Annual Report INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE 2020-2021 Annual Report INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE 2020-2021 Board of Trustees Life Trustees Shri N.N. Vohra, President Shri Shyam Saran Shri Soli J. Sorabjee Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi Justice (Retd.) B.N. Srikrishna Elected Trustees (April 2019–March 2021) Prof. Ashis Nandy (Individual Category) Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi (Institutional Category) Executive Committee (April 2019–March 2021) Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director Shri K.P. Fabian Smt. Aarti Khosla, Member & Hony. Treasurer Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe Prof. Anvita Abbi Prof. Najma Akhtar Ms. Meera Bhatia Shri Kanwal Wali, Secretary Finance Committee (April 2019–March 2021) Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Chairman Shri K.P. Fabian Ms. Aarti Khosla, Hony. Treasurer Shri K.N. Shrivastava, Director Ms. Vineeta Rai Shri Kanwal Wali, Secretary Annual Report 2020–2021 It is our privilege to present the 60th Annual Report of the India International Centre for the period 1 February 2020 to 31 January 2021. The year 2020 can be described as a global disaster. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc, sparing no nation, developed or developing. India was no exception and we have seen the consequences on the economy and society. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus resulted in extensive lockdowns which also adversely affected the Centre’s calendar of programmes. The last physical programme was held in March 2020 when a complete lockdown was declared. However, we took the initiative to use online platforms to connect with our Members, and the positive response and feedback were very encouraging. In the month of April, our online programmes were drawn from our archives. In light of this, this year’s Annual Report has a separate section on ‘Archived Programmes’. We quickly realised that the impact of the pandemic would have long-term effects and programmes would be virtual and not physical for some time to come. In early May we sought out and featured all new programmes in every category—exhibitions, talks, discussions, book launches and performance. These included video recordings made especially for IIC programmes, and Webinars which began in July. As usual, we were also joined by like-minded collaborators for several programmes. We are happy to note that Members have been watching these programmes with as much enthusiasm as they did when walking in to the venues. The interactive platforms have proved very useful for Members to engage with the participants via chat mode. This is the first year since its inception that we could not hold the much-awaited IIC Experience: A Festival of the Arts. This has been a disappointment, but the norms of 3 social distancing are crucial to containing the pandemic. We are hopeful that the year 2021 will normalise life. Apart from programmes, venues like Hostel, Dining and Lounge were also affected by the lockdown. However, this period was gainfully utilised to keep the systems running smoothly. The staff worked relentlessly to maintain all the buildings, from outside and within. Taking advantage of Unlock–1, we took prompt action to start operating the permitted services. The Library opened with all safety measures as early as 4 July for avid readers. A takeaway arrangement was made operational, and with Unlock–2, restricted dining facilities were started. All hygiene and social distancing protocols are being strictly enforced. A progressively increasing number of Members, and their guests, have been making use of the catering, confectionary and takeaway facilities. We thank them for helping the Centre to become functional, as far as is possible, under the present constraints. The Centre’s gardens and flowers were not allowed to wither, and were carefully nurtured by our staff despite difficulties. Four Members were on the national honours’ list this year. The Centre congratulates Shri Nripendra Misra (M-3811), Shri Tarlochan Singh (M-3537) and Shri Tarun Gogoi (A-3198 [posthumous]) who received the Padma Bhushan, and Shri Madhavan Nambiar (A-4972) who received the Padma Shri. This year, on 10 October 2020, the Centre held a memorial meeting to remember and pay tribute to Dr. (Smt.) Kapila Vatsyayan, Life Trustee, IIC, and Chairperson, International Research Division, who passed away on 16 September 2020. The Centre deeply regrets the loss of 89 Members this year. We applaud their valuable contributions to the activities of the Centre. 