Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Roundtable on ‘Navigating Complexities: India’s Strategic Ties with Taliban 2.0’

On 07 March 2025, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a Roundtable on “Navigating Complexities: India’s Strategic Ties with Taliban 2.0”. The panel included Ambassador Jayant Prasad, Prof (Dr.) Raghav Sharma, Prof Bilquees Daud, Ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya and Dr Anwesha Ghosh. The discussion was also attended by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director (VIF), Lt. General R. K. Sawhney (Retd.), and other senior fellows and researchers from the VIF. Dr.

March 19, 2025 Event Report

Exhibition and Panel Discussion on ‘The Never-Ending Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh’

On February 24, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized an exhibition and panel discussion titled ‘The Never-Ending Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh,’ drawing attention to the ongoing violence faced by religious and ethnic minorities in the neighbouring country. The event brought together experts, diplomats, and journalists to discuss the worsening human rights crisis unfolding in Bangladesh. The panel discussion was chaired by VIF Director, Dr. Arvind Gupta, and featured former Deputy National Security Advisor, Sh.

March 06, 2025 Event Report

Interaction with Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd

On January 13, 2025, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised an interaction with a visiting scholar Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd of Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. The interaction was to obtain a brief on the current situation in Myanmar and its implications. Dr. Byrd researches, teaches, and publishes on the various arrays, for instance on; U.S.-Myanmar (Burma) relations; security dynamics in Southeast Asia; economics and security linkages; rising inequality and its implication on security; etc.

January 17, 2025 Event Report

VIF Delegation’s Visit to Nepal

The VIF delegation led by Lt. Gen. R K Sawhney, and joined by Lt Gen (Dr) Rakesh Sharma (retd) and Shri Avadhesh Mathur visited Nepal between 21 September and 24 September, 2024. The visit included extensive interactions with various dignitaries and organizations. Those consisted of: Hon’ble Mr Prakash Man Singh- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Nepal Hon’ble Mr Damodar Bhandari- Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Nepal

November 19, 2024 Event Report

Webinar on Post-Election India and Sri Lanka: Implications on Bilateral Relations and the Foreign Policy Front

On 15 October, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) jointly with Pathfinder Foundation (PF), Sri Lanka organized a virtual webinar on “Post-Election India and Sri Lanka: Implications on Bilateral Relations and the Foreign Policy Front.” From the VIF side, the Panel for the discussion consisted of Amb. (Retd.) Ashok Kantha, Former Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka; Prof. Sreeradha Datta; and Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF (moderator). From the PF side, the panel included Amb. (Retd.) Bernard Goonetilleke; Amb. (Retd.) Ahmed A. Jawad; Amb. (Retd.) Sumith Nakandala; Prof.

October 22, 2024 Event Report

Discussion on the Developing Situation in Bangladesh

On 13 September, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a discussion on the “Developing Situations in Bangladesh.” Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the opening remarks, followed by brief observations from Amb Veena Sikri, Former Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh; Amb Kanwal Sibal; Amb Pankaj Saran, Former Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh; and Lt Gen (Dr) PC Nair about the current situation in Bangladesh. This was accompanied by an interactive question-and-answer session.

September 20, 2024 Event Report

Pakistan Study Group Report - June 2024

A meeting of the Pakistan Study Group (PSG) was held in hybrid mode on 20 June 2024. The main items on the agenda were the developments in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan’s Federal Budget-2024-25, Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China and the withering of the CPEC. The meeting was attended by Dr Arvind Gupta (Director, VIF), Tilak Devasher, Lt Gen Ata Hasnain (R), Dr Shalini Chawla, Rana Banerjee, Amb Satish Chandra, Sushant Sareen, and other distinguished fellows and researchers from the VIF. Developments in Jammu and Kashmir

August 23, 2024 Event Report

Discussion on the Recent Upheavals in Bangladesh and Its Repercussions

On 05 August, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a discussion on the “Recent Upheavals in Bangladesh and Its Repercussions”. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the opening remarks, followed by brief observations from Prof Sreeradha Datta; Amb Riva Ganguly Das, Former Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh; Prof. Sanjay K Bhardwaj; Amb Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty; and Amb Pankaj Saran, Former Indian High commissioners to Bangladesh, about the current situation. This was accompanied by an interactive question-and-answer session.

August 09, 2024 Event Report

Interaction with the Joint Secretary of MEA, J.P Singh

On 01 August, the Joint Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs, J.P Singh visited the Vivekananda International Foundation to brief on the Third Doha Meeting on Afghanistan which took place at Doha. The meeting was attended by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director (VIF), Lt. General R. K. Sawhney (Retd.), Brig. Vinod Anand (Retd), Ambassador Amar Sinha, Brig. Rahul Bhonsle, and other researchers from the VIF.

August 08, 2024 Event Report

Kecak Workshop: Balinese Dance Composition inspired by "the burning of Lanka" from the Ramayana epic

On 05 July 2024, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) along with the Indonesian Embassy organised the Kecak Workshop to commemorate 75 years of strong and enduring relationship between India and Indonesia. The bilateral relations have shown progress across various sectors like politics, economy, defence, and culture. As part of these celebrations, the VIF organised Kecak Workshop. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the opening remarks. The workshop was led by Prof.

July 17, 2024 Event Report