The Informal Discussion Group invites you to an interactive Q and A session with

Sheila Dikshit

(The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi)

Sheila Dikshit is the Chief Minister of Delhi. She is from the Indian National Congress. She was sworn in as the Chief Minister for a third consecutive term of the Government of Delhi state in January 2009 after pulling a victory in the November 2008 state elections.

She first came into the limelight when she was nominated by Indira Gandhi to the Indian delegation of the UN Commission on Status of Women. She thus began her journey into active politics and has not looked back. The developmental work that has gone into shaping Delhi, including the metro rail network, improved supply of water and electricity and better roads, is largely credited to her.

She holds a Master of Arts degree, having received her education in New Delhi. She is also the recipient of Doctor of Philosophy, honoris causa, from the University of Delhi.

Time: 8 P.M.

Date: 14^th March, 2011

Venue: Staff Room

A Discussion With Admiral Ramdas

The Informal Discussion Group invites you to a talk by

Admiral Ramdas

on the topic:

Indo-Pak Relations

Admiral Ramdas is an ex-military officer who became a peace activist who was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Awards for peace for his efforts in "reaching across a hostile border to nurture a citizen-based consensus for peace between Pakistan and India. "

Soon after his retirement, the Admiral began to advocate demilitarisation and peaceful resolution of the Indo-Pak problems. He is the chairperson of the Pakistan India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy. He will be talking about Indo-Pak relations- The need for creation of a South Asian Identity and Regional Cooperation.

Venue: Staff Room Date: 8^th March 2011

Time: 8PM

Talk by PK Vijayan on the Semester System in DU

The Informal Discussion Group invites you to an interactive session with:

PK Vijayan

(Professor, English Literature)

on the topic

Semester System at the undergraduate level in DU

P K Vijayan teaches English Literature in Hindu College, Delhi University.. His research is in the area of gender and nationalism. He has contributed to “Translating Desire: Politics of Gender and Culture in India” , a collection of essays exploring the politics of sexuality in contemprory India. His article on the implementation of the semester system, “The semester system is a ‘free market’ utopia”, can be found on Tehelka.com.

Time: 8:00 PM

Date: Thursday, 3^rd March, 2011

Venue: Staff Room

An Interactive Session with Zila Khan: The Art of the Ghazal

The Informal Discussion Group invites you to an interactive session with

Zila Khan

(Sufi Singer)

On the topic:

The Art of The Ghazal

Zila Khan, represents the seventh generation of renowned Hindustani classical musicians. Daughter of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, in 2006 she made an award-winning documentary on the life and music of her father called Spirit to Soul. She established UstadGah in 2008, an institute that provides musical training to underprivileged and visually impaired children, and recently performed at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Ms. Khan is well-known for her command over a vast range of musical styles and has a number of albums to her credit.

Time: 8:00 PM

Date: Tuesday, 1 March, 2011

Venue: The Staff Room

An Interactive Session with Zila Khan: The Art of the Ghazal

The Informal Discussion Group invites you to an interactive session with

Zila Khan

(Sufi Singer)

On the topic:

The Art of The Ghazal

Zila Khan, represents the seventh generation of renowned Hindustani classical musicians. Daughter of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, in 2006 she made an award-winning documentary on the life and music of her father called Spirit to Soul. She established UstadGah in 2008, an institute that provides musical training to underprivileged and visually impaired children, and recently performed at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Ms. Khan is well-known for her command over a vast range of musical styles and has a number of albums to her credit.

Time: 8:00 PM

Date: Tuesday, 1 March, 2011

Venue: The Staff Room

Interactive Session With P. R. Kumaraswam

The Informal Discussion Group invites you to an interactive session with:

P. R. Kumaraswamy

(Professor, Contemporary Middle East)

on the topic

“India, Israel and the Wider Middle East”

Professor P R Kumaraswamy is an expert in contemporary developments of the Middle East. He is currently a professor at the Center for West Asian Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University. He researches and writes about the region and its political and security developments. His latest book on India's Israel Policy: From Nonrelations to Friendship was published by the Columbia University Press in 2010. His other works include Islamic Attitudes to Israel, The A to Z of Arab Israeli Conflict and South Asia: The Spectre of Terrorism among others. In December 2009 he began his two-year term as the Chairperson of the CWAS.

Date: Friday, February 25, 2011

Time: 8:00 PM

Venue: Staff Room

Screening of 'Inshallah, football', and a discussion with Ashvin Kumar

The Informal Discussion Group invites you to an interactive session with:

Ashvin Kumar

Presenting:

Screening of the film ‘Inshallah, football’ and discussion with the filmmaker Ashvin Kumar

Ashvin Kumar is an independent Indian filmmaker who has produced and directed several films and documentaries, including Inshallah, football (2010); Dazed in Doon (2010) and the Oscar nominated movie - Little Terrorist (2005). His recent films have attracted controversy as the Indian censor board has denied him the certifications necessary for the films to be shown publicly in Indian cinemas. His latest film, Inshallah, football, is a feature documentary about an aspiring footballer who was denied the right to travel abroad on the pretext that his father was a militant in the 1990s. It premiered at the Pusan International Film Festival and bagged a Special Mention award at the recently concluded Dubai International Film Festival.

Time: 5:00 PM

Date: Wednesday, 23^rd February, 2011

Venue: The A.V. Room