Scholars from the US, India and China pay tribute to Paul Robeson in the year of his 125th birth anniversary. From the US is Anthony Monteiro, Du Boisian scholar and activist. Zhang Weiwei joins us from the China Institute at Fudan university. From India is Sumangala Damodaran, economist and music researcher.

The interview touches upon the unity of folk music, the Afro-Asiatic civilizational complex and the role of culture in the struggle for peace and freedom. Sumangala Damodaran is an economist, an artist and a researcher of music. She has written the book “The Radical Impulse: Music in the Tradition of IPTA” about the Indian People’s Theatre Association about a very significant cultural organization that emerged during India’s freedom struggle. She also has several albums and has collaborated with musicians around the world, particularly from Africa.

We interview Du Boisian scholar Dr. Anthony Monteiro as we commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of revolutionary artist and freedom fighter, Paul Robeson. The conversation covers the life of Paul Robeson, the crisis in US society, the shift towards a multipolar world, Black spirituals and artificial intelligence.

A dialogue between well known writer Martin Jacques, author of "When China Rules the World" and Sudheendra Kulkarni, former advisor to Prime Minister of India

A dialogue between renowned Chinese intellectual Zhang Wewei, author of "China Wave: Rise of a Civilisational State" and M. K. Bhadrakumar, former Ambassador who has served in Soviet Union and other territories

A dialogue between Lin Minwang, professor of South Asian Studies in Fudan University and Arun Kumar, noted economist and former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University on poverty elimination.

S.A. Dange was a product of the Indian freedom movement that represented the strivings of the poor and working masses of people. He gave his life to the struggle against illiteracy, disease and poverty. He was moulded and shaped in the great labor struggles which took place in the Bombay mills, where he earned the respect and trust of working Indian people. More information here.

Through their lives, we addressed the role of women in the freedom movement, as well as how both these revolutionaries saw the struggle for Indian independence as part of the humanity wide anti colonial movement for freedom. Both figures were involved in the peace movement and the task of building unity across nations. More information here.

A lecture by Pascal Nazareth, as well as a screening of the documentary King in the Wilderness  were held at the historic Indian Institute for World Culture to explore and commemorate the deep relationship between the Indian struggle for freedom and the African American liberation movement. An exhibition of over 60 photographs commemorated the civil rights movement and the Kings' visit to India. More information here.