The Hindu On Books https://www.thehindu.com/ en 484663 The Hindu on Books is a weekly podcast from India's national newspaper on the latest and the best from the world of literature. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/2190f5aa-52b8-11ec-b803-17c827fdd760/image/11348085-1613288252360-540359bf6b8e2.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress The Hindu On Books https://www.thehindu.com/ no episodic The Hindu The Hindu on Books is a weekly podcast from India's national newspaper on the latest and the best from the world of literature. The Hindu socmed5@thehindu.co.in Dr. Sneh Bhargava on Indira Gandhi’s Final Hours Dr. Sneh Bhargava, AIIMS Delhi’s first and still only woman director, shares her vivid memories of October 31, 1984: the day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot and rushed into AIIMS while Dr. Bhargava’s appointment was being confirmed. In this podcast, Dr. Bhargava describes the chaos in the casualty ward, the desperate medical efforts to revive Mrs. Gandhi, and the political pressures that followed. She also reflects on her trailblazing career in radiology, her fight for modernising the department, and her unwavering stand against political interference. Now 95, Dr. Bhargava has released her memoir The Woman Who Ran AIIMS, revisiting the day India’s history changed, and her role in leading India’s top medical institution through its darkest hours. Host: Soma Basu Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:27:00 -0000 full The Hindu Dr. Sneh Bhargava, AIIMS Delhi’s first and still only woman director, shares her vivid memories of October 31, 1984: the day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot and rushed into AIIMS while Dr. Bhargava’s appointment was being confirmed. In this podcast, Dr. Bhargava describes the chaos in the casualty ward, the desperate medical efforts to revive Mrs. Gandhi, and the political pressures that followed. She also reflects on her trailblazing career in radiology, her fight for modernising the department, and her unwavering stand against political interference. Now 95, Dr. Bhargava has released her memoir The Woman Who Ran AIIMS, revisiting the day India’s history changed, and her role in leading India’s top medical institution through its darkest hours. Host: Soma Basu Dr. Sneh Bhargava, AIIMS Delhi’s first and still only woman director, shares her vivid memories of October 31, 1984: the day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot and rushed into AIIMS while Dr. Bhargava’s appointment was being confirmed. In this podcast, Dr. Bhargava describes the chaos in the casualty ward, the desperate medical efforts to revive Mrs. Gandhi, and the political pressures that followed. She also reflects on her trailblazing career in radiology, her fight for modernising the department, and her unwavering stand against political interference. Now 95, Dr. Bhargava has released her memoir The Woman Who Ran AIIMS, revisiting the day India’s history changed, and her role in leading India’s top medical institution through its darkest hours.


Host: Soma Basu

]]> 2207 Ira Mukhoty on the history of the Awadh empire The book brings in granular detail about the Awadh Nawabs, their political history, culture and their struggle with the British. It also captures the echoes of the French and English rivalry in the Indian courts, chronicling the various French men who worked in Awadh, Delhi and Mysore. Equally it is a story of two powerful women- Nawab Begum and Bahu Begum, who assert their agency both in laying down the foundation of the Awadh realm and also help in holding it up.   Host: Sobhana K. Nair  Edited by Sharmada Venkatsubramanian.  Wed, 28 Aug 2024 10:56:24 -0000 Ira Mukhoty on the history of the Awadh empire full The Hindu In this episode, we speak to the author on her latest book " The Lion and the Lily: The Rise and Fall of Awadh." The book brings in granular detail about the Awadh Nawabs, their political history, culture and their struggle with the British. It also captures the echoes of the French and English rivalry in the Indian courts, chronicling the various French men who worked in Awadh, Delhi and Mysore. Equally it is a story of two powerful women- Nawab Begum and Bahu Begum, who assert their agency both in laying down the foundation of the Awadh realm and also help in holding it up.   Host: Sobhana K. Nair  Edited by Sharmada Venkatsubramanian.  The book brings in granular detail about the Awadh Nawabs, their political history, culture and their struggle with the British. It also captures the echoes of the French and English rivalry in the Indian courts, chronicling the various French men who worked in Awadh, Delhi and Mysore. Equally it is a story of two powerful women- Nawab Begum and Bahu Begum, who assert their agency both in laying down the foundation of the Awadh realm and also help in holding it up.  

Host: Sobhana K. Nair 

Edited by Sharmada Venkatsubramanian. 

]]> 2013 Joseph Stiglitz on the role of government in the economy In the 20th century, free market economists such as Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek argued that a limited government that allows markets to flourish can lead a country down the road to economic prosperity.  But in his latest book "The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society", American economist and 2001 Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz argues that we should not place too much faith in markets and increase the role of the government to uphold the common good. Host: Prashanth Perumal Edited by Jude Francis Weston Mon, 19 Aug 2024 10:35:10 -0000 Joseph Stiglitz on the role of government in the economy full The Hindu In this episode, the author talks about his book 'The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society’. In the 20th century, free market economists such as Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek argued that a limited government that allows markets to flourish can lead a country down the road to economic prosperity.  But in his latest book "The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society", American economist and 2001 Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz argues that we should not place too much faith in markets and increase the role of the government to uphold the common good. Host: Prashanth Perumal Edited by Jude Francis Weston In the 20th century, free market economists such as Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek argued that a limited government that allows markets to flourish can lead a country down the road to economic prosperity. 

