The second edition of The Huddle gets underway on February 17 and 18 at the ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru. Presented by Yes Bank, The Huddle, a thoughts and ideas conclave, is a platform that attempts to bring under a single roof some of the best minds from politics, academia, the entertainment industry, the corporate world, sports and civil society. Some of the distinguished guests on the opening day include former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar and exiled former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed. 3.30 p.m. On setting up of a Chinese embassy in Maldives during his tenure, Mr. Nasheed says, "There is nothing much we could do. In 2007, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom visited China and next year we has set up an embassy there. When I came to power, I had no choice but to allow China to set up an embassy in Male." On criticism about not doing anything different from his predecessors, he says, "Power does have a sense of continuity. You can topple a dictator, but cannot overthrow dictatorship . If I could go back, I would not have done I what I did. But, I would ask for more assistance from the neighbours." 3 p.m. Former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed speaks about the crisis in his country. "As I speak here today, more number of our people are being beaten up, journalists are in intensive care in hospital. Is that a crisis? In a liberal country like India, it would look like a crisis. But, we have been dished this menu for last hundreds of years. The real crisis springs from land grab, state within the state created by ISIS. The first crisis is this. There is far more attack on Maldives today by land grabbers. The Maldives has become a land grab paradise." There is problem in Maldives, this will have an impact on everyone in the Indian ocean, he says. Session 4: Maldives in Crisis: Former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed in conversation with Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu 1.30 p.m. Stating that there is no bigger divide than between those who think and speak in English and those who use regional languages, Mr. Das said there is intolerance in name of tolerance. "We are not living in an age of anger, but I feel we are living in an age of grievance. Our sentiments get hurt easily. In a digital India, anyone and everyone can take offence and our law allows this too," says Mr. Chandrachud, adding that it is time we think about reform in our laws. He gives example of Contempt of Court and says that the law should only be applied if the contempt is on the face of the judge and not on Twitter. Mr. Swamy says that the Indian Society is divided into Hindutva which does not talk to left and left which does not want to listen to Hindutva. Both have to accept the Constitution. Disagreeing with Mr. Chandrachud, Mr. Das says that everyone is angry in India. "The Left have been angry since he fall of the Berlin wall, the dalits are angry with upper castes, gaurakshaks are upset as their man (Narendra Modi) calls them criminals, the ordinary Hindus are angry as they are made to feel ashamed of his religion. But the angriest are the vernacular speaking because the English Speaking are cornering fruits of progress." 1.10 p.m. Stating that there is disillusionment setting in among the younger generation in India, Malini Parathasarathy said, "The hate politics and minority bashing is threatening the democratic fabric." She said that we must allow cultural identities and secularism to flourish. Mr. Swamy said that there is a feeling that Hindu community has got a raw deal in terms of the Uniform Civil Code, triple talaq and integration of Kashmir. The issue is that the consolidation of Hindu community continues and challenges the existing thought. But it is within the Constitution, he says. Session 3 Age of Anger: The polarisation in public discourse Malini Parthasarthy, Co-Chairperson, The Hindu Group, Subramanian Swamy, economist & politician, Gurcharan Das, author, commentatr, Abhinav Chandrachud, advocate. In conversation with Mini Kapoor, Ideas Editor, The Hindu. 12.45 p.m. On adopting two villages in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, Tendulkar says, "It gives me great satisfaction. The Andhra Pradesh village is defecation-free now. The second village has different religions coming together and mingling well. We are looking forward to development there." On women in sports, he says women are backbone of any family and if we encourage them from grassroot, the future is going to be bright. On whether India are the favourites for the next World Cup, Tendulkar says, "We better be favourites, we have done really well. We are doing things correctly. We are winning matches in middle overs because of the wrist spinners. It is fantastic." On whether wrist spinners have space in Test cricket, Tendulkar says, "Though it is a tougher job to take wickets in test format, but the world is not used to it. Before they figure out, we should win as many matches as possible." On his vision for India, he says: "Sports has power to keep everyone together and it should become part of everyone's life. Also, parental support to play sports, to move towards fit and healthy India. It will be a big day for me when parents ask their children 'What did you play today?." 