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1 March 2008@ 4 pm
NIAS Literary, Arts and Heritage Forum
Speaker: Jean-Marc Matos, and Anne Holst (K. Danse, France)
Title: GAMEPLAY: An experiment with digital media and dance
Wednesday Talk Time: 9.30 am Venue: NIAS
Lecture Hall
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5 March 2008
Speaker: Prof V Nanjundiah
Title: The Issue of Scientific Integrity
Chairperson: Dr M G Narasimhan
Abstract:
The First World Conference on Research Integrity, which
was held in Lisbon from 16 to19 September 2007, forms the background
to this talk. Quantitative data on scientific misconduct will
be presented, followed by a few case studies and a consideration
of possible causes. The talk will end with thoughts on the Indian
situation.
About the Speaker:
Prof. Vidyanand Nanjundiah is in the Department of Molecular
Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of
Science. His research interests are developmental biology and
the evolution of social behaviour.
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7 March 2008@3.30 pm
NIAS Literary, Arts and Heritage Forum
Speaker: Prof. Peri Bhaskararaoon
Title: Cultural Information from Oral Texts: The Narration
of the Pïs-ïtt rites ['social paternity rites'] of
the Todas of the Nilagiris
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19 March 2008
Speaker: Mr M Murugan
Title: Global Warming and Agroecosystems
Chairperson: Ms Sowjanya Peddi
Abstract: The present and projected global climate change
will impact all agroecosystems, and therefore affect the world's
food supply. The Global Climate Model (GCM) based assessment
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) contemplates
a change in global surface temperature of 1.5 to 4.5°C by
the year 2050, as result of enhanced green house gases. Therefore,
the expected extreme meteorological events, such as spells of
high temperature, heavy storms, or droughts would disrupt crop
production at all levels. Although all the agroecosystems are
likely to be affected, some regions will have more adverse impact
than others. The timing of regional effects--who gains or loses
when and for how long--will also be complex and highly uncertain.
In this talk I will be discussing both the positive and negative
impact of global warming on crop production at local level to
global scale.
About the Speaker
Muthuswamy Murugan, a PhD scholar and an Agroecology Researcher,
School of Natural Sciences and Engineering at NIAS. He is also
an Assistant Professor, Soil science and agricultural chemistry,
Cardamom Research Station, Kerala agricultural University, India
- 24 March 2008@6 pm
Third Mohandas Moses Memorial Lecture and Launch of His Biography
"A Stranger in Paradise"
6.30 p.m. Welcome and Introductory Remarks By
Prof. B. V. Sreekantan, NIAS
6.45 p.m. The Author, Smt Achala Moulik Introduces "A Stranger
in Paradise"
7.00 p.m. Book Release By Shri Sudhakar Rao, IAS, Chief Secretary,
Government of Karnataka
7.05p.m. Reminiscences of Shri Mohandas Moses By Shri Sudhakar
Rao, IAS
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25 March 2008@6pm
NIAS Literary, Arts and Heritage Forum presents a book
reading by Priya Sarukkai-Chabria with Arshia Sattar of her
novel GENERATION 14 – A Novel
About the novel 'Generation-14' by Priya Sarukkai Chabria
Well known poet and writer Priya Sarukkai-Chabria will discuss
her just-published novel Generation-14, published by Zuban-Penguin.
Arshia Sattar, well known theatre personality will accompany
her in the readings. In the 24th century, memory is forbidden
and sexuality taboo. Yet Clone 14/54/G, haunted by her past
lives, keeps a secret journal. This extraordinary novel journeys
back and forth across millennia to explore what it
means to be human. It heralds an exciting new genre of fantasy
and science fiction writing from India. Intense, poetic, and
erotic, Generation 14 is a serious and vivid reflection on repression
and the fragility of freedoms, and a dazzlingly imaginative
political satire.
"Priya Sarukkai Chabria is remarkable both as poet and
novelist…. "--- George Szitres, T S Eliot Memorial
Poetry Prize awardee. " Chabria's is an extraordinary poetic
imagination"
..Tim Parks, author of Europa
About the novelist
The multi-facetted poetess and novelist Priya Sarukkai-Chabria
is one of the authors of Dialogue and Other Poems, (Sahitya
Akademi 2005), the novels, 'The Other Garden' (Rupa, 1995),
the novel 'Or Else' and numerous poems, short stories, book
reviews and essays in journals including Adelphiniana published
by Roberto Calasso, the India International Center's Quarterly,
The Little Magazine, New Quest, Aphrodite's Garden and Journal
of Indian Literature. She was recipient of the Department of
Culture's Senior Fellowship to Outstanding Artists for Literature
(1996-1999) resulting in a typescript: Out and In: A Book for
Lovers Past and Present, drawing from medieval poetry. Her multi-media
productions include VIPINAM: THE GROVE (2005) with renowned
Bharata Natyam dancer Malavika Sarukkai, Srinkala, and Fireflies
shown at the Asian Arts Festival, Singapore 1994 and she has
co-scripted the short film, Dhaara which opened The Critics
Section, Oberhausen Film Festival, Germany in 1989. She's at
www.priyawriting.com
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26 March 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Dr B K Anitha
Topic: Learning Disabilities – Professional Challenge
for the Indian School Teacher
Chairperson: Prof A R Vasavi
Abstract:
Although learning disability has been observed and documented
as early as 1917 by Hinshelwood and Orton in the year 1937,
it has received very little attention in India. The importance
of learning disabilities assumes significance in India due to
the fact that the Fundamental Right to Education in India makes
it mandatory to include all children upto the age of 14 years
to have access to quality education during these years. Given
this background, and the increased efforts made to bring all
children rural and urban within the ambit of formal education,
the increasing numbers of children with learning disabilities
- estimated at 10-14% pose a serious problem to universalisation
of elementary education.
Literature in the field of learning disabilities, reveal that
a substantial part of research studies have been directed to
the process of identification of children with LD and subsequent
services for these children. Hence, majority of these studies
are located within the larger field of Medicine and Psychology.
As a result, LD has made inroads in the fields of neurobiology
and cognitive science. However, the role of formal educational
institutions like the school and the teacher has not been centre-staged
in this whole debate. The presentation will attempt to explore
the reasons and discuss the key issues in this regard.
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2 April 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Dr Lata Mani
Topic: "Is a dew drop Sacred, or is it Secular?:
Experiments in Contemplative Cultural Critique"
Chairperson: Dr Carol Upadhya
Abstract:
Lata Mani will present from her manuscript, SacredSecular: Contemplative
Cultural Critique. The sacred and secular tend to be viewed
as autonomous, even contradictory, forms of knowledge. In SacredSecular,
Lata Mani challenges this presumption, exploring their inseparability
as philosophical and existential frameworks for addressing contemporary
issues. SacredSecular is a multi genre work of analysis, prose-poetry
and contemplative writing. It addresses themes ranging from
time, to the new spirituality, to fundamentalism and neo-liberal
globalization.
About the Speaker:
Lata Mani is the author of Contentious Traditions: The Debate
on Sati in Colonial India (1998) and Interleaves: Ruminations
on Illness and Spiritual Life (2001). She has also published
essays in feminist and post-colonial studies. Most recently,
she collaborated with Ruth Frankenberg to compile The Tantra
Chronicles, 2007, available online at www.thetantrachronicles.com
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4 April 2008@ 6.30 pm
NIAS Literary, Arts and Heritage Forum presents a play
reading in collaboration with Bangalore Little Theatre
Play Reading: Gandhi and Tagore: play in progress based
on letters
About the play
Bangalore Little Theatre presents a reading of a play as a Work-in-Progress,
entitled 'The Prophet and the Poet' based on letters exchanged
between Mahatma Gandhi and Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore over
25 years, with the Indian freedom struggle as the backdrop.