But in his latest book "The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society", American economist and 2001 Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz argues that we should not place too much faith in markets and increase the role of the government to uphold the common good.

Host: Prashanth Perumal

Edited by Jude Francis Weston

]]> 2143 Tim Walker on his book commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Tim Walker took to writing children’s novels at the age of 45 and became popular with his series of action-adventure stories published as a trilogy in 2007. The books -- Shipley Manor, The Flying Fizzler and Rise of the Rattler – unbottled his thoughts on everything, from corporate greed to religious extremism. The award winning designer-turned author has now published his second book, which has a link with one of India’s worst catastrophes, the Bhopal gas tragedy. Tim’s book titled The Prisoner of Bhopal is a historical fiction novel based on the real incident, which he says he wrote for children of the present generation who were not a witness to the tragedy. In 1984 when Tim was working as a young graphic designer, he was tasked with designing a leaflet on a pesticide for Union Carbide, which was similar to that manufactured at their plant in Bhopal. As he was completing his task, the Bhopal disaster was announced over the radio, and Tim was asked to stop work. The events of that day stuck with him and inspired him to write about it decades later and incidentally, the book has been published in the year commemorating the 40th anniversary of the disaster. From corporate misconduct to climate change, Tim covers it all in The Prisoner of War by telling an intriguing story of a 10-year-old boy who is kidnapped and how it connects to the Bhopal gas leak. Tim says his book will help children to learn about different cultures, places and issues, explore different perspectives and develop deeper understanding of the world in the past. Host: Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu Edited by Jude Francis Weston Tue, 16 Jul 2024 15:20:00 -0000 Tim Walker on his book commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy full The Hindu In this episode, the author talks about his book 'The Prisoner of Bhopal, a historical fiction novel about the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. Tim Walker took to writing children’s novels at the age of 45 and became popular with his series of action-adventure stories published as a trilogy in 2007. The books -- Shipley Manor, The Flying Fizzler and Rise of the Rattler – unbottled his thoughts on everything, from corporate greed to religious extremism. The award winning designer-turned author has now published his second book, which has a link with one of India’s worst catastrophes, the Bhopal gas tragedy. Tim’s book titled The Prisoner of Bhopal is a historical fiction novel based on the real incident, which he says he wrote for children of the present generation who were not a witness to the tragedy. In 1984 when Tim was working as a young graphic designer, he was tasked with designing a leaflet on a pesticide for Union Carbide, which was similar to that manufactured at their plant in Bhopal. As he was completing his task, the Bhopal disaster was announced over the radio, and Tim was asked to stop work. The events of that day stuck with him and inspired him to write about it decades later and incidentally, the book has been published in the year commemorating the 40th anniversary of the disaster. From corporate misconduct to climate change, Tim covers it all in The Prisoner of War by telling an intriguing story of a 10-year-old boy who is kidnapped and how it connects to the Bhopal gas leak. Tim says his book will help children to learn about different cultures, places and issues, explore different perspectives and develop deeper understanding of the world in the past. Host: Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu Edited by Jude Francis Weston Tim Walker took to writing children’s novels at the age of 45 and became popular with his series of action-adventure stories published as a trilogy in 2007. The books -- Shipley Manor, The Flying Fizzler and Rise of the Rattler – unbottled his thoughts on everything, from corporate greed to religious extremism.

The award winning designer-turned author has now published his second book, which has a link with one of India’s worst catastrophes, the Bhopal gas tragedy. Tim’s book titled The Prisoner of Bhopal is a historical fiction novel based on the real incident, which he says he wrote for children of the present generation who were not a witness to the tragedy.

In 1984 when Tim was working as a young graphic designer, he was tasked with designing a leaflet on a pesticide for Union Carbide, which was similar to that manufactured at their plant in Bhopal. As he was completing his task, the Bhopal disaster was announced over the radio, and Tim was asked to stop work. The events of that day stuck with him and inspired him to write about it decades later and incidentally, the book has been published in the year commemorating the 40th anniversary of the disaster.

From corporate misconduct to climate change, Tim covers it all in The Prisoner of War by telling an intriguing story of a 10-year-old boy who is kidnapped and how it connects to the Bhopal gas leak. Tim says his book will help children to learn about different cultures, places and issues, explore different perspectives and develop deeper understanding of the world in the past.

Host: Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu

Edited by Jude Francis Weston

]]> 2154 Duvvuri Subbarao on his journey as a civil servant | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/duvvuri-subbarao-on-his-journey-as-a-civil-servant-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article68335039.ece Each year, some of the brightest young Indians join the civil services with the desire to serve the nation. But very soon they find out the steep challenges ahead as they need to battle, among other things, politicians who have other interests to serve. In "Just A Mercenary?: Notes from my Life and Career", former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao chronicles his journey as a civil servant and offers aspiring civil servants some hard-learned lessons from his decades-long career.  Host: Prashanth Perumal   Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Wed, 26 Jun 2024 05:37:00 -0000 Duvvuri Subbarao on his journey as a civil servant | The Hindu On Books podcast full The Hindu The author chronicles his journey as a civil servant and RBI governor in his memoir ‘Just A Mercenary?: Notes from my Life and Career.’ Each year, some of the brightest young Indians join the civil services with the desire to serve the nation. But very soon they find out the steep challenges ahead as they need to battle, among other things, politicians who have other interests to serve. In "Just A Mercenary?: Notes from my Life and Career", former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao chronicles his journey as a civil servant and offers aspiring civil servants some hard-learned lessons from his decades-long career.  Host: Prashanth Perumal   Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian  Each year, some of the brightest young Indians join the civil services with the desire to serve the nation. But very soon they find out the steep challenges ahead as they need to battle, among other things, politicians who have other interests to serve. In "Just A Mercenary?: Notes from my Life and Career", former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao chronicles his journey as a civil servant and offers aspiring civil servants some hard-learned lessons from his decades-long career. 


