Annual Ireland India Institute Public Lecture, 2019 – 21st Century India: Transformations and Change

This year the  Ireland India’s Institute Annual public lecture took place on Thurdsay, 16 May, at Dublin City University. The Lecture was delivered by Prof. Mondira Dutta, who is the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chair at DCU. In her talk, Prof. Dutta discussed the transformations that India has undergone as a society in the twentieth century, focusing particularly on the last 20 years. She in an open and frank discussion, she highlighted both India’s the significant achievements and the social challenges it still faces. On a personal note Professor Dutta talked about the place that Dublin has always held in her imagination as her father studies medicine here as a young man. The lecture was attended by the Indian Ambassador in Ireland, His Excellency Sandeep Kumar who talk about the long term links that have existed between India and Ireland, emphasising that it was not enough to live in the past and that it should be our aim to forge new and diverse links. The welcome address was given by the President of Dublin City University Prof. Brian MacCraith who expressed his pleasure that so many people from outside the university were present at the lecture.

The Annual Public Lecture was instituted an opportunity for the Visiting ICCR Chair at DCU to engage with a general audience of people who have an interest in India and the Indian diaspora in Dublin. The Institute was delighted with the success of this event, including the reception which gave an opportunity to engage in informal interactions, and we will be organising further public events in the autumn 2019.

If you would like to be contacted about future Ireland India Institute events, please mail us at [email protected].