The letters reveal how the two personalities differed significantly
on the freedom movement. However, their mature personalities
maintained deep respect for each other in spite of irreconcilable
ideological differences. The research was done by Mr. Shailesh
Parekh, a Tagore scholar based in Ahmedabad, with several original
translations of Tagore's work in Gujarati and English.
About Bangalore Little Theatre
Bangalore Little Theatre, the city's oldest and widely respected
theatre society has a strong reputation in translations and
adaptations, and in promoting play writing activity since the
'seventies. Prof. Vijay Padaki (part of the founding faculty
of IIM Bangalore), the past President of BLT, has been a Senior
Associate of NIAS since its earliest years. In 2004 BLT and
NIAS extended the Institute's History of Ideas programme to
include presentation of biographical plays based on socio-political
and scientific themes.
Dr. William Radice and Mr. Shailesh Parekh will be special
guest and panelists. Dr. William Radice of the School of Oriental
and African Studies, London is a world renowned poet and widely
regarded the finest translator of Tagore in English. His books
include Rabindranath Tagore: Particles, Jottings, Sparks, The
Collected Brief Poems (Harper Collins), Green, Red, Gold, A
101 Sonnets and he has also written a libretto for the chamber
opera 'Snatched by the Gods', based on Tagore. He is in Bangalore
after attending the Tagore Festival at the India International
Centre.
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9 April 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Prof. TRENT SCHROYER
Topic: The Fall of Western Certitudes
Chairperson: Prof A R Vasavi
Abstract:
A reconstruction of the vision of Ivan illich, as it converges
with that of Gandhi, on the renunciations that have to be taken
in order to live in a world that is sustainable and recovers
a sense of the sacred. This will include:
Illich's genealogy of how the modern west originated when theological
claims to absolute certitude of salvation were replaced by foundations
for scientific certainty;
how the perversions of the axioms of Christian revelation by
the late medieval church ultimately resulted in the pathologies
of modernity ;
how modern sensibility has been profoundly disembodied; the
gaze is no longer a willed action subject to our moral decisions;
how the notion of the 'vernacular domain',where the political
and the economic are not disembedded from the cultural, is used
to refer to what is colonized by modern institutional radical
monopolies; how Ilich's Apophatic ( negative ) Christian genealogies
converges with Gandhi's karma yogi and outlines the social and
spiritual practices that are essential to live in a world of
sustainable limits; how Illich and Gandhi's views converge with
other critical traditionalists , and affected groups, who are
deeply questioning the realizability, validity and implicit
contradictions of the very systems that are being fostered world-wide
in an unprecedented push for economic growth and development.
About the Speaker:
Trent Schroyer has a Ph.D in Sociology from the Graduate
Faculty of the New School for Social Research where he taught
before joining Ramapo College of New Jersey . He is Professor
of Sociology-Philosophy in the interdisciplinary school of Social
Science and Human Services'. http://phobos.ramapo.edu/~tschroye/story_n.htm.
He authored The Critique of Domination (Nominated for the 1973
National Book Award in Philosophy). He has served as the Program
coordinator and Chair of The Other Economic Summit (TOES/ U.S.)
, http://www.toes-usa.org/index.html and edited " A World
that Works: Building Blocks for a Just and Sustainable Society"
that presents critical perspectives on the G-8's view of the
world. He attended the Earth Summit in Rio and worked at the
U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development until the W.T.O.
emerged in 1995 and put together a recent collection that critiques
the corporate take over of Sustainable Development' entitled
'Creating a Sustainable World'. He has been bringing students,
professors and activists to south India since 2002 and has helped
create a semester abroad program at Fireflies intercultural
center, outside of Bangalore.
- 11 April 2008@3.30 pm
Students Colloquium
Speaker: M B Rajani
Topic: Converging Remote Sensing and Archaeology
Abstract:Archaeology is the study of past through examining
the material remains of human existence. A site is chosen for
study using pointers from history and previous works. The methods
involve field observation, excavation by digging, tools like trowels,
brushes, shovel, picks etc are used to carefully uncover materials
like remains of buildings, pottery, metal objects, etc. Remote
sensing senses an area from afar felicitated by ability to "see"
from space platforms and observations can be made in spatial spectral,
temporal domains. Several aspects of remote sensing such as synopticity,
perspective views, ability to make repeated observation together
with use of tools such as image processing, GPS and GIS provide
a new dimension to exploration in archaeology. The present talk
will discuss the areas where remote sensing can complement archaeology,
the kinds of results that could be got from remote sensing and
their implications to archaeology. The presentation will high
light some pilot studies and elaborate methods being applied for
chosen study cases.
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11 April 2008@ 10.30 am
Special Lecture
Speaker: Prof. Diane Elson, Professor, Department of
Sociology, University of Essex, UK
Topic: Unpaid work and Economic Development
Chairperson: Prof A R Vasavi
Abstract: There are several forms of work for which no
remuneration is paid (for example fetching fuel and water, taking
care of family and friends, volunteer work, and unpaid work
in a family farm or business). Unpaid work tends to be disproportionately
done by women and girls. The lecture discusses the economic
significance of unpaid work and how it changes in the course
of economic development. It considers how unpaid work can be
measured through time use studies, with examples from India,
South Africa and UK; and what policy implications may be drawn
from such studies.
About the Speaker
Professor Diane Elson teaches in the Department of Sociology,
University of Essex, UK. She has a BA in Philosophy, Politics
and Economics from Oxford University and a PhD in Economics
from University of Manchester. She is a former Vice President
of the International Association for Feminist Economics. Her
recent publications cover topics such as neoliberal economic
policies and gender equality, feminist economics of international
trade, and gender-responsive budgeting.
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16 April 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: B V Sreekantan
Topic: Science, Reality and Consciousness
- 23 April 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: V.V. Robin, A. Sinha, U. Ramakrishnan
Topic: Mind the Gap' : Geographical gaps in the Western
Ghats affect montane bird population structure
Abstract:
The montane forests of the Western Ghats are part of a global
biodiversity hotspot but have a highly disjunct distribution.
This discontinuity is further punctuated by known geographical
mountain gaps between some of these forests, raising questions
regarding the evolution and population structure of species
that inhabit these forests. We investigate the relative importance
of mountain gaps and disjunct forest patches in shaping patterns
of genetic differentiation for a small, threatened, endemic,
understorey passerine, the White-bellied Shortwing (Brachyteryx
major). Data from three mitochondrial markers (N=29) (cytochrome-b
1068bp, D-loop 767 bp, cytochrome-oxidase-1 735 bp) and one
nuclear intron (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 371
bp) reveal that geographical gaps are responsible for strong
genetic differentiation. The largest gap, the Palghat Gap, divides
our sampled populations into two different species while a smaller
gap causes the next highest genetic difference. Our results
have large conservation implications as the range of each species
is now much smaller, and some of the small, isolated populations
have very low genetic variability.
Speaker: Sailen Routray
Topic: 50/10
Note on the talk: The present talk will comprise of translations
of ten Oriya poems by ten different poets belonging to a single
generation; all of them are between fifty and forty years old.
Only two things bind this selection together; all the poets are
under fifty, and the speaker likes the poems. There is no other
logic behind the selection, and any coherence is completely coincidental.
Chairperson: Ms. K G Sreeja
- 30 April 2008
NIAS Literary Arts and Heritage Forum
Speaker: Lata Mani
Topic: Illness as catalyst: Readings from Interleaves:
Ruminations on Illness and Spiritual Life
Chairperson: Dr Carol Upadhya
Abstract:
Illness is customarily seen as a regrettable rupture or interruption
never as a generative experience. Interleaves is a paean to the
transformative potential of catastrophic life changes. It records
the twin journeys in Lata Mani's life in the wake of a head injury
she sustained in 1993: her baptism of fire into disability and
her spontaneous awakening to Devi, the Divine Mother, in context
of this crisis. Through contemplative writing, poetry and cultural
criticism of the way society perceives illness, it invites the
reader to join her as she witnesses, honors, grieves and celebrates
her experience, and in the process radically revises her prior
sense of the very meaning, purpose and promise of life.