Host: Prashanth Perumal  

Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

]]> 1630 Karthik Muralidharan on how to accelerate India’s development It has been over 75 years since India attained independence and became the world's largest democracy. But there is still a huge unfinished task that is holding back India's economic growth potential, and that is the task of strengthening the capacity of the Indian state to deliver public goods and services to citizens, argues Karthik Muralidharan, the Tata Chancellor's professor of economics at the University of California San Diego. The author discussed the historic reasons behind India's poor state capacity, the elements of state capacity and also practical ways to boost state capacity in India in latest book "Accelerating India's Development: A State-led Roadmap for Effective Governance". Host: Prashanth Perumal  Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Tue, 04 Jun 2024 17:16:00 -0000 Karthik Muralidharan on how to accelerate India’s development full The Hindu In this episode, the author explores the historical reasons behind India's poor state capacity, the elements of state capacity, and practical ways to enhance it. It has been over 75 years since India attained independence and became the world's largest democracy. But there is still a huge unfinished task that is holding back India's economic growth potential, and that is the task of strengthening the capacity of the Indian state to deliver public goods and services to citizens, argues Karthik Muralidharan, the Tata Chancellor's professor of economics at the University of California San Diego. The author discussed the historic reasons behind India's poor state capacity, the elements of state capacity and also practical ways to boost state capacity in India in latest book "Accelerating India's Development: A State-led Roadmap for Effective Governance". Host: Prashanth Perumal  Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian It has been over 75 years since India attained independence and became the world's largest democracy. But there is still a huge unfinished task that is holding back India's economic growth potential, and that is the task of strengthening the capacity of the Indian state to deliver public goods and services to citizens, argues Karthik Muralidharan, the Tata Chancellor's professor of economics at the University of California San Diego. The author discussed the historic reasons behind India's poor state capacity, the elements of state capacity and also practical ways to boost state capacity in India in latest book "Accelerating India's Development: A State-led Roadmap for Effective Governance".

Host: Prashanth Perumal 

Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

]]> 1677 Ruskin Bond: Ninety and counting He started writing his first novel at the age of 17. When he was 23, he won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for The Room on the Roof. In his mid-20s, he returned to India and continued to do what he loved best — writing — while trying to make a living with other jobs. But, finally, he retreated to the place he was most at home — the hills of northern India — and continued to write. Yes, we are talking about Ruskin Bond, everyone’s favourite author.  Today, on his 90th birthday, Bond continues to write: about hills, Nature, life and more. And we continue to read. Let’s celebrate this iconic writer by taking a look at just four books from his prolific output. Host: R. Krithika, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Jude Francis Weston and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Sun, 19 May 2024 06:07:00 -0000 Ruskin Bond: Ninety and counting full The Hindu On the author’s birthday, R. Krithika explores four of Ruskin Bond’s books, both new and old. He started writing his first novel at the age of 17. When he was 23, he won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for The Room on the Roof. In his mid-20s, he returned to India and continued to do what he loved best — writing — while trying to make a living with other jobs. But, finally, he retreated to the place he was most at home — the hills of northern India — and continued to write. Yes, we are talking about Ruskin Bond, everyone’s favourite author.  Today, on his 90th birthday, Bond continues to write: about hills, Nature, life and more. And we continue to read. Let’s celebrate this iconic writer by taking a look at just four books from his prolific output. Host: R. Krithika, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Jude Francis Weston and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian He started writing his first novel at the age of 17. When he was 23, he won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for The Room on the Roof. In his mid-20s, he returned to India and continued to do what he loved best — writing — while trying to make a living with other jobs. But, finally, he retreated to the place he was most at home — the hills of northern India — and continued to write. Yes, we are talking about Ruskin Bond, everyone’s favourite author. 

Today, on his 90th birthday, Bond continues to write: about hills, Nature, life and more. And we continue to read. Let’s celebrate this iconic writer by taking a look at just four books from his prolific output.

Host: R. Krithika, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu.

