Dr Alka Pande is an art historian who taught Indian Arts and Aesthetics at Panjab University for more than ten years. Her major fields of interest are gender identity and sexuality, and traditional arts. Dr Pande, under the aegis of the Charles Wallace India Trust, conducted postdoctoral research in critical art theory at Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2006, she was awarded the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters- an honour bequeathed by the French government to recognize significant contributions in the fields of art and literature. In 2009, she received the Australian-India Council Special Award for her contribution to Indian art. In 2015, she was awarded L’Oreal Paris Femina Women under Design and Arts and Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi honours-in recognition of the distinguished contribution to art- with Amrita Sher-Gil Samman. Dr. Pande has been passionately involved with the world of art for more than three decades. She has been responsible for curating several significant and perceptive exhibitions in India and abroad. Dr. Pande is artistic director of photography biennale Habitat Photosphere, a photography award instituted by India Habitat Centre. She has written extensively on Indian aesthetics, culture and photography some of her prominent books include Panchtattvas: The Road Ahead, Voices and Images, Leela, An Erotic Play of Verse and Art, Indian Art: The New International Sensation, The Collector’s Handbook, Divine Gesture: The Magnificence of Mewar Spirituality, Ardhanarishvara the Androgyne: Probing the Gender Within, The New Age Kama Sutra for Women, Shringara: The Many faces of Indian Beauty, Indian Erotica, From Disco Lights to Mustard Fields: A Study of the Folk Instruments and Performers of Panjab to name a few. Currently, Dr Pande is a consultant art advisor and curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi (India).
New Notes of the lesson Partnerships are important practices in history, and sound being transferred for generations. A sampling - tree - fruit there were, Warrior queens being unvoiced in history, Women entrepreneurs who got into trading in history. (Rani Abhaka) Velu Nachiyar- freedom straggler (1780) history distinguished, women in History Building our National -> resourceful Intangible heritage in India. (Kamala devi) We are privileged to enjoy our lives so this fruit that is testing right now is the sampling done by the Waria Quersa.
Dr Alka Pande started the session by asking the audience what Nayika means to them; some audience said actor, fighter, mother, granny, house help, sister and so on, Dr Harshali asked some questions to Dr Alka Pande to get inside kama and its vital role in ancient and in present times. According to Dr Alka Pande in recent times there is a remarkable change in society, where the young generation is exposed to the media at large through which they gain knowledge, without understanding whether it is useful for them at this young age. So this young generation doesn’t have any curiosity factors related to the above-mentioned topic as they already have the information about the topic. As it is readily available at a click away. Today’s children’s upbringing is differently done as mostly both of the parents are working and in Society, we talk about gender equality but it is a myth, in four Walls the same traditional strict rules are posed on women. Often it made them doubt pursuing their dream. We often see in society women are jealous of their friends and try to pull them down. Women are not happy with their woman friend's success. There was discussion on the book “The Naiyka and the Kama: she takes her pleasure” is a collection of aesthetics and pre-modern sexuality that presents a selection of images that show the images of Nayika, the ideal romantic heroine of classical Indian literature. The session concluded with the message that if you wish to be real Nayika be wise enough to avoid the temptation of proving yourself over others. Instead, arm yourself with self-control and avoid all temptations which often come in the form of indifference, insult, and ungratefulness, it’s up to you how you react or respond in this situation. As a woman always aims for something big so you need to be bold as ordinary women don’t make history. Women should be considered towards others but they should have their own vision and not allow others to walk over them.