About the speaker
Lata Mani is in her own right a trail blazing historian, poet
and cultural critic. She is the author of Contentious Traditions:
The Debate on Sati in Colonial India (1998), considered a seminal
work on the subject and the remarkable and personal work Interleaves:
Ruminations on Illness and Spiritual Life (2001). She taught formerly
at University of California, Davis and is now Bangalore-based.
She has also published key essays in feminist and post-colonial
studies. Most recently, she collaborated with Ruth Frankenberg
to compile The Tantra Chronicles, 2007, available online at www.thetantrachronicles.com.
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7 May 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Dr Sharada Srinivasan
Topic:Art and Technique of Image Casting at Swamimalai
- Some Reflections"
Chairperson: Prof S Ranganathan
Abstract:
This presentation draws upon documentation done by the speaker
over numerous years of research of processes of making religious
metal icons (or panchaloha icons) at the village of Swamimalai
in Tanjavur district, Tamilnadu (a tradition which ultimately
harks back to the Chola period): to reflect on some aspects
of art and technique and changing parameters due to modernization.
In the main, it features a documentary made by Benoy Behl, as
part of a series on 'Sculpture of India' on 'Chola bronzes:
Darshan of the Divine'. The speaker contributed to its research
and was interviewed about image casting at the workshop of Devasenasthapati
at the village of Swamimalai. Some of this unused footage and
previous photographic documentation will also be touched upon
in this context. This presentation is also part of work-in-progress
towards a photographic exhibition entitled 'Cosmic Dance of
Siva' and lecture-performance by Dr. Sharada Srinivasan to be
held at Alliance Francaise de Bangalore in June 2008
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14 May 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Dr Ramesh Bairy T S
Topic: "Reproducing dominance: Querying the idea
of the creamy layer"
Chairperson: Prof A R Vasavi
Abstract:
Taking the instance of Brahmins of Karnataka, we seek to map,
albeit schematically, their successful reproduction and translation
of elite-ness over the last 150 years. The story of their domination
of modern spaces of social power is a well-rehearsed story,
at least as relating to Madras Presidency. What is not as often
discussed is the decisive role played by informal practices
and networks, primarily based on community identities and locations.
We describe the different networks that Brahmins invoked in
realising their right to city and thereby to modernity itself.
These networks also enabled them to acquire different forms
of capital which were successfully translated into common community
resources.
This work intends to fill in some gaps in the extant scholarship.
For instance, in the ongoing debate on the 'merits' of reservation
and 'creamy layer', we have few sociological descriptions of
the continued significance of caste in determining life-chances
of individuals. By insistently drawing attention to the remarkable
diversity of resources that the Brahmin community deploys in
consolidating its hold on the modern, the paper gestures towards
the vacuity in understanding the 'creamy layer' exclusively
in terms of formal, measurable criteria.
About the Speaker:
Ramesh Bairy T S received his PhD from the University of Hyderabad
in 2004. He recently completed a post-doctoral fellowship at
the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. He works
in the areas of caste in contemporary Karnataka/India, practice
of sociology in India, media, and contemporary religion.
- 21 May 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Mr Kishor Bhat
Topic: "A talk of two cultures:Talk 1: A Problem of
Erdõs Talk 2: The use of Arithmetic by Gargantua"
Chairperson: Ms Sahana Udupa
Abstract: The title of this talk is taken from C. P. Snow's
famous lecture, in which he discussed the so-called two cultures
of academia, namely natural sciences and the humanities. This
talk will not be about that. What I will be doing is merging two
talks together, one being that on literature, where I will be
talking about the comic novel Gargantua by F. Rabelais, the French
medieval novelist, and the role of arithmetic in that book. The
other will be on the problem that was proposed by P. Erdõs
in American Mathematical Monthly on Diophantine properties of
the Factorial function. The talk, though for a general audience,
is going to be fairly experimental, but hopefully not over the
top. Though I will be treating two fairly esoteric topics, I hope
it will be interesting and entertaining.
About the Speaker:
Kishor Bhat is a PhD student in Mathematics at the National
Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) at Bangalore. He is currently
working in the Theories of Numbers and Chaos. He also has an interest
in the philosophy of humour. He did his Masters in mathematics.
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22 May 2008@10:30 am
Special Lecture
Speaker: V Siddhartha
Topic: The United Nations Security Council, non-State
bad actors and India" on Thursday 22 May 2008
Abstract: The talk will be focused on Dr V Siddhartha's
experience over the past year as an expert appointed by the
United Nations Secretary General with the 1540 Committee established
by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004). The
talk will explain the significance of United Nations Security
Council Resolution (UNSCR)1540, and of the Weapons of Mass Destruction
and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities)
Act 2005 passed by Parliament in May, 2005 in fulfillment of
India's obligations under UNSC 1540. The talk will also briefly
expatiate on the two other counter-terrorism resolutions of
the UNSC; namely, R1373 and R1267
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4 June 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Mr. Sheshanarayana
Topic: "Cauvery"
Abstract:
Some ancient opinions about the river Cauvery (both ancient
scientific and folklore) with available evidence. Length, breadth
of the river, crops with facts and figures. Misconceptions and
the necessary remedial measures to be taken, etc. Headaches
relating to water sharing, anekats etc. Various countries of
the world, how water sharing problems are solved?
Progress along the solutions proposed - scientific methods of
solving such problems An overall view of Cauvery
About the Speaker:
Mr. Sheshanarayana was born on 18-08-1927. He has authored
as many as 40 books (including Kadambary and collections of
stories), translations from Tamil to Kannada. He has won several
awards, to mention a few
1. Rajyotsava award from Karnataka Government,
2. An award from Tamilnadu Government,
3. Translations award for literature from the Central government.
This is a talk in Kannada interspersed with brief summaries
in English by Prof. M.G. Narasimhan.
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16 and 17 June 2008@ 9.30 am
Summer School on Philosophy for the Social Sciences and Humanities
Special Lectures
Speaker: Professor Mohan Matthen, Canada Research Chair
in Philosophy, Perception and Communication, University of Toronto
Topic: Some themes related to perception
- 2nd July 2008
Speaker: Dr.M.G.Narasimhan
Topic: Reductionism in Biology
Chairperson: Prof Sundar Sarukkai
Abstract: The problem of reductionism is one of the major
issues in history and philosophy of biology and related disciplines.
Although philosophers have discussed the provenance and prevalence
of debates on reductionism in physical sciences,the problem of
reductionism in biology has certain unique features and in this
talk I plan to present an analysis and overview of them.
- 16 July 2008
Speaker-1: Indira Vijayasimha
Topic: Teaching for Exams: Mrs Oublier adopts Fatima's
Rules!
Abstract:
Shall we sigh for the souls thou hast deadened?
Shall we blame thee for brains thou hast sucked?
Shall we ask how thy records were reddened?
Or plead for the hosts that are plucked?
Thy slaves are all dead to enjoyment,
And somber and barren their lives;-
But thou leadest them on to employment
And dowries and wives.
These lines are from a poem "song of Calcutta University"
published in the Statesman in 1904 and quoted in Sanjay Seth's
book "Subject Lessons". The theme for my talk will
be the even narrower instrumentalism that prevails in the classrooms
that formed part of my study. I will make an attempt to understand
the narratives that prevail and the role they may be playing
in shaping the discourse about classrooms.