Edited by Jude Francis Weston and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

]]> 454 Dalit literature: Decoding voices of resistance and despair | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/dalit-literature-decoding-voices-of-resistance-and-despair-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article68123624.ece Celebrated as the Dalit History Month, April is the time to reflect upon Dalit literature. There are many books in multiple Indian languages that raise issues related to caste and casteist patriarchy, oppression of the marginalised communities and their quest for equality. The Dalit history month was started in India in 2015 by a group of young women activists who came together to assert their rights and resistance to the existing class conscious system. April also commemorates the birth of Babasaheb Ambedkar besides celebrating and honouring the prominent figures of the community who have contributed to the Dalit movement. Dalit literature has its origins in the exploitation, persecution and exclusion of Dalits. The subjugation also gave birth to people who fought against race and ethnicity and championed civil rights movements. Treated as a strong and separate category of literature, the documentation of Dalit history and experiences lent a new voice to a more inclusive understanding of the community. There are many books that have ushered in fresh perspectives for empowering those who have challenged oppression for social equality and human dignity. The books included in the podcast and the Bibliography are: 1. Annihilation of Caste and The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables by Dr.B R Ambedkar 2. Ambedkar: A Life by Shashi Tharoor 3. Harijan by Gopinath Mohanty 4. Baluta by Daya Pawar 5. When I Hid My Caste by Baburao Bagul 6. Jina Amucha by Baby Kamble 7. Karukku by Bama 8. Koolamaathaari by Perumal Murugan 9. Chandal Jibon by Manoranjan Byapari 10. Joothan by Omprakash Valmiki Edited by Jude Francis Weston Tue, 30 Apr 2024 04:15:00 -0000 Dalit literature: Decoding voices of resistance and despair | The Hindu On Books podcast full The Hindu Celebrated as the Dalit History Month, April is the time to reflect upon Dalit literature. There are many books in multiple Indian languages that raise issues related to caste and casteist patriarchy, oppression of the marginalised communities and their quest for equality. The Dalit history month was started in India in 2015 by a group of young women activists who came together to assert their rights and resistance to the existing class conscious system. April also commemorates the birth of Babasaheb Ambedkar besides celebrating and honouring the prominent figures of the community who have contributed to the Dalit movement. Dalit literature has its origins in the exploitation, persecution and exclusion of Dalits. The subjugation also gave birth to people who fought against race and ethnicity and championed civil rights movements. Treated as a strong and separate category of literature, the documentation of Dalit history and experiences lent a new voice to a more inclusive understanding of the community. There are many books that have ushered in fresh perspectives for empowering those who have challenged oppression for social equality and human dignity. The books included in the podcast and the Bibliography are: 1. Annihilation of Caste and The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables by Dr.B R Ambedkar 2. Ambedkar: A Life by Shashi Tharoor 3. Harijan by Gopinath Mohanty 4. Baluta by Daya Pawar 5. When I Hid My Caste by Baburao Bagul 6. Jina Amucha by Baby Kamble 7. Karukku by Bama 8. Koolamaathaari by Perumal Murugan 9. Chandal Jibon by Manoranjan Byapari 10. Joothan by Omprakash Valmiki Edited by Jude Francis Weston Celebrated as the Dalit History Month, April is the time to reflect upon Dalit literature. There are many books in multiple Indian languages that raise issues related to caste and casteist patriarchy, oppression of the marginalised communities and their quest for equality.

The Dalit history month was started in India in 2015 by a group of young women activists who came together to assert their rights and resistance to the existing class conscious system.

April also commemorates the birth of Babasaheb Ambedkar besides celebrating and honouring the prominent figures of the community who have contributed to the Dalit movement.

Dalit literature has its origins in the exploitation, persecution and exclusion of Dalits. The subjugation also gave birth to people who fought against race and ethnicity and championed civil rights movements. Treated as a strong and separate category of literature, the documentation of Dalit history and experiences lent a new voice to a more inclusive understanding of the community.

There are many books that have ushered in fresh perspectives for empowering those who have challenged oppression for social equality and human dignity. The books included in the podcast and the Bibliography are:

1. Annihilation of Caste and The Untouchables: Who Were They and Why They Became Untouchables by Dr.B R Ambedkar

2. Ambedkar: A Life by Shashi Tharoor

3. Harijan by Gopinath Mohanty

4. Baluta by Daya Pawar

5. When I Hid My Caste by Baburao Bagul

6. Jina Amucha by Baby Kamble

7. Karukku by Bama

8. Koolamaathaari by Perumal Murugan

9. Chandal Jibon by Manoranjan Byapari

10. Joothan by Omprakash Valmiki


Edited by Jude Francis Weston

]]> 978 Reading Ram Vilas Paswan, the ‘weathervane’ of Indian politics Ram Vilas Paswan was a steady presence in national politics for more than four decades. He has held Cabinet posts in several governments, including stints in key ministries such as Railways and Telecom. He is one of the faces associated with the historic implementation of the Mandal Commission report on OBC reservations. As someone adept at sensing shifts in political climate before others could, he was able to make the most of his political capital. But what is the nature of his legacy as a Dalit leader? A new biography, titled ‘Ram Vilas Paswan: The Weathervane of Indian Politics’ by Sobhana K Nair offers a nuanced answer to this question. Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:00:36 -0000 Reading Ram Vilas Paswan, the ‘weathervane’ of Indian politics full The Hindu In her book, the author delves into Ram Vilas Paswan's journey, focusing on his advocacy for Dalits, political alliances, and lasting impact on Indian politics. Ram Vilas Paswan was a steady presence in national politics for more than four decades. He has held Cabinet posts in several governments, including stints in key ministries such as Railways and Telecom. He is one of the faces associated with the historic implementation of the Mandal Commission report on OBC reservations. As someone adept at sensing shifts in political climate before others could, he was able to make the most of his political capital. But what is the nature of his legacy as a Dalit leader? A new biography, titled ‘Ram Vilas Paswan: The Weathervane of Indian Politics’ by Sobhana K Nair offers a nuanced answer to this question. Ram Vilas Paswan was a steady presence in national politics for more than four decades. He has held Cabinet posts in several governments, including stints in key ministries such as Railways and Telecom. He is one of the faces associated with the historic implementation of the Mandal Commission report on OBC reservations. As someone adept at sensing shifts in political climate before others could, he was able to make the most of his political capital. But what is the nature of his legacy as a Dalit leader?


