BIC TALKS

The Guru-Shishya Parampara has been integral to the learning of Indian classical dance. It is a deeply immersive and rigorous tradition that holds its own even in the modern context. A profound bond forms between teacher and student, through which both a way of life, and the practice and knowledge of art, is transmitted. The Guru goes beyond merely imparting technicalities and nuances to shape and...

In the third and final episode of Being a Present Parent , Gauri and Tena talk about intersectionality and feminist motherhood. They explore how class, caste and gender impact motherhood and mothering in urban Indian lives. They discuss the challenges of carrying the load of parenting and household responsibilities, how to navigate the help we in a way that promotes equity and empowerment for all...

In the second episode of Being a Present Parent , our speakers Tena and Gauri reflect on the trends, surprises and lessons learnt from a year of circles and workshops on topics such as sex and post-partum, trauma and vocabulary, birth and autonomy, and medical science's approach to obstetrics and gynaecology while they share personal stories and insights. The Series: Parenting can be one of those...

Parenting can be one of those challenges in life that never has any right answers. How do you enable another person to live up to their full potential in a healthy way while being mindful of their individuality and personality as well as taking care of yourself? Some have called it the ultimate crash course in adulting. A large number of us have come to understand equity, equality and feminism lat...

The book "Memories in the Service of the Hindu Nation: The Afterlife of the Partition" by anthropologist Dr. Pranav Kohli presents the findings of an extensive ethnographic study conducted over fourteen months, focusing on survivors of the Partition from west Punjab and the North-West Frontier Province. The research was conducted in Delhi and its surroundings between 2017 and 2018. The author expl...

The Shaolin monks of the legendary monastery in China are famous for their skills in Kung Fu. However, Shaolin Kung Fu isn't just a martial art but a specific way of life and conduct that can be applied effectively in any professional or personal context. The real secret of the Shaolin monks' success isn't their physical abilities. Rather it is their way of thinking that makes them invincible. Bus...

Delving into the intricate world of storytelling, author and historian Anirudh Kanisetti and author Vikram Chandra explore the fundamental questions that intrigue both readers and writers alike: How are stories told? How do they come to be? And where do these wisps of memory and words find the kernels to sprout from? Drawing upon his own journey and experiences, Vikram shares insights into his lit...

An ethnographic study of Indian democracy that shows how agrarian life creates values of citizenship and active engagement that are essential for the cultivation of democracy,  Cultivating Democracy provides a compelling ethnographic analysis of the relationship between formal political institutions and everyday citizenship in rural India. Dr. Mukulika Banerjee draws on deep engagement with the pe...

Journalism has been the beacon that illuminates the truth amidst the shadows of ignorance. How true does this adage hold in a post-truth world. Writer and columnist, Bachi Karkaria, moderates a captivating panel discussion featuring authors and journalists - P Sainath, Sashi Kumar, and Barkha Dutt.  This BIC Talks conversation revolves around the evolving nature of human interest stories, the impo...

Historian Shekhar Pathak; ecologist, and author Ullas Karanth and historian and author Mahesh Rangarajan converge in this episode of BIC Talks to explore the path towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly world. With their extensive knowledge in environmental history, wildlife conservation, and cultural perspectives, they engage in a dialogue encompassing crucial topics such as environmen...

Renowned author and Sahitya Akademi awardee Damodar Mauzo engages in a conversation with author and playwright Vivek Shanbhag discuss Mauzo's collection of 14 stories titled "Teresa's Man and Other Stories from Goa." These tales provide a profound glimpse into the world of Goan-Konkani literature, a realm shaped by both remarkable achievements and challenges. Konkani, considered the "oldest of mod...

What is a language and how do they make us who we are? Is an eternal question philosophers have grappled with over eras. Linguistics scholars seek to determine what is unique and universal about the language we use, how it is acquired and the ways it changes over time. They consider language as a cultural, social and psychological phenomenon that stretches across the range of what is human. Over t...

In northern India, an eighty-year-old woman slips into a deep depression after the death of her husband, and then resurfaces to gain a new lease on life. Her determination to fly in the face of convention – including striking up a friendship with a transgender person – confuses her bohemian daughter, who is used to thinking of herself as the more 'modern' of the two. To her family's consternation,...