About the Speaker : Indira Jayaram is a PhD student
in School of Social Sciences of National Institute of Advanced
Studies, Bangalore
Speaker-2: Ms Sahana Udupa
Topic: What is the role of language in thinking?
Abstract: Philosophers have debated for centuries on
the role of language in thinking and thought processes. The
shifts in the paradigms have linked and de-linked the two in
myriad ways. The talk examines this relationship by drawing
on the philosophy of Heidegger and Wittgenstein. Pitched at
the introductory level and not dwelling on complex subscripts,
the talk uses the philosophical arguments to comment on the
issue of medium of instruction in schools that is yet again
haunting the incumbent government. This is based on a recently
published article in Desha Kaala. Keeping with the spirit of
the first work and the arguments made in it, I will speak in
Kannada.
About the Speaker : Sahana Udupa is a PhD candidate
at National Institute of Advanced Studies. Her work is on the
news media and contemporary politics in Bangalore.
Chairperson: Ms.K.G.Sreeja
- 25 July 2008
Public Lecture
Speaker: Prof Ramanath Cowsik
Topic:
Explorations of Quark - Cosmos Interconnections
Abstract: Bhabha's pioneering studies of the penetrating component
of cosmic rays in the 1930's provides a quintessential example
of the close interconnections that exist between the fundamental
nature of microcosm of elementary particles and the macrocosm
of astrophysics and cosmology. From these initial insights I will
quickly move on to the most exciting and deepest questions that
confront us today, pertaining to dark matter and dark energy,
to the most energetic events in the Universe, and to the very
origin of the Universe. Even though we do not have answers, as
yet, to these exciting questions, the very paths that have led
us to ask these questions have been fascinating by themselves
and replete with new insights and discoveries. After a brief overview
of these fascinating developments, I will conclude this lecture
with brief remarks about the avenues of attack available to us
to answer these fundamental questions about the elementary particles
and Universe as a whole.
About the Speaker:
A distinguished alumnus of TIFR, Prof. Ramanath Cowsik was at
TIFR for 41 years (1960-2001), being also the Director of the
Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore from 1992-2003.
Since 2003 he has been at the Washington University, St. Louis,
Missouri, USA, where he is presently the Director of the McDonnell
Centre for the Space Sciences. His interests in Physics range
all the way from the very small to the very large. He is widely
recognized as much for his early, brilliant deduction of a cosmological
bound on the masses of neutrinos (the so-called "Cowsik-McClelland
Bound", (1972) as for his later work on the double beta-decay
of Tellurium, and the resulting bounds on the Majorana mass
of the neutrino.
- 1 August 2008@ 3pm
Lecture
Speaker: Dr Deepak Malghan, New India Foundation Fellow,
Bangalore
Topic: Ends, Means, and Economics: A Framework for India's
Energy and Ecological Predicaments
Abstract: India faces a multitude of energy and ecological
predicaments. Combining insights from multiple disciplines including
economics, ecology, energy studies, and engineering, the speaker
presents a conceptual framework to address both the normative
and material aspects of our energy and ecological problems. He
argues that the conceptual apparatus of neoclassical economics
is incapable of reconciling the relationship between economy,
ecosystem, and society. After locating debates about theoretical
conceptions in our beliefs about ends and means, he moves to developing
a practical programme for policy using tools from ecological economics.
In particular, he presents a new theoretical basis for contingent
valuation of public goods – the bedrock of environmental
economics and policy. He also draws on his experiences as a renewable
energy entrepreneur to illustrate how science, engineering, and
economics can be combined to address our energy and environmental
policy questions.
- 1 August 2008@6 pm
Associates' Programme
Sixth NIAS-DST Training Programme on 'Multidisciplinary Perspectives
on Science and Technology
Music Concert by Suramani Pravin Godkhindi
About the Musician
Shri Pravin Godkhindi, born as he is into a family of musicians,
has been blessed with a divine gift of music. He started toying
with a small flute at the tender age of 3 and since then it has
been his best companion. His passion for Flute could hardly be
matched with anything else even during his childhood. Pravin gave
his first public concert at the age of 6 years and held the audience
spellbound. His father Pandit Venkatesh Godkhindi, an eminent
vocalist and Bansuri artiste of the country, has taught him BANSURI
in KIRANA GHARAANA GAYAKI STYLE. But Pravin added the GATKAARI
or TANTRAKAARI STYLE by his own efforts and succeeded in it. He
is adept in both the styles. Sonorous blowing, control over breath,
elaborations of Raga with its aesthetic appeal, extraordinary
and skillful rendition of Layakaari are but a few salient features
of his flute recital. He has been ably balancing between traditional
and creative music. Western classical, Jazz and Carnatic classical
also have favorably influenced him. In 2003, he was awarded the
title of NAAD-NIDHI by KALACHETANA, Gadag. Recently, in 2005 he
has been awarded the ARYABHATTA, for his composition of the title
song of the tele-serial Malebillu. He has been a regular performer
with Dr S P Balasubrahmanyam for 'Ede Tumbi Haduvenu' in ETV Kannada,
which has made him a house hold name. Recently he has started
SANJOG BANSURI MAHAVIDYALAYA - A school where he and his father
teach Bansuri, vocal & Tabla to interested students in an
effort to encourage the tradition of classical musicians. A front
ranker from the beginning, he is proud to have passed engineering
BE (Electrical & Electronics) in first class with distinction.
- 13 August 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Ms Sowjanya Peddi
Topic: Names from the Economy: Objects of Anthropology
Chairperson: Mr Kishor Bhat
Abstract:
By the use of two words - goods and services – the discipline
of economics is able to bring into its modeling possibility a
vast and diverse reality in a very specific way. Once a social
phenomenon is understood through these representations, many specificities
get smoothened out and the otherwise complex subjects are then
made to take part in the dynamics of demand, supply and price
(with a few exceptions). Economic anthropology and Marxist theory
have addressed this problem in different ways. After undertaking
a brief review of this work, I suggest that an ethnography of
the phenomena under the appellation of "goods and services"
can reveal how "embedded" each "good and service"
is in a particular kind of society. In the
presentation I intend to demonstrate this with the example of
the market for contractual private security services.
- 20 August 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Ms Sajini Anand
Topic: Chaotic synchronisation
Chairperson: Ms Indira Vijayasimha
Abstract:
Chaos is a phenomenon characterized by random-like output from
purely deterministic non-linear systems. Furthermore, the outputs
of two slightly differing initial conditions are uncorrelated
in a short time. This makes "copying chaos" very difficult
since even a slight error in either the values of the initial
conditions or the system parameters would cause wide variation
in the resulting output.
Surprisingly, it was discovered that two chaotic systems can
be synchronized. Chaotic synchronization has been found to manifest
in a host of naturally occurring systems. Synchronized behavior
of heart cells is needed for the effective pumping of blood.
Lack of synchrony would result in a serious disorder known as
ventricular fibrillation. Pathological synchronization of nerve
cells in the brain causes unwanted tremors, resulting in Parkinson's
disease and Epilepsy. A classical Jugalbandhi concert is a pleasant
example of synchronized behavior. There are different types
of synchronization behaviors observed in chaotic dynamical systems
which have found applications in various technological fields.
The first 30 minutes of the talk is introductory, contains
interesting examples and applications. No prior knowledge of
the field is required to understand the key concepts. The last
15 minutes of the talk about some results on Imprecise Synchronization,
we presented at International Conference on Nonlinear Dynamical
Systems and Turbulence, July 17 - 22, 2008, IISc Bangalore.
- 27 August 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Dr Radhakrishna
Topic: Particles or Waves? A century of modern physics
Chairperson: Prof B V Sreekantan
Abstract:
The wave-particle nature of matter forms the basis of modern physics
and technology. This presentation will discuss it in terms of
easily comprehensible interactive computer simulations, illustrating
a promising pedagogical tool.
