Aimed at celebrating Indian cultural, literary, and ideological traditions, Delhi’s Shivaji College, true to Shivaji College’s vision of holistic education in collaboration with Udgeet Sanstha, began the New Year with the grand “Udgeet Conclave 2026” on Jan 5 the Peshwa Bajirao Auditorium.
The event inspired by a renewed sense of responsibility towards Indian knowledge systems, cultural expression, social empowerment, and ecological sustainability, blended deep academic discourse with the vibrancy of the performing arts as the early proceedings of the day presented a unified narrative on Indian heritage, bridging the gap between ancient knowledge traditions and modern cinematic expression. The dignitaries also released the special Gopaldas Neeraj issue (Issue 4) of the Udgeet magazine during inauguration.
Principal of the college, Professor Virender Bhardwaj, opened the discourse on “Indian Knowledge Tradition and Current Contexts,” setting the stage for an exploration of Vedic relevance in the modern world. Distinguished experts, including Balmukund Pandey (National Organization Secretary, Akhil Bhartiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana) and Professor Yamini Gautam (Educationist), led the discussions.
Shri Balmukund Pandey emphasized the need to integrate Indian knowledge sources into history compilation, noting that “Veda” signifies knowledge itself. Adding to this, Professor Yamini Gautam invoked the Upanishadic concept of ‘Ten Tyakten Bhunjitha’—consuming with a spirit of renunciation—as a vital solution for protecting both humanity and nature.
Expanding this cultural dialogue into the realm of visual storytelling, the conclave hosted prominent figures from the worlds of theater and cinema. Renowned personalities, including Nishith Rai, Ramji Bali, Kamlesh K. Mishra, and J.P. Singh, addressed the audience, providing a contemporary artistic perspective to the day’s cultural deliberations.
The conclave also dedicated significant sessions to social and scientific advancement. The “Women’s Rising Steps” session featured distinguished leaders such as Prof. Raj Bhardwaj, Ms. Vimla Mehra (Former Special Commissioner, Delhi Police), Ms. Iti Aggarwal (SDM) and National Awardee Ms. Guneet Sethi.
The event concluded with a focus on “Nature and Science,” where experts like Prof. B.W. Pandey, Prof. Ajay Arora, and Prof. Umesh Kulshrestha addressed critical issues regarding urbanization, pollution, and the exploitation of natural resources.