Bhūta Kōlā, also referred to as Daiva kōlā or Nēmā, is a shamanistic ritual dance performance prevalent among the communities of Tulu Nadu and parts of Kasargod in northern Kerala, India. The dance is highly stylized and performed as part of 'Bhootaradhana' or worship of the local deities worshipped by the Tulu speaking population. It has had it's influence on Yakshagana folk theatre. Būta kōlā is...

Dancer, actor and public intellectual Mallika Sarabhai writes a memorable account about how she stumbled her way to health, fitness and sanity. In this episode of BIC Talks, Mallika speaks to author and journalist Ramjee Chandran about her book In Free Fall is all about coming to terms with oneself and ones body and find the lifestyle that works for you. And how to make mistakes, pick yourself up...

The Pashtuns are perhaps the largest ethnic group in the world without a country of their own. They inhabit a continuous stretch of land from the Hindu Kush to the Indus, across Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan used the Pashtun-dominated areas in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as a launching pad against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s and later during the US-led War...

Over 150 years ago, in 1870, a public park was inaugurated in Bangalore. Designed by British engineer Richard Sankey, it spread over 100 acres and encompassed features typical to the city—granite outcrops, lush greenery, wide avenues and government buildings. Originally named Meade's Park, it has been known to generations of Bangaloreans as Cubbon Park—sanctuary, lung space, thoroughfare, battlefi...

Pradeep Magazine's memoir is a story of lived, real experiences, of joy, sorrow, fear, loss and hope, and about how an uprooted identity shapes one's attitude towards society and the nation. From the Kashmir of the 1950s to terror-stricken Punjab, from the Mandir-Masjid divide and the impact of Mandal politics to the tragic consequences of the Kashmir situation-Magazine paints a fascinating portra...

So who really spearheaded India's Freedom Struggle? Millions of ordinary people-farmers, labourers, homemakers, forest produce gatherers, artisans and others-stood up to the British. People who never went on to be ministers, governors, presidents, or hold other high public office. They had this in common: their opposition to Empire was uncompromising. In The Last Heroes , these footsoldiers of Ind...

Since 1962 World Theatre Day has been celebrated by International Theatre Institute Centres, ITI Cooperating Members, theatre professionals, theatre organizations, theatre universities and theatre lovers all over the world on the 27th of March. This day is a celebration for those who can see the value and importance of the art form "theatre", and acts as a wake-up-call for governments, politicians...

With the coming of age of independent cinema and stories portraying lives across the spectrum in India, the focus has shifted from the protagonist to the writers and makers. In this episode of BIC Talks, filmmaker Alankrita Srivastava speaks to radio presenter and film critic Stutee Ghosh about the business of filmaking while being a woman. This session was originally part of the Bangalore Literat...

The reading down of Section 377 by the Supreme Court in 2018 has led to a fundamental shift in the rights of India's LGBTQ citizens and necessitated policy changes across the board—not least in the conservative world of Indian business. In his path-breaking and genre-defying book, Parmesh Shahani—Vice President at Godrej Industries Ltd—draws from his decade-long journey in the corporate world as a...

Forrest Gander, a writer and translator with degrees in geology and literature, was born in the Mojave Desert. He has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize and fellowships from the Guggenheim, Whiting and United Artists foundations. Gander has most recently published Twice Alive: An Ecology of Intimacies (with an essay by N. Manu Chakravarthy). Gander, who taught at Harvard and Brown University, transla...

Until recently, classical music around the world has loved to project itself as being beyond the grasp of the masses. Carnatic music has been no exception to this self-created aura of inscrutability. Mangala Karthik, a Carnatic musician and teacher and co-founder of Anandi Centre of Music believes it is the duty of every teacher and learner to cut through the jargon and spread the joy of this magn...

Samanth Subramanian is a senior writer for Quartz, covering the future of capitalism, and a contributing writer for the Guardian Long Read. He is also the author of three books: " Following Fish: Travels Around the Indian Coast ," " This Divided Island: Stories from the Sri Lankan War ," and his latest, " A Dominant Character: The Radical Science and Restless Politics of J. B. S. Haldane ." His  w...