About the Speaker:
After studies at Bangalore and Delhi, Radhakrishna obtained
his D.es Sc at the Radium Institute Paris, with a thesis on
radioactivity under the guidance of Mme Irene Joliot-Curie and
Frederic Joliot. He worked at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
and then as Research Associate at Columbus, Ohio. Appointed
Professor at the University of Grenoble and Senior Physicist
at the Institut Max von Laue-Paul Langevin, he worked on the
structure and dynamics of magnetic and other materials using
intense neutron beams. As Senior Research Scientist, at the
Laboratoire Leon Brillouin, Atomic Energy Establishment at Saclay,
near Paris, he worked on the experimental measurement of spin
densities and magnetic excitations using diffraction of polarized
neutrons on the hot source of the reactor Orphee, using facilities
designed and constructed by his group He was a National Science
Foundation Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley
and at the Oakridge National laboratory. He is a Visiting Professor
at the Indian Institute at Bangalore and lives in Bangalore.
- 10 September 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Prof Narendar Pani
Topic: Globalization and labour standards-Some insights
from Bangalore’s garment industry
Chairperson: Dr Carol Upadhya
Abstract: The opposition to the linking of labour standards
with trade is one of the strongest positions India has adopted
in WTO negotiations. This reached its peak in the failed Seattle
ministerial of the WTO in 1999, before disappearing from the WTO
agenda. This disappearance has sometimes been interpreted as a
sign of India being able to protect its sovereignty in the face
of the pressures of globalization. A closer look at the process
of globalization over the nine years since Seattle however presents
a rather different picture. In industries that are dependent on
export markets, like garment exports, leading international brands
are imposing the labour standards that they decide are appropriate.
This talk will use data generated from the garment export industry
in Bangalore for a larger project on globalization and cities
to gain insights into the working of this process and its impact
on workers and the city.
- 15 September 2008@2pm
Special Lecture
Speaker: Prof K Ramachandra
Topic: Hilbert's Seventh Problem
- 17 September 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Dr Srinath Raghavan
Topic: The strategy of Terror
Chairperson: Prof Rajaram Nagappa
Abstract: The recent attacks in Bangalore and Ahmadabad
have spurred the debate on tackling terrorism. Much of the discussion
is premised on the belief that terrorism is a pathological problem.
I will argue that this is not only misleading but also counterproductive.
Terrorism is a strategy, whose logic is not very different from
the strategies routinely pursued by states. I shall present
a conceptual framework to understand the strategy of terror
and shall consider the contours of an efficacious strategy for
countering terrorism.
About the speaker:
Dr. Srinath Raghavan is a member of faculty at NIAS. His research
interests include strategic theory, Indian foreign and defence
policies since 1947. He is currently working on the conceptual
foundations of strategic coercion, and on an international history
of the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
- 26 September 2008
Wednesday Talk on Friday
Chairperson: Ms Indira Vijayasimha
Speaker 1: Ms Swarnali Majumdar
Topic: Local Embedding for Modeling Data
Abstract: One of the most important aspects of mathematical
modeling is to find differential equation from a given data. In
order to find equation from data it is common to embed the system
in a higher dimension. But embedding in higher dimension creates
certain ambiguity of the system. To avoid embedding in higher
dimension we approach a method called "atlas method".
Instead of finding out the equation for the whole trajectory,
we cover the trajectory by overlapping patches and get map for
each one of them separately.
I am going to talk about the method we are developing for local
embedding. It deals with the theory and numerical illustration
if a two dimensional manifold is embedded in three dimension.
This method is useful for modeling data and for finding out
the underlying topological structure of the state space.
Speaker 2: Ms Meera Baindur
Topic: Nature as Sacred: Natural Landscapes and Place in
Indian Thought
Abstract: A complex process of place-making by Vedic and
Puranic primary narratives called stala puranas and localized
oral secondary narratives called stala mahatmya illustrate how
nature in India is perceived from a deeply humanized worldview.
A notion of cosmic descent from other place-worlds or ' loka'
are used to account for the sacredness of a landscape in the primary
narrative while secondary narratives recount the human experience
of the sacred. I suggest that geography is sacred when elements
of rivers, mountains or forests on the earth have their origin
in other lokas ( place-worlds).
The presentation is about the idea of sacred geography in India.
Current popular literature in Asian and Indian thought engages
with a romantic notion of sacred nature. At the same time it
is clear that the ambiguity in people's behaviour towards the
environment and their reverential beliefs about nature is often
contradictory. My paper tries to reflect on some of these beliefs
- 8 October 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Ms Sahana Udupa
Topic: "A new era of production? Debates around creative
industries"
Chairperson: Ms Indira Vijayasimha
Abstract: The crisis of deindustrialisation has pushed
the West (US and many European countries) to embrace a newly defined
sector of 'creative industries' both made possible and prompted
by the explosion of communication and information technologies.
The discourse of creativity has inspired many countries like India
and China to embark upon harnessing the potential of this sector
to generate employment and income. New theories are woven to explain,
celebrate and promote the growing and emergent aspects of 'creative
economy', even while the critiques have mounted in equal measure.
The talk intends to both describe and explore the spaces for critiquing
the new paradigm by drawing on the discussions held at a recent
Summer Seminar on 'Creative Societies/Cultural Industries/New
Humanities' organised by University of California (Irvine).
- 15 October 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Dr Rajesh Kasturirangan
Topic: Cognition, Culture and Computation
Chairperson: Dr Sundar Sarukkai
Abstract:
Until recently, cultures were viewed as coherent, monolithic entities
that enveloped all their inhabitants. More recently, we have come
to believe that cultures are neither coherent nor monolithic.
This new view of culture is more compatible with a cognitive account
of the mind. In this talk, I will present some of my ideas about
the mind-culture-society interface and the problems involved in
understanding that interface using mathematical models. Then,
I will go on to describe some of my recent work on this topic,
which involves the modeling of beliefs and how they are articulated
and shared in social networks.
- 22 October 2008
Speaker: Prof G K Govinda Rao
Topic: Shakespeare in the 21st century
Chairperson: Dr M G Narasimhan
Abstract:
The speaker, well-known for his studies in Shakespearean drama,
will deal with Shakespeare's relevance in the contemporary scenario.
The talk will highlight the philosophical significance of Shakespeare's
plays.
About the Speaker
Prof. G.K. Govinda Rao, B.Sc., MA was teaching from 1960-2000
and retired as Visiting Professor at the Bangalore University.
He is a well-known theatre personality and has won 'Best Actor
Award' for his role in "Minchu" a tele-serial in ETV.
He has published several books – Eshwara Allah, a short Novel,
3 collections of essays and 1 book on Shakespeare.
- 20 October 2008@ 2 pm in Conference Hall 2
Special Lecture
Speaker: Ms. Bhuvaneswari Raman, Department of Social Policy,
London School of Economics
Topic: "'Spatial Governance and the Urban Poor: Claiming
City Places for Street Trading and Squatter Settlements"
Abstract:
This paper explores the manner in which a majority of urban
citizens in small economies, dependent on systems outside the
formal planning framework, claim urban places. Drawing on the
experience of street traders and squatters in an Indian city,
i.e., Bangalore, it discusses their interests in relation to
location and strategies for establishing their claims. It demonstrates
the divergence between the situation on ground and the assumptions
underpinning urban spatial policies and urban poverty reduction
programmes, espoused by the State and civil society organisations.
As a result, policies and programme interventions, despite their
progressive goals to improve the land claims of the poor, have
had the unintended effects.
The paper is situated in the intersection of governance of
urban land and informal economy. Drawing on the field research
undertaken for my PhD dissertation in Bangalore, between 2002-
2005 and previously, and for a research project on urban governance
and poverty during 2000-2001, this paper illustrates the manner
in which place characteristics affect street trading economies.
