DISCOVERY AND ENJOYMENT of India's performing, cinematic, culinary, visual and literary arts are central to the experiences ICC brings to the communities we serve. Below are just a few events that ICC has hosted.
03/07/21
ICC Speaker Series
Kal Penn, Actor, White House Staffer, and Author
ICC welcomed actor, writer, and former Obama White House staffer Kal Penn as the kickoff speaker for its new Speaker Series.
Kal Penn, whose memoir You Can't Be Serious was published In November, was interviewed by Joya Dass, Founder, Women's Leadership Academy, and former business news Anchor.
Over 150 people turned out to hear Kal. Read Greenwich Times' coverage of Kal and Joya's conversation.
The ICC Speaker Series is made possible with the generous support of Blanca and Sunil Hirani.
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12/04/21
A Conversation with Indra Nooyi
Former PepsiCo CEO and Chairman of the Board, Indra Nooyi spoke with ICC Founder and Director Mudita Bhargava at The Village in Stamford on Saturday, December 4. She shared her thoughts on family, community, the importance of creating a support system for women in the workforce, and taking risks in your work.
Over 230 people attended. The event was co-sponosred by GOPIO, Milan Cultural Association and Ascend.
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07/17/21
Passport to India: A Cultural Experience for Children
India Cultural Center and the Rye Free Reading Room offered families an experiential journey to the largest democracy in the world: India. Kids tasted samosas and lassi, learned Bollywood steps, watched a Bollywood performance, made rangoli sand art, got henna tattoos, made origami lotuses, and more.
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06/23/21
Alka Joshi Book Launch
ICC hosted its first hybrid event at the Rye Free Reading Room. Those attending in person enjoyed a reception of cocktails and Indian chaat followed by a spirited live-streamed conversation with Alka Joshi and Sharbari Ahmed about the launch of Alka's second novel The Secret Keeper of Jaipur.
Alka Josh moved to the US from Rajasthan when she was nine. She graduated from Stanford University and received her MFA from the California College of the Arts. Her debut novel, The Henna Artist, was a Reese Book Club pick and NYTimes bestseller. A TV series of The Henna Artist starring Frieda Pinto is in development.
Sharbari Ahmed, a Bangladeshi American writer is known for being a writer on the ABC show Quantico. Her debut novel Dust Under Her Feet explored race, class, women, and India's role in WWII during the end of the British Rajin Calcutta. Sharbari wrote the script for The Rickshaw Driver" and teaches creative writing at Manhattanville College.
Watch the Recorded Conversation on ICC's YouTube Channel.
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05/26/21
Vipassana Meditation
Vipassana Meditation is a non-sectarian meditation technique discovered by the Buddha in India more than 2,500 years ago. It is a scientific transformational process that has helped people from all walks of life, including business executives and government leaders. Vipassana has had a profound impact on the lives of those who practice it, including those suffering from depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Barry Lapping, a co-founder, teacher, and director of the Vipassana Meditation Center, Dhamma Dharā, in Shelburne, MA, the first Vipassana Center outside India founded in 1982. spoke with ICC Director, Nitin Jindal and Charles Mitchen on May 26. Nitin attended the Chicago center in 2015 and Charles attended the Shelburne Center for three months in 2000,. Barry, Charles, and Nitin discussed the technique of Vipassana meditation and its many benefits.
The program began with a 17-minute videotaped introductory talk by the late S.N. Goenka, who provided an overview of Vipassana meditation practice.
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04/15/21
Avni Doshi, Author of Burnt Sugar
ICC and Greenwich Library co-hosted Avni Doshi, author of Burnt Sugar which was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. Avni was interviewed by her friend and fellow author Sharbari Ahmed.
Avni Doshi was born in New Jersey and educated at Barnard College and University College, London. While working as an art writer and curator in India, Avni began writing fiction. She
has been awarded the Tibor Jones South Asia Prize and a
Charles Pick Fellowship. Burnt Sugar, her debut novel, was
longlisted for the prestigious Tata Literature Live! First Book
Award upon its publication in India shortlisted for the Booker.
Sharbari Ahmed is familiar to audiences who have watched her lively and informative interviews with director Viba Bhaski and author Alka Joshi and who joined ICC to discuss Dust Under Her Feet, Sharbari's debut novel that explores race, women's independence, and tangled love in the backdrop of the bombing of Calcutta during WWII.
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02/22 to 03/21
Virtual Fine Art Show
ICC showcased the art of seven Indian artists from February 22, 2021, to March 21, 2021. Wright Harvey, Founder and President of Sugarlift, spoke with the artists during an Opening Night Reception on Wednesday, February 23. Featured artists were Sabeena Jindal, Shreya Mehta, Manu Saluja, Sarasvathy TK, Sajal Sarkar, Raj Shalini, and Hemali Vadalia.
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02/11/21
Valentine's Day Dinner Demonstration
Michelin-star Chef Hemant Mathur brought his culinary talents to ICC direct from his New York City restaurant Saar on February 11. Chef Hemant and Seema Pai planned and demonstrated a three-course meal -- perfect for a special occasion when restaurants are closed.
MENU
Cauliflower Latkes with Cranberry Chutney
Kerala Fish OR Paneer Pollichathu (Marinated fish/paneer wrapped in a banana leaf] with South Indian Potato Fry
Rose Panna Cotta
Recorded Valentine's Dinner Demonstration
For recipes, email info@iccgreenwich.org
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12/06/20
Fauja Singh Keeps Going
Meet the remarkable real-life Fauja Singh as author Simran Jeet Singh reads his book about the 100-year old Sikh who was the oldest person to ever run a marathon and who as a child, overcame obstacles to walk. Simran wrote: "Fauja Singh's perseverance and resilience inspire me to this day, and they are exactly the values I want to instill in my own kids." He added "I also believe that this book can help cultivate empathy for children of all backgrounds: if our kids can learn to see the humanity in those who seem most different from them, they will see the humanity in everyone they meet." Simran joined ICC and Greenwich Library on December 5 to read the book and answer kids' questions.
Free. Click on the link below to view the recorded conversation with Simran Jeet Singh.
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Recorded 12/02/20
Alka Joshi in a Conversation with ICC
What a debut! Alka Joshi's first novel is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, Toronto Star, and Calgary Herald bestseller. It was also chosen as a Reeses (Witherspoon) Book Club Pick. Ms. Joshi spoke with Sharbari Ahmed, author, screenwriter and playwright, in a conversation that was aired on December 2. It is a spirited and wide-ranging discussion about post-Partition India, upending women's roles, caste, the inspiration for her characters, the TV adaptation of The Henna Artist, and her next two books coming soon. It's a great listen. Set in the 1950s, The Henna Artist has been described as visual, evocative, eloquent, and culturally rich.
Free. Click on the link below to view the recorded conversation between Alka Joshi and Sharbari Ahmed.
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10/22/20
India in Realtime: Emerging Contemporary Artists
ICC traveled to Mumbai by Zoom to meet Sameer Kulavoor, graphic designer and artist who is making a public statement with his outdoor murals and tee-shirt designs; and Rithika Merchant, the artist behind French fashion house Chloe's forklore-inspired collection.
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