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SPEAKING EVENTS

I am frequently invited to speak at universities, cultural institutions, festivals, and independent forums, where my sessions bridge cinema studies, cultural theory, and critical writing with accessible public dialogue. My work explores the intersections of film, sound, and visual culture, always connecting them to broader social, political, and historical contexts.

Central to my practice is a dedicated focus on writing and thinking critically about Kashmir and refugee studies. I examine how forced displacement, memory, and identity are articulated through media and narrative.

My Speaking Themes

My talks are designed to encourage attentive listening and reflective thinking. Core themes include:

Cinema and Conflict: Analyzing visual representations of war and political struggle.

Refugee Studies: Critically engaging with the aesthetics and politics of displacement.

Sound and Memory: How auditory archives shape our understanding of the past.

Kashmir Studies: Focused research on the region’s cultural and political complexities.

Media Theory & Film Criticism: Blending scholarly insight with public-facing critique.

Format & Engagement

I adapt my presentations for diverse audiences, ranging from rigorous academic programs to independent learning platforms. I frequently serve as a moderator for in-depth film discussions with filmmakers and lead author sessions at book launches, facilitating conversations that bridge the gap between the creator and the audience.

Whether through keynote addresses, panel discussions, guest talks, or curated series, my goal is to foster a nuanced interpretation of moving images and cultural texts.

I am always open to new collaborations and speaking engagements. If you’re interested in booking a session or a moderated discussion, please drop me a line at info@niyatibhat.com with your event details, including the dates and scope.

A conversation with director Isabel Herguera, after the screening of Sultana’s Dream​ at Instituto Cervantes New Delhi, 16 December 2025

My Memory is Getting in the Way of Your History: Tracing the Lives of Invisible Kashmiri Pandit Women of Kashmir Valley from 19th-21st Century”. National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 8 May 2024.

Kashmiri Poetry with Niyati Bhat, The Alipore Post Online Festival, 21 March 2020

A conversation with translator Tanveer Ajsi and Manoj Kaul, son of Hari Krishna Kaul on his father’s literary legacy. At the event “The Complete Short Stories of Hari Krishna Kaul in Koshur”. 5 September 2025, India International Centre, New Delhi.

A Discourse on Kashmir with MK Raina and Niyati Bhat, moderated by Anuradha Reddy: Poetry Reading, New Delhi, Feb 2025.

A conversation with filmmaker Samarth Mahajan at the screening of the documentary Borderlands: 29 August 2025 at the Twilight Film Club, Harmony House, SACAC campus.

The Swinging Seventies: Delhi Book Launch and Karaoke Night, Kunzum Bookstore, New Delhi, 5 August 2024.

The women of 70s Hindi cinema and their on-screen portrayals, moderated by the iconic television writer, Gajra Kottary, with co-panelists Vinta Nanda, Nandini Ramnath, Ratnottama Sengupta and Alaka Sahani.

I moderated the second session of the day with industry stalwarts: Sathya Saran, Amrit Gangar, Deepa Buty, Deepa Gahlot and Rotnottama Sengupta on the panel.

The Swinging Seventies: Mumbai Book Launch, St Paul’s Institute with Om Books and The Daily Eye, Mumbai, 17 August 2024

Aberystwyth Poetry Festival (Poetry Reading): International Feminist Poetry with Niyati Bhat (Poems on Kashmir and Being a Woman in 21st Century India), 5 May 2024.

Kumaon Literary Festival: Documentation of India’s Cultural Heritage: From Analog to Digital. In conversation with Asha Barmola, Yatindra Mishra and Anant Vijay, 19 October 2022, Srinagar, Kashmir.

Kumaon Literary Festival: Kashmir’s New Age Writers and Thinkers: In conversation with Arhan Bagati, Manpreet Koul and Tamanna Slathia, 20 October 2022, Srinagar, Kashmir.

HIFF 2022: Habitat International Film Festival: South Korean Cinema in Focus. Introduced the South Korean films and conducted post-screening discussions as a cinema and culture expert. 6-15 May 2022.

Guest Speaker : “The Greatest Kashmiri Stories Ever Told” translated by Neerja Mattoo,India International Centre, 12 April 2022.

Kalinga Literary Festival: In Conversation with author Sandeep Raina, November, 2020

Lakshmibai College, University of Delhi: An Online Session on Creative Writing and Editing, April 2020.

Left, Right and Centre with Nidhi Razdan, NDTV India, 30 years of KP exodus, January, 2020.

The Essayist’s Attic

The Essayist’s Attic is a newsletter about cinema, literature, music and culture.

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