It also demonstrates the need for relational approach in conceptualising
their processes of claiming city locations, and shows that the
two aspects -- viz., place-economy links and social relations
underpinning the political-economic organisation of street trade
and street traders' relationship with the State and non-state
actors -- have been overlooked in academic discussion and practical
interventions. It concludes with the need for a grounded understanding
of urban processes to support formulation of appropriate urban
policies and practices to take into account the varied interests
of urban citizens.
- 21 October 2008@ 4 pm
NIAS Literary, Arts and Heritage Forum announces a discussion
meeting on
Communicating Science: the Role of Art
Sarah Gaines, Earth Science Division, UNESCO
Chair: Sesh Velamoor, Foundation for Future
Moderator: Sharada Srinivasan, NIAS
Sarah Gaines of UNESCO will raise issues concerning communicating
science through art and new media for a discussion. The role
that could be played more widely by India with its rich environment
of its' high quality science and wide range of performing and
other art forms to more widely used artistic means to communicate
complicated scientific issues such as climate change, biodiversity,
planet earth, evolution and others will be explored.
This discussion meeting follows session at the General Assembly
of the World Academy of Art and Science, Hyderabad, 16th-20th
Oct 2008, supported by UNESCO, on 'Communicating Science: The
role of art and media'. This was chaired by Sesh Velamoor, Foundation
for the Future and in which Dr. Sharada Srinivasan, School of
Humanities, NIAS was invited to speak on Science and the Performing
Arts.
Sarah Gaines is a programme specialist in the Division of Ecological
and Earth Scientists at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Her work
focuses on global earth observation, landscape level planning,
earth science education, art science creative collaborations
and the Man and the Biosphere Program. Her academic background,
at Princeton University and University of Cape Town, is in palaeoclimate
reconstructions
- 29 October 2008
Speakers: Prof P G Vaidya and Prof Narendar Pani
Topic: The Global Financial Crisis
Abstract: The brief initial presentation is designed as
a framework for discussion. It first provides an overview of the
interlinked elements that have caused the crisis. It then goes
on to identify the issues that arise in each of the elements.
The discussion that follows can then delve into specific linkages
or individual elements that interest the audience.
- 5 November 2008
Speaker: Ms M B Rajani
Topic: "Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram"
Chairperson: Dr Sharada Srinivasan
Abstract: The name "Seven Pagodas" has served
as a nickname for the south Indian city of Mahabalipuram since
the first European explorers reached the city. Mahabalipuram's
Shore Temple, built in the eighth century A.D., stands at the
shore of the Bay of Bengal. Legend has it that six other temples
once stood with it. There are many theories about what are the
Seven Pagodas, some of which will be discussed. In this illustrated
discussion meeting the speaker will present some recent work done
on Mahabalipuram comparing a 17th century Portolan chart (maritime
map) and recent remote sensing data, which throws new light on
the name 'Seven Pagodas" for the city.
- 7 November 2008@3 pm
Special Lecture
Speaker: Sri K.Thyagarajan
Topic: Chandrayaan-1: The first Indian mission to the Moon
Abstract: There are numerous reasons for continuing the
study of the Moon. Although the Moon is better characterized and
more studied than any other planetary body in the solar system,
hypothesis of it's origin is still controversial. Earlier missions
were limited in characterizing the moon in the sense that the
data were only from samples on representative locations of moon
or the observations are not detailed enough to make in-depth study.
With the advancement in technology and miniaturization, it is
now possible to observe moon as close as possible with better
resolutions both in spatial and spectral that would provide better
insight in the origin and early evolution of the moon based on
chemical and mineralogical criteria. Chandrayaan-1 is one such
mission.
The primary objectives of the Chandrayaan-1 mission are simultaneous
chemical, mineralogical and topographic mapping of the lunar
surface. These data should enable us to understand compositional
variation of major elements. This will be achieved by incorporation
of Terrain mapping camera, Hyper-spectral imager and X-ray spectrometer
into the Chandrayyan-1 orbitor. Besides, few instruments from
international space agencies have been accommodated that will
complement and supplement the scientific objectives of Challdrayaan-1.
Chandrayaan-1 will orbit around the moon at an altitude of 100
km in polar orbit•/with a nominal life of 2 years.
The talk will address scientific goals, payloads for scientific
observation, spacecraft bus, launch vehicle and Deep space network.
About the speaker:
Sri. K.Thyagarajan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Science from
Madras University, Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore and Master's Degree in Engineering
from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 1970. He served
ISRO for the last 37 years and had held several responsibilities
covering wide range of discipline like Design and Development,
Systems Engineering, Reliability & QA, Project and Programme
Management, Training Programme and International Cooperation.
He has worked both in Communication and Remote Sensing Satellite
programmes of ISRO. He was Project Director for 4 Indian Remote
Sensing Satellite Projects which he completed satisfactorily.
As Programme Director for Small Satellite, he was instrumental
in miniaturizing all electronic functions of the satellite.
He organized training program for Malaysia and South Korea in
planning Space programme with special emphasis on Micro-satellite
Technology. He has familiarized Micro-satellite development
in the University environment and as a first step Anna University
at Chennai is developing a Micro-satellite with student participation.
He was Programme Director –IRS & SSS at ISRO Satellite
Centre, Bangalore holding the grade of Outstanding Scientist,
overseeing the development of earth observation, space science,
Chandrayaan-1 (Mission to Moon) and Micro-satellite programmes.
He is recipient of Biren Roy award for his outstanding contribution
in Space for the year 1992, Distinguished I.I.T Madras Alumnus
award for the year 1996, Astronautical Society of India award
for Space System Management for the year 2003 and Bhaskara Award
for life time contribution to the development of operational
remote sensing program in the country and space system management
for the year 2005.
- 12 November 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Prof S Ranganathan
Topic: Many Ramayanas: In Pursuit of the History of the
Foundation of IISc & NIAS
Chairperson: Prof B V Sreekantan
Abstract: Myths travel through time and space and acquire
many dimensions in multiple versions. In writing about the classic
epic Ramayana, A K Ramanujan talks about three hundred Ramayanas.
In reading the lively exchange about the early years of the Indian
Institute of Science and the different perspectives on the role
of Burjori Padshah, one felt that even history can take on mythical
proportions and multiple perspectives.
Our discussion will be centered around the roles of J N Tata
and sons, Burjori Padshah, Swami Vivekananda, Viceroys, Maharajas
and Dewans. The extraordinary stamp of the scientists from England
and in particular the University College London and Cambridge
and the Knights of the Realm at Bangalore will be emphasized.
The question of the late start of the Metallurgy Department
(it ought to have been the first Department in 1909) in 1945
will be answered.
The concept and gestation of NIAS as seen through the eyes
of J N Tata, B Padshah, John Matthai and J R D Tata over a century
before its birth in 1988 will be described. The creative tension
between Science and Humanities and the necessity for their harmonious
existence will be touched upon
About the Speaker: Prof. S. Ranganathan, BE (IISc),
Ph.D. (Cambridge University) Homi Bhabha Visiting Professor,
NIAS.
After a brilliant academic record in Loyola College, Chennai
and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore Prof. Ranganathan
obtained his Ph D from Cambridge University, UK in 1965. His
academic career as an educator and researcher in metallurgy
for the past four decades has been outstanding. His seminal
research contributions have advanced our understanding of the
structure of metals through 300 publications including books
on Wootz steel and new geometries. He is also concurrently INAE
Distinguished Professor at the Indian Institute of Science and
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.
His contributions have been recognized by Fellowships to five
academies and numerous awards. His interests at NIAS include
Materials Heritage, History of Metallurgy, an Atlas of India
in Science and the Societal Impact of Nanotechnology.
