Dada Nani Samvaad, held as part of the 4th Dada Nani Festival at the Constitution Club, New Delhi, brought together leading voices from education, civil society, and the CSR sector for a thought-provoking panel discussion on “Culture, Classrooms and Youth.”
The session focused on exploring practical ways to integrate cultural learning and youth participation into school education, highlighting the importance of connecting classroom learning with India’s living cultural heritage.
The discussion was moderated by Professor Ramesh C. Gaur, Dean at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The distinguished panel featured:
- Deepti Menon, Vice President, Learning Links Foundation
- Anjali Khurana, Associate Manager, HCLFoundation
- Sarita Sharma, Managing Partner, Knit Forward
- Jatin Gupta, Consultant, Lend A Hand India
- Anjani Tiwari, Executive Council Member, Salaam Baalak Trust Delhi
The panel brought together diverse perspectives from NGOs, CSR organisations, and education practitioners, leading to meaningful discussions on how cultural education can be made more experiential, participatory, and relevant for young learners.
Speakers emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between schools, community institutions, and development organisations to create opportunities for students to engage directly with cultural practices, oral traditions, and intergenerational knowledge systems.
The conversation reinforced the central vision of the Dada Nani initiative, enabling young people to become active participants in documenting and preserving India’s intangible cultural heritage through dialogue, research, and community engagement.
Held on 18 April 2026, the session emerged as a key highlight of the festival, underscoring the growing importance of culturally responsive education in shaping informed, rooted, and socially conscious youth.