The theme for our March 2011 event was "Identity". What makes us who we are - part of the human race and yet different from one another? What does it mean when people say “just be yourself”? The simple answer may be identity, but how is identity constructed? Every religious and cultural tradition and academic discipline attempts to answer this question. And depending on who we are, our own identity, we find some of these answers more satisfactory than others. Our March event was dedicated to exploring the complex and multifaceted notion of identity. Our speakers hailed from different disciplines, but shared with us their unique interpretations of what makes us who we are.

Bandra Kurla Complex, SF 2 G Block
Bandra East
Mumbai, 400098
India

Jillian Campana

Dr. Jillian Campana is the Artistic Director of Studio Three Theatre which focuses on social, political and cross cultural theatre and has performed with the group in Europe, Asia, the US and Brazil. She has been honored at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for her Theatre work in higher education. Jillian is currently conducting a research project in Sweden and Finland that looks at the impact the Arts can have in brain injury rehabilitation as well as preparing to hear her new play, Waking Up In Brahmin Heights, performed at the American Center here in Mumbai in April. Most recently she has used Drama Therapy to help girls who have been rescued from human trafficking. The end of the school year will see Campana returning to the faculty at the University of Montana in the US where she teaches in the Theatre Department and the Creative Pulse, a Masters of Arts teacher program. Campana holds a Ph.D. in Theatre for Social Justice and teaches at various colleges in Mumbai. She is also the high school theatre teacher at the American School of Bombay.

Namita Devidayal

Namita Devidayal is the author of the highly acclaimed memoir 'The Music Room', which was described by Mick Jagger as "the best book on music he has ever read". She also wrote the bestselling novel 'Aftertaste' about an indian business family. She is a graduate of Princeton University and works as a journalist with The Times of India in mumbai.