On October 1st, Prof Makarand R Paranjape, the inaugural Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chair in Indian Studies in the South Asian Studies Programme at FASS, delivered an engaging Lunchtime Talk at the Faculty Lounge. The title was ‘Gandhism vs. ‘Gandhigiri’: the Life and Afterlife of the Mahatma on Celluloid.’

Prof Paranjape was warmly welcomed by Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo, and then proceeded to talk about Gandhi and his various manifestations on film, sharing some short film clips from various sources – a documentary interview from 1931, Attenborough’s Gandhi and the modern-Bollywood presentation, Lage Raho Munnabhai. There followed a vibrant Q&A session and Indian refreshments.

Professor Paranjape is Professor of English at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. During his one year tenure with the FASS he will teach a module on South Asian Cinema and another on language, culture and identity in South Asia. He will be available for consultation with undergraduates, graduates and faculty.