4 Archived Programmes Presented Series Music Appreciation Promotion The north-west Karnataka landscape has nurtured a unique amalgam of Hindustani classical and Carnatic styles of music; Hindustani classical music with its origins in north India seamlessly interweaves with south Indian traditions. In an exploration of these traditions, Jayateerth Mevundi presented a lecture-demonstration in the programme ‘Kirana Gharana: Innovations in Traditions’, accompanied by Chetan Nigam (harmonium) and Ganesh Singh (tabla). ‘In the Light of the Classical’ was a presentation by Ashok Vajpeyi who analysed the declining knowledge about classical music, the changing ethos and the dynamics of innovation. He spoke on the influence that classical music has had on him personally for nearly half a century as a poet, as a rasika, as an organiser, etc. He then discussed aspects of his proximity to great musicians of India like Kumar Gandharva, Mallikarjun Mansur and Zia Moiuddin Dagar. ‘Hindustani and Carnatic Music: A Comparative Demonstration’ was a lecture- demonstration by M. Narmadha, who has mastered both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions. Demonstrating how ragas are used in bandishes and kirtanas, the speaker brought out the distinguishing characteristics of the two systems. She also showed how the strength of riyaz and fidelity to tradition is intrinsic to both, and how, at a certain level, they unite seamlessly. 5 There was a lecture-demonstration, ‘Dancing Music’, by Sudha Raghuraman, with demonstrations by Priya Venkataraman and Justin McCarthy, well-known Bharatanatyam artists. The accompanists were G. Raghuraman on flute, and P. Padmanabhan on mridangam. Her lec-dem looked at how music for dance is an art by itself, and how musicians accompanying dance forms are trained especially for this purpose. It is hard to believe that there is humour in the formal and structured world of Western classical music, but this was amply brought out by theatre/TV personality and musicologist Sunit Tandon in his illustrated talk, ‘Jokes and Japes—Humour in Western Classical Music’. In the programme ‘Sufi Raah: The Classical Tradition of Tappa’, Shanno Khurana, famous for her renditions of the classical tradition of tappas, was in conversation with Naman Ahuja. She explained why this most arduous of Hindustani musical forms attracted her, the nature of the variety of rendition, and analysed the poetic lyrics to reveal the unique cultural synthesis that lies behind them. Art Matters This series features dialogues with major figures of the visual and performing arts wherein the life, career, vision, struggles and anxieties of these artists are explored. Alarmel Valli, Bharatanatyam dancer, was in conversation with Arundhati Subramaniam, poet. Contemporary times stand witness to a constant deterioration of the meaning of art, and the manipulation of theoretical social and political concepts, as well as their practical significance. Whether they are questions as serious as social and political concerns of human rights or social exclusion affecting a dignified human survival, or 6 as sensitive as the waning of interest in classical art forms, they call for an urgent need to revisit and discuss the prevalent conceptions. These issues were discussed in the programme, ‘The Changing Languages’, which featured Krishen Khanna, Kirti Jain, Aditi Mangaldas and Udayan Vajpeyi. Healthcare in India G.C. Khilnani spoke on ‘Respiratory Diseases and Air Pollution’. He presented statistics and data on air pollution and its sources, its link to diseases and what could be done to mitigate it. In the programme, ‘Meeting the Challenges of Non-communicable Diseases in India: From Prevention to Palliative Care’, D. Prabhakaran spoke about the non- communicable disease (NCD) burden in India, and the options before us to reduce this burden. NCDs are fast emerging as a major public health challenge as they mainly affect the young, and adversely impact the economies of low- and middle- income countries. ‘How Can We Stop India’s Youth from Killing Themselves?’ This was the question addressed by Vikram Patel, who sought to create hope for India’s youth. He dealt with the issue of youth suicide, why it happens, and solutions to the problem. Shiv Kumar Sarin delivered a talk on ‘Weighty Problem of Liver Fat—Eat and Live for Grandchildren’. Dietary habits are significantly associated with the condition of one’s health. A correct diet, associated with a healthy lifestyle, may in fact contribute to the maintenance of a healthy human body. Similarly, the right dietary intake, along with moderate exercise, may help cure both alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. 7 Mehfil Series There was an evening with Gwalior gharana maestro Abdul Rashid Khan, accompanied by Mohammed Hafeez Khan (harmonium), Bilal Khan (tabla) and Arshad Ali (tanpura and vocal support). Khan Sahib presented rare Malhar ragas sung in the monsoon, drawing on ta’leem received nearly eight decades ago, as well as some of his own compositions penned under the name ‘Rasan Piya’. This was a collaboration with Jnana Pravaha and NaadSaagar Archives; and Documentation Society for South Asian Music. ‘Mehfil with Bhuvanesh Komkali’ was an engagement with Pandit Kumar Gandharva- bani exponent Bhuvanesh Komkali. Born into a rich legacy of music, Komkali, grandson of Pandit Kumar Gandharva, paid homage to his grandfather with ragas and bandishes created by him. ‘Indian Classical Music and Dance Mehfils’ featured a mehfil with Jaipur-Atrauli gharana Maestro, Rajshekhar Mansur. In keeping with the tradition of his gharana, Rajshekhar Mansur presented rare and largely unheard ragas like Jait Kalyan, Malavi, Savani Nat and Khokar. He was accompanied by Faiyaz Khan (tabla) and Murad Ali Khan (sarangi).