- 14 November 2008@6 pm
Ninth M N Srinivas Memorial Lecture
Speaker: Prof Andre Beteille, Former Chairman, Indian Council
of Social Science Research, New Delhi
Topic: Sociology and Ideology
- 19 November 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Dr N S Sriram, Professor, Dept. of Theoretical
Physics, University of Madras
Topic: Yukti –bhasa of Jyesthadeva" (c.1530)
Chairperson: Dr. S. Balachandra Rao, Director, Gandhi Centre
for Science and Human Values
Abstract:
This work is composed in the Malayalam language and presents detailed
yuktis or explanations and demonstrations for the results and
processes of mathematical astronomy. The text comprising fifteen
chapters is naturally divided into two parts, Mathematics and
Astronomy.
Calculus had its origins in the Kerala works. A distinguishing
feature of the mathematics part is that it presents detailed
demonstrations of the famous results attributed to Madhava (c.1340-1420),
such as the infinite series for p, the arc-tangent and the sine
and cosine functions, as also the surface area and volume of
a sphere.
A distinguishing feature of the astronomy part is that it gives
a detailed exposition of the revised planetary model proposed
earlier by Nilakantha Somayaji in his Tantrasangraha (c. 1500).
In this, the planets orbit around the Sun, which itself moves
around the earth.
About the Speaker: Dr. M.S. Sriram did his B.Sc. (Hons)
in Physics from Bangalore University in 1969, M.Sc. in 1971
and Ph.D. in 1978 from IIT Kanpur. His Ph.D. was in the area
of High Energy Physics. He was a Lecturer in Physics in Allahabad
University from 1981-1986. He is in Madras University in the
Department of Theoretical Physics from 1986 onwards and at present
he is the Professor and Head of the Department.
He has worked in the areas of Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum
Field Theory and Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos. He has been working
in the area of Indian Astronomy and Mathematics for the past
nearly 15 years, particularly on Yuktibhasa of Jyesthadeva (with
K.V.Sarma, M.D.Srinivas & K.Ramasubramanian) and Tantrasangraha
of Nilakantha Somayaji (with K.Ramasubramanian), two very important
works of the Kerala School of astronomy and mathematics. Yuktibhasa
has been published in two volumes recently by Hindustan Book
Agency.
- 25 November 2008
NIAS Literary, Arts and Heritage Forum and ART
Speaker: Jyoti Hosagrahar
Topic: Modern Lives of Historic Cities:Conservation and
Development in Karnataka
Moderators: Dr Sharada Srinivasan, NIAS and Annapurna Garimella,
ART
More
- 26 November 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Rahul Mukhopadhyay
Topic: Eating, Hogging, Swallowing: A Spectrum of Possibilities
of Corruption
Abstract:
While the topic of corruption is not new to anyone, this presentation
will review some of the recent literature on corruption and raise
a few issues that I see as pertinent to my ongoing work. Some
of these issues are: changing understanding of corruption (both
in space and time); thinking on and representation of corruption
in media and popular imagination; economics of corruption; decentralisation
and corruption; and finally, how the nature of the state may be
understood and theorised in this context. I will also attempt
to engage some of the debates on corruption from different disciplinary
perspectives in the context of my own work in elementary education
in Karnataka. This talk will be presented as work-in-progress
and as part of my doctoral work on the education bureaucracy in
Karnataka.
- 1 December 2008
Public Lecture
Speaker: Prof. Subrata Ghoshroy
Topic: Debunking the rationale for weaponization of space
Abstract: Prof. Subrata Ghoshroy will discuss the push
for an aggressive military space policy in the U.S. in recent
years and the false arguments put forward to build weapons to
protect space systems. He will briefly speak about vulnerabilities
of satellites and argue against the rationale for weaponization
by debunking one of the major threats often cited by the proponents
– the high-altitude nuclear explosion. It has been termed
a potential Pearl Harbor in space.
- 3rd December 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Prof Dilip Ahuja
Topic: A Solution Waiting for Problems
Abstract:
The generalized 2 X 2 Table for analyzing data has had extraordinary
success first in public health, and later in epidemiology, medicine,
and agriculture in the last 150 years. Its use in social sciences
in India, especially in NIAS, has been incommensurate with its
potential. We will illustrate its potential applications to four
different problems wherein one needs to investigate quantitatively
the effects of:
1. Taking loans in poor monsoon years;
2. Performing vehicular "pooja";
3. Growing up in households of "accomplished" Indian
scientist/engineer fathers; and
4. Following different methods for "enlightenment" on
subsequent "outcomes".
Knowledge of simple division will suffice to follow and participate
in the discussions.
- 8 December 2008@ 6 pm
Public Lecture
Speaker: Dr Victor Reis
Topic: Nuclear Energy, Non-Proliferation, and Climate Change:An
Integrated Approach
About the Speaker: Dr. Victor H. Reis is Senior Advisor,
Office of the Secretary, Department of Energy. He is also a member
of the Strategic Advisory Group of the U.S. Strategic Command.Dr.
Reis led the development of the DOE's Stockpile Stewardship Program
when he was Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs in the U.S.
Department of Energy.His past government appointments include
serving as Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA), Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E)
at the Pentagon and Assistant Director for National Security and
Space, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office
of the President, (OSTP).He has been a Senior Vice President at
SAIC, and a Senior Staff Member at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and
other industrial positions. He has chaired and served on numerous
government and laboratory committees.
Dr. Reis earned a B.M.E. from the Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, (1957) an M.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from Yale
University (1958); and an M.A. and Ph.D. (1962) from Princeton
University. He has authored numerous scientific and policy publications
and his awards include two Department of Defense Distinguished
Public Service Medals and an Honorary Medal from the Commissariat
à l'Énergie Atomique (France).
- 10 December 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Ms. Tania Pérez Bustos
Topic: "The Fringe of Science & Technology Popularization:
Feminist Connections between Two Southern Countries"
Chairperson: Prof A R Vasavi
Abstract:What are the possible connections between emerging
and old fashion experiences of science and technology popularization
in countries like India and Colombia? How do these experiences
show new global trends of feminized educational practices? What
do women's experiences in popularization tell us about these global
trends? These are some of the questions that this talk will discuss
using fieldwork research in India and Colombia as a point of departure.
About the speaker: Tania Pérez Bustos is a PhD
Student in Education from the Pedagogical National University
in Colombia. She holds an MA in Development Studies from the
ISS in the Netherlands and a BA in Anthropology. Her research
experience has been related with Science and Technology Education
in non-formal settings. She has been affiliated to NIAS for
her fieldwork in India.
- 11 December 2008@ 6 pm
NIAS Literary, Arts and Heritage Forum
Dr Anne-Marie Gaston will present Dance Theatre of the
Earth-a mixed media presentation-Dance, Video, Images and Poetry
Dancer: Dr Anne-Marie Gaston (Anjali); Poet/Narrator:
Tony Gaston
Abstract
This is event is a celebration of the beauty and fragility of
our planet in dance and multimedia presentation in video, images
and poetry, by the distinguished Canadian duo of the art and dance
historian and acclaimed scholar and exponent of Bharata Natyam
Dr. Anne-Marie Gaston, and environmentalist and poet Dr. Tony
Gaston. The items performed by Dr Anne-Marie and also narrated
by Dr. Tony Gaston include a prayer to Mother Earth by Rabindranath
Tagore, and items such as Lady Forest drawing inspiration from
the Rig Veda and danced to Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, the Lament
of the 19th century North American Chief Seattle of the destruction
of their natural world and the Dance of Time. This programme is
partly sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts.
This is art without borders. Anjali and Tony Gaston are part
of an international group of artists whose artistic expression
belongs to world art... resonates with diverse audiences be
they from India Canada or elsewhere"…….Arshiya
Sethi (Kri Foundation New Delhi).