A new biography, titled ‘Ram Vilas Paswan: The Weathervane of Indian Politics’ by Sobhana K Nair offers a nuanced answer to this question.

]]> 2909 Brinda Karat on the struggles of working as a woman activist and politician | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/brinda-karat-on-the-struggles-of-working-as-a-woman-activist-and-politician-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article67780017.ece Brinda Karat has been working with the CPI(M) for the last 53-years. And this memoir by her is primarily about the ten-years from imposition of emergency in 1975 till 1985 when she lived under the assumed name of Rita. It is also a story of a young upper middle class girl, who left her job with Air India in London to join the communist movement and struggles of working as a woman activist & politician. The book also chronicles stories of common workers, trade unionists and their struggles during the emergency years.   Fri, 26 Jan 2024 12:32:00 -0000 Brinda Karat on the struggles of working as a woman activist and politician full The Hindu The author discusses how the communist movement confronted the Emergency period in India in her book ‘An Education For Rita: A Memoir, 1975-1985.’ Brinda Karat has been working with the CPI(M) for the last 53-years. And this memoir by her is primarily about the ten-years from imposition of emergency in 1975 till 1985 when she lived under the assumed name of Rita. It is also a story of a young upper middle class girl, who left her job with Air India in London to join the communist movement and struggles of working as a woman activist & politician. The book also chronicles stories of common workers, trade unionists and their struggles during the emergency years.   Brinda Karat has been working with the CPI(M) for the last 53-years. And this memoir by her is primarily about the ten-years from imposition of emergency in 1975 till 1985 when she lived under the assumed name of Rita. It is also a story of a young upper middle class girl, who left her job with Air India in London to join the communist movement and struggles of working as a woman activist & politician. The book also chronicles stories of common workers, trade unionists and their struggles during the emergency years.  

]]> 2002 Decoding global semiconductor geopolitics and India’s strategic options | The Hindu On Books podcast Most of us would remember the sudden shortage of semiconductor chips during the pandemic – how it affected automobile manufacturing, delaying deliveries, and in many cases, even caused manufacturers to deliver cars without some features. But semiconductors form an integral component of not just cars but almost any high tech device we use today – from smartphones and laptops to televisions, satellites and, of course, all kinds of advanced military hardware. As nations jockey for geopolitical dominance, in addition to traditional factors such as military capabilities and economic power, technological prowess has become another, and perhaps most critical factor. Control over the manufacture and availability of the most advanced semiconductors is a key element of geopolitical security and strategic autonomy. And yet, geopolitics and semiconductor supply chains have mostly figured in separate debates. A new book, titled ‘When the Chips are Down’, by Pranay Lotasthane and Abhiram Manchi brings the two parallel discourses together, and also presents a framework for understanding where India fits into the picture. We speak with the authors Pranay Kotasthane and Abhiram Manchi.  Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:51:16 -0000 Decoding global semiconductor geopolitics and India’s strategic options | The Hindu On Books podcast full The Hindu Authors Pranay Kotasthane and Abhiram Manchi discuss geopolitics and semiconductor supply chains in their recent book titled ‘When the Chips are Down.’ Most of us would remember the sudden shortage of semiconductor chips during the pandemic – how it affected automobile manufacturing, delaying deliveries, and in many cases, even caused manufacturers to deliver cars without some features. But semiconductors form an integral component of not just cars but almost any high tech device we use today – from smartphones and laptops to televisions, satellites and, of course, all kinds of advanced military hardware. As nations jockey for geopolitical dominance, in addition to traditional factors such as military capabilities and economic power, technological prowess has become another, and perhaps most critical factor. Control over the manufacture and availability of the most advanced semiconductors is a key element of geopolitical security and strategic autonomy. And yet, geopolitics and semiconductor supply chains have mostly figured in separate debates. A new book, titled ‘When the Chips are Down’, by Pranay Lotasthane and Abhiram Manchi brings the two parallel discourses together, and also presents a framework for understanding where India fits into the picture. We speak with the authors Pranay Kotasthane and Abhiram Manchi.  Most of us would remember the sudden shortage of semiconductor chips during the pandemic – how it affected automobile manufacturing, delaying deliveries, and in many cases, even caused manufacturers to deliver cars without some features. But semiconductors form an integral component of not just cars but almost any high tech device we use today – from smartphones and laptops to televisions, satellites and, of course, all kinds of advanced military hardware.

As nations jockey for geopolitical dominance, in addition to traditional factors such as military capabilities and economic power, technological prowess has become another, and perhaps most critical factor. Control over the manufacture and availability of the most advanced semiconductors is a key element of geopolitical security and strategic autonomy.

