pro-Vice Chancellor, Jain University, Bengaluru 100-string santoor is played with a pair of wooden 24 April 2012 at 6:30 pm strikers which produce delicate yet lively sounds Waste and Water Management in India reminiscent of the piano and the harp Speaker: Ms Sunita Narain, Director General, (Collaboration: Nataraj Cultural Centre, Melbourne) Centre for Science and Environment 15 Reg. No. 28936/77 diary

A Note from the Director

On 22 January 2012, the Centre marked its fiftieth year as a full-fledged organization with its own beautiful space and facilities. It had celebrated its 25th year in 1987 with the expansion of the Library and a new conference room to meet the growing needs of its expanding activities. Nine years on, a new building, the Annexe, was constructed. Apart from conference rooms, accommodation and a lounge and dining room, it houses the Centre’s first art gallery. Since then, ten rooms have been added to the hostel and a new Conference Block has come up in the erstwhile Rock Garden and Central Court area. It was opened last year in March, 2011 and provides facilities for get-togethers, seminars and has a spacious art gallery among other facilities.

The release of a special issue of the IIC Quarterly ‘40 years—A Look Back’ marked the Centre’s 40th anniversary on January 22, 2002. It brought together a selection of contributions to the Quarterly since its inception. There was also a week-long Puppetry Festival to honour Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay.

As fifty years is an important landmark in an institution’s life, it was felt that it was time to create institutional memory through an archive that could be readily accessed. One part of that attempt is the Oral History Project that seeks to record memories and stories that emerge out of interviews with people who have been part of the growth and evolution of the Centre to make it the strong and open institution that it is today. Also, photographs and documents are being digitized and timelines prepared to map, as far as feasible, the evolution of the Centre, its programmes, and publications and its landmark events, occasions and decisions. These are likely to result in an exhibition and possibly an illustrated book.

To inaugurate the Golden Jubilee Year of the Centre, the Hon’ble Vice President Mr. Hamid Ansari delivered a talk to what he called a ‘houseful of friends’. He dwelt on the background and philosophy behind the founding of the Centre and said it was ‘an attempt to assist in changing the nature of the world around us for the better.’ The 9th of February saw the release of a postage stamp by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Further, a series of lectures and panel discussions have been planned bringing together issues of development, environment, governance and people’s participation in the light of justice, equity and basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Some eminent practitioners have also been invited. They include the scientists, Dr. Sydney Brenner and Professor Paul Davies; Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Justice S. H. Kapadia; the legal luminary, Hon’ble Michael Kirby, Judge, Australia; Dr. Amartya Sen and Mr. Vikram Seth and the well known authority on Indian higher education, Professor Philip G. Altbach.

■ 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, 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