Biography
Dr Anne-Marie Gaston (Anjali), a Canadian, is an internationally
recognized dancer, choreographer, scholar and photographer.
All of her dance training has been in India (Bharata Natyam,
Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Chhau, and Kathak). She has performed
in Canada, USA, Europe, UK and Mexico. She holds a doctorate
from Oxford University in the Sociology of Indian Artistic Traditions.
She has published three books: Siva in Dance, Myth and Iconography
(Oxford University Press, three editions), Bharata Natyam from
Temple to Theatre (Manohar, three editions) and Krishna's Musicians:
Musicians and Music Making in the Temples of Nathdavara, Rajasthan
(Manohar). She is a member of the InterCulture Lab, University
of Ottawa. Her work in cross cultural education has produced
The Dancing Siva: a booklet and DVD. She is the artistic director
of Cultural Horizons. www.culturalhorizons.ca
Dr Tony Gaston (Narrator/Poet) is an environmentalist and
poet who specializes in the ecology of the Western Himalayas,
Haida Gwaii and the Canadian Arctic. It was his idea to create
the Great Himalayan National Park in Himachal Pradesh, and his
initiative played an important role in establishing it. He is
currently a research scientist with the Canadian Government
studying marine birds. http://www.culturalhorizons.ca
- 12 December 2008@3.30pm
NIAS Literary, Arts and Heritage Forum
Tagore's Visual Language-An informal discussion-by Dr. Shanu Lahiri
Abstract:
In an informal discussion Shanu Lahiri will engage with the paintings
of Rabindranath Tagore, and visual images of some of Tagore's
key paintings will be used as a complementary backdrop. She will
focus on Tagore's 'visuality' with reference to lines, colours,
and compositions – his grammar.
About the Speaker:
Shanu Lahiri, artist and educator, comes from a family of
intellectual luminaries engaged in the arts and literature.
A former Dean of the Faculty of Visual Arts, Rabindra Bharathi
University, Kolkata, she has had numerous exhibitions both in
India and abroad. Shanu Lahiri has also been associated actively
in different issues of public concern through her work.
- 17 December 2008
Wednesday Talk
Panel Discussion: "The Mumbai Attacks and After"
Speakers: Mr. S. Gopal, retired Special Secretary, Cabinet
Secretariat, GoI; Ms Sahana Udupa, Doctoral candidate, NIAS; Dr.
Srinath Raghavan, Associate Fellow, NIAS
Chairperson: Dr Rajesh Kasturirangan, Fellow NIAS
Abstract:
The recent attacks in Mumbai have brought the issue of terrorism
to the forefront of public debate. Much of the initial response
has understandably been marked by outrage. Nevertheless, it is
important to move beyond the heat of the moment, and to understand
and analyze the nature of the problem and of our responses. This
panel discussion will focus on three key aspects of contemporary
terrorism. Ms Sahana Udupa will discuss the role of the media
in constructing our understanding of terrorism. Mr. S. Gopal will
talk about India's internal security and intelligence establishments,
and possible reforms to our security architecture. Dr. Srinath
Raghavan will focus on external responses to terrorism, particularly
the role of diplomacy and force.
- 24 December 2008
Wednesday Talk
Speaker: Prof S Ramaswamy, Professor of Literature (Retd.)
Topic: "Indian Philosophical Ideas & Western Literature"
Chairperson: Dr M G Narasimhan
Abstract:
In Indian thinking, Poetics, Aesthetics and Metaphysics are inter-connected.
Some basic concepts like Being, Reality, Existence, Self, Absolute,
Space, Time, etc., are what are called "philosophical idioms"
here. Some of the western writers come directly under the influence
of Indian philosophy. This is revealed in representative literary
texts like BRAHMA by Ralph Waldo Emerson, PASSAGE TO INDIA by
Walt Whitman, THE WASTE LAND and FOUR QUARTETS by T.S. Eliot,
ISLAND by Aldons Huxley and A MEETING BY THE RIVER by Christopher
Ishenwood, Andre Malraux the French author-statesman was an admirer
of Adi Shankara's philospphy of Advaita. An attempt is made in
this talk to bring together Indian philosophy and its impact on
Western Literature.
About the speaker:
Prof. S. Ramaswamy was three times a Fulbrighter at the Universities
of California, Texas and Yale, twice a British Council Scholar
at Oxford and London and A Shastri Indo-Canadian Fellow at McGill
University, Montreal. He is the winner of the Phi Beta Kappa
Award of Southern California. He has translated four novels
of S.L. Bhyrappa into English, including SARTHA as Caravan published
by the Oxford University Press. He is a Fellow of Silliman College,
Yale University, USA
- 30 December 2008
NIAS Literary Art and Heritage Forum
Speakers: Suresh Jayaram and Raghavendra Rao
Topic: Bengalooru - a visual history of Bangalore and its
multicultural landscape.
I Speaker: Mr. Suresh Jayaram
Abstract:
Bangalore/Bengalooru Archiving narratives of change and conflict.
This Archival project is a process of rediscovering Bangalore's
changing identity. To Seek the local in the Global context. To
move beyond generalization of identifying city's people and culture.
To look at the complex layering of histories that have constructed
the
city's geography.
As visual artists we wish to locate our self in this complex multicultural
situation/landscape.
ARCHIVAL PROJECT. Collecting objects, text, material and images.
About the Speaker:
Mr. Suresh Jayaram is a visual artist and an art historian. He
has a Master's degree in fine arts from Baroda. .He was ex-principle
of Chitrakala Parishath He is board member of Karnataka Lalithkala
Academy. He has his own studio -1Shantiroad, which is an open
space for the visual artist collective. He has held many shown
of his works both in India and abroad.
II Speaker: Mr. Raghavendra Rao
Abstract:
Many questions arise in one's mind as one walks on the busy streets
of Bangalore today. Bangalore - Bengauru - a city that has seen
change in the most drastic sense of the term has 'developed' and
has provided jobs to many people as a result of the software and
economic boom. At the same time the city has witnessed the consequences
of it. But, one wonders if all that is happening in the name of
development is right at all! Right for whom would be the next
question!
About the Speaker:
Raghu is Faculty with the Fine Arts and Foundation studies department
at Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology. He graduated
with a Diploma in Drawing and Painting from the Ken School of
Art, Bangalore in 1990. He was then awarded a Fellowship for Painting
at the Kanoria Centre for Arts, Ahmedabad. He has exhibited his
works in India as well as in countries such as Austria and, Switzerland.
III Musician: Pramod Chakravarthy Stephen
Mr. Promod is an artist and musician. He has his own music band
called Dhruva. Apart from developing interactive educational VCD's
for children, he has cut a music CD called 'Unheard Echoes'.
- 31 December 2008
Special New Year Eve Programme (Wednesday)
Ms Swarnali Mazumdar will present "Vasanth Bahar" Rabindrasangeet
About the Program
The basic theme of this program is spring. Spring is always mystical
and momentary. It comes with a virgin spark, makes us overjoyed
but finally leaves making us gloomy. I will perform few rabindrasangeet
on this theme and explain the underlying significance and philosophy
of the lyrics.
About the Singer
Swarnali is trained in Rabindrasangeet. She is interested in exploring
the spirituality and philosophy in R.N.Tagore's music. She is
a doctoral scholar with the School of Natural Sciences and Engineering
at NIAS.
- Associates' Programme Time: 6.00 pm Venue:
J R D Tata Auditorium
- History of Ideas Time: 5 pm Venue: J R D Tata
Auditorium
- PhD Students Seminar Time: 2 pm Venue: NIAS
Lecture Hall
- Public Lecture Time: 6 pm, J R D Tata Auditorium
- Wednesday Talk Time: 9.30 am Venue: NIAS Lecture Hall
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