A very interesting and thought provoking session on "How to develop National Consensus on Critical National Issues" was held on 10 May 2010 at the VIF.The two speakers were Mr Manish Tewari, the articulate Member of Parliament from the Indian National Congress (Party spokesperson) and Dr. Chandan Mitra, former Member of the Rajya Sabha , Editor and Managing Director Pioneer and member of National Executive of BJP. Mr Mitra highlighted the need for consensus building in three primary areas - National Security, Foreign Policy and Macro-Economic Issues. He felt that the structure of Indian politics had become bipolar. The two main national parties must devise mechanisms for consensus building in these key areas. Ideological differences however would remain. Manish Tewari of the Congress presented the contra argument. He felt that the essence of democracy was plurality of opinion. It went beyond listening to a dogged majority but allowed space for a creative minority. That said, he felt there is a congruence on major national issues even though we may quibble on issues of tactics/ execution.

His Holiness Dalai Lama addressed a packed gathering of diplomats, intellectuals and eminent citizens in the auditorium of the Vivekananda International Foundation on 20 March 2010. In the talk, jointly organised by Vivekananda Internaitonal Foundation and the Association of Indian Diplomats, Dalai Lama covered wide range of subjects like ecological degradation, India's civilisational heritage, Non-Violence as an instrument of state policy, problems faced by Tibetean people etc. His Holiness in his most captivating style also responded to a large number of questions fielded to him after the talks.

<i>April 2, 2010</i> A Memorial Lecture to celebrate the 96th Birth Anniversary of Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw was orgainsed jointly by the Vivekananda International Foundation and Indian Military Review, a defence magazine launched in January 2010, at VIF auditorium today. Field Marshal Manekshaw was the Chief of the Army Staff who led the army to achieve the most decisive victory in recent times, when the Pakistan Army was defeated in 14 days and over 93,000 Pakistanis were taken prisoners. Manekshaw showed uncommon ability to motivate the forces. The Bangladesh Campaign was a classic Tri-Service blitzkrieg that for the first time after World War II led to the formation of a new state with the force of arms.

<i>April 2, 2010</i> A Memorial Lecture to celebrate the 96th Birth Anniversary of Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw was orgainsed jointly by the Vivekananda International Foundation and Indian Military Review, a defence magazine launched in January 2010, at VIF auditorium today. Field Marshal Manekshaw was the Chief of the Army Staff who led the army to achieve the most decisive victory in recent times, when the Pakistan Army was defeated in 14 days and over 93,000 Pakistanis were taken prisoners. Manekshaw showed uncommon ability to motivate the forces. The Bangladesh Campaign was a classic Tri-Service blitzkrieg that for the first time after World War II led to the formation of a new state with the force of arms.