Issuu

Founders Day Celebrations

At The Bhavan, London, we proudly celebrated our annual Founder’s Day on 24 and 25 January 2026, bringing together students, faculty, patrons, and distinguished guests to honour our legacy and commitment to promoting Indian arts and culture in the UK

We were honoured to welcome Shri Naorem Singh, Director of The Nehru Centre and Minister (Culture) at the High Commission of India to the UK, as Chief Guest on Saturday, and Ms Kavita Reddi, Chair of the University of London Board of Trustees, on Sunday.

Both delivered inspiring addresses, recognising The Bhavan’s vital role in classical arts education and commending the dedication of our teachers and students.

A highlight of the celebrations was the presentation of certificates to diploma and post-diploma students by the Chief Guests, marking an important milestone in their artistic journeys

The programme showcased the depth of talent within our community, with senior students presenting advanced work and younger learners demonstrating strong foundations.

Our gallery, outreach, and marketing teams also shared upcoming initiatives. The event concluded with our Executive Director, Dr Nandakumara, expressing gratitude to our guests and the wider Bhavan community for their continued support.

Republic Day Celebrations

We celebrated India’s Republic Day on 10 February 2026 at The Bhavan, London, welcoming His Excellency Mr Kartik Pande, Acting High Commissioner of India, as Chief Guest

The evening opened with a Vedic prayer by Dr M N Nandakumara, followed by a welcome from Senior Trustee Mr Varinder Singh.

Councillor Sharon Holder, Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, highlighted The Bhavan’s role in fostering community cohesion and expressed support for our ongoing initiatives. Lord Dholakia OBE PC reflected on our commitment to cultural identity and belonging, while noting India’s progress and strengthening ties with the UK.

In his keynote address, Mr Pande spoke of India’s growth, democratic strength, and global leadership, highlighting the India–UK partnership and the diaspora’s role as a vital bridge He also commended The Bhavan’s contribution to promoting Indian arts and culture

The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Vice-Chair Dr Surekha Mehta, who expressed gratitude to the High Commission of India for their continued support, and reflected on India’s growing global contribution.

The evening concluded with vibrant cultural performances by our music and dance students, followed by the National Anthem.

following an open call to young artists and practitioners of classical and fusion music (rooted in Indian classical traditions). The response was overwhelming, with 59 applicants submitting entries, of which 15 were selected. Notably, two of the selected participants were students of The Bhavan

The event was conceptualised, organised, and curated by Parvati Nair and Ritesh Shetty, who led the process from initial call-out to final programming

depth, and unique conceptual approach, resulting in a breathtaking showcase on stage.

The festival successfully platformed emerging talent across vocal, instrumental, and percussion genres. Many performers were accompanied by both upcoming and established percussionists, highlighting their versatility and collaborative spirit Yatra created a space where budding artists could express their ideas freely and explore new artistic directions

Sangeet Nritya Utsav

y dance through two special performances

On 7 March, we presented a Bharatanatyam recital by Guru Sujatha Venkatesh and her troupe The performance was tribute to the legendary Gurus U S Krishna Rao and Smt Chandrabhaga Devi, reviving their cherished choreographies with grace and authenticity under Guru Sujatha Venkatesh’s direction

On 21 March, we hosted a captivating sitar concert by Smt Punita Gupta and her students

A senior disciple of Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar, Smt. Punita Gupta led a deeply engaging performance that showcased both individual artistry and the strength of the guru–shishya tradition. She was accompanied by Rikhil Rai on flute, Ketan Bidwe on tabla, and M. Balachandar on mridangam, creating a rich and dynamic musical experience.

During the evening, M. Balachandar was honoured in recognition of his dedication and significant contributions to the field of Indian music and arts.

As part of our ongoing community initiatives, we have been hosting a series of free talks aimed at sharing knowledge and encouraging dialogue across a range of subjects.

On Saturday, 7 March 2026, we hosted an engaging and thought-provoking session on AI’s Impact & Benefits in Today’s World at The Bhavan, London. The talk was delivered by Tushar Srivastava and Sarangapani Kalluri of Tech Mahindra, and explored the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping contemporary life

The session began with an accessible introduction to AI and its evolution, followed by insights into how it is already influencing everyday life and creative sectors, including music and the arts

The speakers highlighted how emerging AI tools can support both learning and teaching, while also addressing important challenges such as deepfakes, ethics, and questions of copyright in an AI-driven world.

The discussion also looked ahead to the future, reflecting on the rapid technological advancements in recent years and the opportunities AI presents across industries and society at large.

This talk formed part of The Bhavan’s wider community learning programme, bringing together traditional knowledge and contemporary ideas The session sparked thoughtful discussion and reflected our ongoing commitment to meaningful and inclusive dialogue

GG2 Award honour for Nanda Ji

Diversity Awards 2026 in recognition of his dedicated service to The Bhavan, particularly his work in embracing diverse communities and fostering partnerships that strengthen community cohesion.

Hosted by Asian Media Group (AMG), publishers of Garavi Gujarat and Eastern Eye, the annual event brought together over 600 distinguished guests, including MPs, peers, business leaders, and representatives from community organisations, to celebrate achievements across Britain’s ethnic communities

Now in its 27th year, the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards recognise individuals and organisations advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion in the UK, while celebrating the contributions of ethnic minority communities

The evening included the presentation of the awards and the launch of the GG2 Power List 2026, recognising the 101 most influential South Asians in the UK.

Team Warwick (Nishka Hariharan, Valliammai Subramanian, Anagha Sampathkumar, Celine Sesodia, Amogha), presented ‘Shadakshara Kautvam’, a composition of Madurai R Muralidharan, and placed first amongst 12 other participating universities.

They received positive and appreciative comments from the competition judges, Smt Geeta Sridhar, Smt Radhini Sivadharan and Amritha Jayakrishnan, who commended the team’s hard work, synchronisation, and evocative visual imagery.

Palki Sharma at The Bhavan

Alongside its own programming, The Bhavan regularly opens its doors to host a range of external events, providing a vibrant platform for dialogue, exchange, and community engagement.

On Saturday, 28 March, Insight UK hosted an inconversation session at The Bhavan with award-winning journalist and news anchor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, known for her incisive analysis of global affairs.

In a dynamic and engaging discussion, she spoke about India’s rise in the evolving global order, reflecting on its progress over the years, its future trajectory, and its global image in a shifting geopolitical landscape

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, with audience members posing thoughtful and insightful questions, contributing to a lively exchange of ideas

The event was well attended, with over 200 participants joining us for the talk