12.30 p.m. Stating that money never mattered when he played, it was about what the score board said, Tendulkar says that we need to take are of our sport heroes. "We have failed some of our heroes. A sportsperson's career end by the age of 40. For their second innings, we need to offer them financial security," he says, adding that we must form an organisation that employees retired sportspersons. 12.15 p.m. Nikhil Naz introduces Sachin as a Tennis Player before becoming a cricketer. "Love for sports started with tennis. At one point, I modelled my looks after John McEnroe. Along with other sports, Tennis caught my attention. I had to choose between tennis and cricket," says Tendulkar, who religiously follows tennis matches. On his support for Roger Federer, he says that he always told him never to retire. "That was for selfish reasons. I wanted to see him play," says Sachin. On whether he would become a golf player, he says I would love to play golf, but it is so different from cricket. My parents gave me the right to play. My father never forced me to follow his footsteps. "That is the greatest gift I have received in my life. Parents should allow children to play sports, not just to win medals, but for health reasons," he says. I want to transform India from sports-loving nation to sports-playing nation. "Right to education and Right to Sports can make a great partnership," says Tendulkar, adding that sports should part of curriculum and we should educate our younger generations about the hundreds of athletes we have produced. Session 2: Khelo India: Going from loving sports to playing it. Sachin Tendulkar, former Indian cricketer and captain, in conversation with Nikhil Naz, Consulting Sports Editor, NDTV. 11.45 a.m. Farahnaz Ispahani says that this not hr first exile, but it is more difficult. In General Musharaff's time, we left overnight to the U.S. But, there was hope when Benazir Bhutto was leading. Benazir, who was in exile for 10 years, kept in touch with party leaders and workers even in exile. People were angry when they lost Benazir again. But, she taught us to keep our voice alive. In our second exile, which may not end, we are keeping the voice alive through social media and our writings." Speaking of the toll that the exile has taken on his family life, Mr. Nasheed says, "I am not a politician and it was just an accident that I became the President. I am not interested in becoming the President again, but I dont want my daughters to be tortured." 11.30 a.m. Speaking about his exile, Mr. Chandrahasan says, "The Sri Lankan government had a provision allowing a designated militant to be killed in an encounter without inquiry. I as defending 53 persons in the Supreme Court. All were killed. We started lobbying and talking to journalists and the military put a knife to a journalist. We had to leave Sri Lanka. It was in 1983. We thought it wont last long. But, we could return only in 2010. Now, we are in the process of facilitating the return of people. India is a role model on how they have taken care of refugees." 11 a.m. Session 1 Exile: The challenges of leading from afar with Former President of Maldivs Mohamed Nasheed, Farahnaz Ispahani, writer, SC Chandrahasan, Human Rights Activist. The Panel is moderated by N. Ram, Chairman, The Hindu Group. Introducing the session, Mr. Ram says that the idea of leading from afar has a long and vibrant history. He gives examples of Ayatolla Khomeini, Iranian political leader and Juan Peron from Argentina. Stating that this is not his first time in exile, Mr. Nasheed says, "I went into exile in 2004 to Colombo, where we formed a political party. But I was forced to leave after an attack on me. I had to leave to England, where we were able to amend th constitution of Maldives nd come back. But, I was once again arrested, but by this time we had become a movement. We had an election and we formed the first democratic government in Maldives. It lasted for three and a half years. After a coup I sought refuge in Indian High Commission." On Indian intervention in Maldives, Mr. Nasheed says, 'We see India as a liberating force and not as an occupying force." 10.45 a.m. Mukund Padmanabhan, Editor, The Hindu, inaugurates the second edition of The Huddle. Stating that the conclave has not been organised to pitch on idea against other, but to enable people to embrace newer ideas and review their biases. "The spirit of togetherness is what is The Huddle," he says. R. Ravichander, Regional Director, South, Yes Bank, says that the star-studded line-up of exerts will engage in insightful talk and exchange ideas. Former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed joins Mr. Padmanabhan, Mr. Ravichander and other dignitaries to formally inaugurate the conclave.

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