And yet, geopolitics and semiconductor supply chains have mostly figured in separate debates. A new book, titled ‘When the Chips are Down’, by Pranay Lotasthane and Abhiram Manchi brings the two parallel discourses together, and also presents a framework for understanding where India fits into the picture.


We speak with the authors Pranay Kotasthane and Abhiram Manchi. 

]]> 2938 Carlo Rovelli on why it is important to understand ‘white holes’ | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/carlo-rovelli-on-why-it-is-important-to-understand-white-holes-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article67504051.ece What are black holes? Mainstream physics sees them as Universe’s ultimate agents of death; afterall, what crosses over beyond the rim of the black hole – or its event horizon as it is known – disappears forever. Even all pervasive light cannot escape it. Science also shows that the universe is littered with billions upon billions of enormous black holes, capable of swallowing entire galaxies. But are they really the Universe’s cosmic executioners? Not necessarily, suggests Carlo Rovelli, one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists and prolific author of extremely accessible and thoughtful popular-books on modern physics. In his latest book, ‘White Holes', Professor Rovelli, discusses, well, so called ‘white holes.’ They may be the yin to the black holes’s yang, or as Rovelli describes it in Tolkienisque terms --the transformation of ‘Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White.’ In this podcast, we also talk about the role of scientific speculation, how scientific progress requires abandoning comforting assumptions, how new universes may be born, and whether we need to re-evaluate our commonly held notions of past and future.  Mon, 06 Nov 2023 11:08:00 -0000 Carlo Rovelli on why it is important to understand ‘white holes’ | The Hindu On Books podcast full The Hindu The author and theoretical physicist discusses so called ‘white holes’ in his latest book called ‘White holes: Inside the Horizon.’ What are black holes? Mainstream physics sees them as Universe’s ultimate agents of death; afterall, what crosses over beyond the rim of the black hole – or its event horizon as it is known – disappears forever. Even all pervasive light cannot escape it. Science also shows that the universe is littered with billions upon billions of enormous black holes, capable of swallowing entire galaxies. But are they really the Universe’s cosmic executioners? Not necessarily, suggests Carlo Rovelli, one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists and prolific author of extremely accessible and thoughtful popular-books on modern physics. In his latest book, ‘White Holes', Professor Rovelli, discusses, well, so called ‘white holes.’ They may be the yin to the black holes’s yang, or as Rovelli describes it in Tolkienisque terms --the transformation of ‘Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White.’ In this podcast, we also talk about the role of scientific speculation, how scientific progress requires abandoning comforting assumptions, how new universes may be born, and whether we need to re-evaluate our commonly held notions of past and future.  What are black holes? Mainstream physics sees them as Universe’s ultimate agents of death; afterall, what crosses over beyond the rim of the black hole – or its event horizon as it is known – disappears forever. Even all pervasive light cannot escape it. Science also shows that the universe is littered with billions upon billions of enormous black holes, capable of swallowing entire galaxies. But are they really the Universe’s cosmic executioners? Not necessarily, suggests Carlo Rovelli, one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists and prolific author of extremely accessible and thoughtful popular-books on modern physics. In his latest book, ‘White Holes', Professor Rovelli, discusses, well, so called ‘white holes.’ They may be the yin to the black holes’s yang, or as Rovelli describes it in Tolkienisque terms --the transformation of ‘Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White.’ In this podcast, we also talk about the role of scientific speculation, how scientific progress requires abandoning comforting assumptions, how new universes may be born, and whether we need to re-evaluate our commonly held notions of past and future. 


]]> 3060 Nidhi Sharma on the trials and tribulations of women in politics | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/nidhi-sharma-on-the-trials-and-tribulations-of-women-in-politics-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article67403670.ece Did you know that women were barred from public gallery of the British Parliament. Some 245 years back in 1778 women were thrown out of the public gallery of the House of Common. Fighting against their exclusion, the women began to listen in to the proceedings sitting close to the to the ventilator-shafts of the Parliament. And they continued to do this for 56-years, till the British Parliament was burnt down in accidental fire, a in the new Palace of Westminster, a ladies gallery was constructed. Women had to fight a long battle in Britian for voting rights. We in India take pride, that we have always had universal franchise. But has it been really that simple? Especially for the women politicians. We discuss the trials and tribulations of women in politics with author Nidhi Sharma who chronicles the life of 17 women leaders in her book - She, The Leader: Women In Indian Politics.  Tue, 10 Oct 2023 11:19:00 -0000 Nidhi Sharma on the trials and tribulations of women in politics full The Hindu The author chronicles the lives of 17 women leaders in her recent book, ‘She, The Leader: Women in Indian Politics.’ Did you know that women were barred from public gallery of the British Parliament. Some 245 years back in 1778 women were thrown out of the public gallery of the House of Common. Fighting against their exclusion, the women began to listen in to the proceedings sitting close to the to the ventilator-shafts of the Parliament. And they continued to do this for 56-years, till the British Parliament was burnt down in accidental fire, a in the new Palace of Westminster, a ladies gallery was constructed. Women had to fight a long battle in Britian for voting rights. We in India take pride, that we have always had universal franchise. But has it been really that simple? Especially for the women politicians. We discuss the trials and tribulations of women in politics with author Nidhi Sharma who chronicles the life of 17 women leaders in her book - She, The Leader: Women In Indian Politics.  Did you know that women were barred from public gallery of the British Parliament. Some 245 years back in 1778 women were thrown out of the public gallery of the House of Common. Fighting against their exclusion, the women began to listen in to the proceedings sitting close to the to the ventilator-shafts of the Parliament. And they continued to do this for 56-years, till the British Parliament was burnt down in accidental fire, a in the new Palace of Westminster, a ladies gallery was constructed. Women had to fight a long battle in Britian for voting rights. We in India take pride, that we have always had universal franchise. But has it been really that simple? Especially for the women politicians. We discuss the trials and tribulations of women in politics with author Nidhi Sharma who chronicles the life of 17 women leaders in her book - She, The Leader: Women In Indian Politics. 

