Pune Think Tank Embarks on Cultural Journey with Palash Festival
The Pune International Centre (PIC), a renowned policy thinktank, is set to launch its inaugural cultural initiative, Palash, from February 27 to March 1 at its campus in Pashan. This event marks a strategic pivot from traditional roundtables and research papers to integrating music, dialogue, and public participation as core elements of its mission.
From Policy to Public Engagement: A Deliberate Shift
Conceived by art and culture convenor Arti Kirloskar, Palash represents a conscious effort to activate ideas through the arts rather than relying solely on policy discourse. "The PIC has been engaged in national security, sustainability, and policy discussions for years," Kirloskar explained. "Over 15 years, we evolved from small offices to a seven-acre multidisciplinary space with an auditorium, amphitheatre, and convention facilities. This expansion prompted us to rethink public engagement. We realised roundtables weren't enough; art and culture offer a unique entry point for conversations."
The festival runs alongside PIC's broader intellectual programming, including economic dialogues and public discussions, reinforcing an interdisciplinary vision. "We should not work in silos," Kirloskar emphasised. "Art becomes the warp and weft connecting policy, sustainability, and society. Sometimes a song communicates what arguments cannot, reaching people before they even realise they're thinking differently."
Palash: A Collaborative Platform for Cultural Renewal
Palash is designed as an annual platform that collaborates with Pune's existing arts ecosystem rather than competing with it. "We don't want to replace what the city does well," Kirloskar stated. "The idea is to strengthen organisations, collaborate, and fill gaps. We asked if PIC could curate something reflecting our identity, leading to Palash." The name itself carries symbolic weight: "Palash represents knowledge, music, art, and wisdom. It's a spring festival, a moment of renewal. The flowering tree metaphorises bringing culture into dialogue with society."
Star-Studded Inaugural Edition Featuring T.M. Krishna and Jogappas
Headlining the festival is acclaimed Carnatic vocalist and author T.M. Krishna, returning to Pune nearly nine years after his last performance in the city at a 2017 music festival. The programme includes:
- Launch of Krishna's book We, the People of India on the opening day.
- A collaborative performance with the Jogappas, a transgender musical community from Maharashtra and Karnataka, on the second day.
- A solo concert by Krishna to conclude the event.
Krishna expressed enthusiasm for Pune's audience: "I've performed here many times, and the discernment and passion in listening, especially to classical music, is striking. The city has a strong tradition of engaged listenership." He described his music as rooted in Carnatic traditions but expansive: "Listeners will hear a 'hardcore' Carnatic sound alongside explorations across genres, cultures, and languages."
Inclusion and Social Dialogue at the Heart of the Festival
The collaboration with the Jogappas is highlighted as a pivotal moment. Krishna noted: "We're finding passages to come together while respecting each other's music, cultures, and identities. It gently dismantles societal separations." Kirloskar underscored inclusion as central: "Good music can't belong to one group. When Krishna performs with the Jogappas, it challenges assumptions about 'high' art, opening minds and fostering the conversations we seek."
Free and Open to All: Shaping Civic Life Through Art
Designed as a public event, Palash will be free and open to all with prior registration via social media. Kirloskar concluded: "If art helps us reflect, question, and imagine better communities, it's not just entertainment. It becomes a way of shaping civic life." This initiative positions PIC at the forefront of blending cultural expression with societal discourse, aiming to enrich Pune's cultural landscape while advancing its policy-oriented goals.