]]> 1530 Rosie Llewellyn-Jones on the East India Company's impact on India This week we are discussing "Empire Building-The Construction of British India 1690-1860. The book traces the journey of East India Company, from 1690 when they occupied Calcutta to 1860 a little after the great uprising that led to their demise. There have been several books on the East India Company, but what sets this one apart is the emphasis on the granular details and taking a closer look the changes company brought both in terms physical infrastructures and intellectual outlooks. Listen in, for more details on the first Indian author to publish in West. On the first cantonment, the first hill station and many other firsts for the Indian subcontinent.  Tue, 29 Aug 2023 11:50:42 -0000 Rosie Llewellyn-Jones on the East India Company's impact on India full The Hindu In her book, the author traces the journey of the East India Company, from 1690 when they occupied Calcutta to 1860 a little after the great uprising that led to their demise. This week we are discussing "Empire Building-The Construction of British India 1690-1860. The book traces the journey of East India Company, from 1690 when they occupied Calcutta to 1860 a little after the great uprising that led to their demise. There have been several books on the East India Company, but what sets this one apart is the emphasis on the granular details and taking a closer look the changes company brought both in terms physical infrastructures and intellectual outlooks. Listen in, for more details on the first Indian author to publish in West. On the first cantonment, the first hill station and many other firsts for the Indian subcontinent.  This week we are discussing "Empire Building-The Construction of British India 1690-1860. The book traces the journey of East India Company, from 1690 when they occupied Calcutta to 1860 a little after the great uprising that led to their demise. There have been several books on the East India Company, but what sets this one apart is the emphasis on the granular details and taking a closer look the changes company brought both in terms physical infrastructures and intellectual outlooks. Listen in, for more details on the first Indian author to publish in West. On the first cantonment, the first hill station and many other firsts for the Indian subcontinent. 

]]> 1901 Samrat Choudhury on his new book ‘Northeast India: A Political History’ Author and journalist Samrat Choudhury’s third book comes at the time Manipur is front and centre of the national conversation. The current fault lines between hill and valley, ethnic loyalties that transcend borders inherited from the colonial state, attacks and reprisals are all a bequest of what he says are larger historical issues that have remained unresolved.  Northeast India — A Political History is a “simple, readable, popular history” of the region that maps its long journey from isolation to integration. Mon, 14 Aug 2023 06:03:43 -0000 Samrat Choudhury on his new book ‘Northeast India: A Political History’ full The Hindu The book is a “simple, readable, popular history” of the region that maps its long journey from isolation to integration. Author and journalist Samrat Choudhury’s third book comes at the time Manipur is front and centre of the national conversation. The current fault lines between hill and valley, ethnic loyalties that transcend borders inherited from the colonial state, attacks and reprisals are all a bequest of what he says are larger historical issues that have remained unresolved.  Northeast India — A Political History is a “simple, readable, popular history” of the region that maps its long journey from isolation to integration. Author and journalist Samrat Choudhury’s third book comes at the time Manipur is front and centre of the national conversation. The current fault lines between hill and valley, ethnic loyalties that transcend borders inherited from the colonial state, attacks and reprisals are all a bequest of what he says are larger historical issues that have remained unresolved. 

Northeast India — A Political History is a “simple, readable, popular history” of the region that maps its long journey from isolation to integration.

]]> 1099 How Shinzo Abe changed Japan and its relations with India | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/how-shinzo-abe-changed-japan-and-its-relations-with-india/article67154981.ece In this episode, we are discussing the new book "The Importance of Shinzo Abe: India, Japan and the Indo Pacific", a collection of essays, edited by Sanjaya Baru, examining the legacy of the former Japanese leader who was the country's longest serving Prime Minister in history. Abe stepped down in 2020 citing health reasons, and his shock assassination in 2022 stunned the world. In this podcast, we discuss Abe's impact on Japan, its relations with India and the world. How did Abe transform Japan's security profile? What role did he play in the region embracing an Indo-Pacific strategy? Beyond his undeniable global role, what were some of the darker aspects of his legacy at home? Thu, 03 Aug 2023 14:42:00 -0000 How Shinzo Abe changed Japan and its relations with India full The Hindu Sanjaya Baru and Suhasini Haider speak to us about the new book "The Importance of Shinzo Abe: India, Japan and the Indo-Pacific." In this episode, we are discussing the new book "The Importance of Shinzo Abe: India, Japan and the Indo Pacific", a collection of essays, edited by Sanjaya Baru, examining the legacy of the former Japanese leader who was the country's longest serving Prime Minister in history. Abe stepped down in 2020 citing health reasons, and his shock assassination in 2022 stunned the world. In this podcast, we discuss Abe's impact on Japan, its relations with India and the world. How did Abe transform Japan's security profile? What role did he play in the region embracing an Indo-Pacific strategy? Beyond his undeniable global role, what were some of the darker aspects of his legacy at home? In this episode, we are discussing the new book "The Importance of Shinzo Abe: India, Japan and the Indo Pacific", a collection of essays, edited by Sanjaya Baru, examining the legacy of the former Japanese leader who was the country's longest serving Prime Minister in history. Abe stepped down in 2020 citing health reasons, and his shock assassination in 2022 stunned the world. In this podcast, we discuss Abe's impact on Japan, its relations with India and the world. How did Abe transform Japan's security profile? What role did he play in the region embracing an Indo-Pacific strategy? Beyond his undeniable global role, what were some of the darker aspects of his legacy at home?

]]> 1835 Zac O’ Yeah on his sub-continental adventures with the tummy | The Hindu On Books podcast A lot of people love travelling. Typically, people travel for three reasons: to see new places, to experience new cultures, and to get away from their daily routine. There is a fourth kind of traveller, who is not talked about much -- the one who travels to eat animals and birds they’ve never eaten before, to drink brews and beers they’ve never drunk before, and then, to tell the rest of the world where and how to go about eating and drinking life forms they’ve never consumed before. As professional travel writer, Zac O’ Yeah belongs to the fourth category, but his latest book also offers much more than traveller’s tales – it is a hilarious take on the evolving food cultures and literature and travel in India, and is brilliant in the way interweaves books and writers with hotels and bondas. Zac O’ Yeah’s ‘Digesting India: A Travel Writer’s Sun-continental Adventures with the Tummy (A Memoir a la Carte)’ comes in the wake of several works of non-fiction and fiction, including the famous Hari Majestic trilogy that the Swedish-Indian writer is most known for in India. In this episode, we chat with Zac about his impressions, experiences and discoveries on his literary-culinary romp through the sub-continent. (00:00) Introduction (06:19) Travel writing  (14:40) Bengaluru bookstores (18:31) Love-hate relationship with bondas (24:39) Experience in Bundi  (27:53) The room in Rohet Garh  (32:15) Encounter with RK Narayan (36:20) Kongunadu cuisine (41:57) Street food in Delhi (44:40) Best places for beer in India Wed, 28 Jun 2023 11:26:35 -0000 Zac O’ Yeah on his sub-continental adventures with the tummy | The Hindu On Books podcast full The Hindu In his book, the travel writer journeys through India’s rich culinary traditions and shares his experience. A lot of people love travelling. Typically, people travel for three reasons: to see new places, to experience new cultures, and to get away from their daily routine. There is a fourth kind of traveller, who is not talked about much -- the one who travels to eat animals and birds they’ve never eaten before, to drink brews and beers they’ve never drunk before, and then, to tell the rest of the world where and how to go about eating and drinking life forms they’ve never consumed before. As professional travel writer, Zac O’ Yeah belongs to the fourth category, but his latest book also offers much more than traveller’s tales – it is a hilarious take on the evolving food cultures and literature and travel in India, and is brilliant in the way interweaves books and writers with hotels and bondas. Zac O’ Yeah’s ‘Digesting India: A Travel Writer’s Sun-continental Adventures with the Tummy (A Memoir a la Carte)’ comes in the wake of several works of non-fiction and fiction, including the famous Hari Majestic trilogy that the Swedish-Indian writer is most known for in India. In this episode, we chat with Zac about his impressions, experiences and discoveries on his literary-culinary romp through the sub-continent. (00:00) Introduction (06:19) Travel writing  (14:40) Bengaluru bookstores (18:31) Love-hate relationship with bondas (24:39) Experience in Bundi  (27:53) The room in Rohet Garh  (32:15) Encounter with RK Narayan (36:20) Kongunadu cuisine (41:57) Street food in Delhi (44:40) Best places for beer in India A lot of people love travelling. Typically, people travel for three reasons: to see new places, to experience new cultures, and to get away from their daily routine. There is a fourth kind of traveller, who is not talked about much -- the one who travels to eat animals and birds they’ve never eaten before, to drink brews and beers they’ve never drunk before, and then, to tell the rest of the world where and how to go about eating and drinking life forms they’ve never consumed before. As professional travel writer, Zac O’ Yeah belongs to the fourth category, but his latest book also offers much more than traveller’s tales – it is a hilarious take on the evolving food cultures and literature and travel in India, and is brilliant in the way interweaves books and writers with hotels and bondas.

Zac O’ Yeah’s ‘Digesting India: A Travel Writer’s Sun-continental Adventures with the Tummy (A Memoir a la Carte)’ comes in the wake of several works of non-fiction and fiction, including the famous Hari Majestic trilogy that the Swedish-Indian writer is most known for in India.

In this episode, we chat with Zac about his impressions, experiences and discoveries on his literary-culinary romp through the sub-continent.

(00:00) Introduction

(06:19) Travel writing 

(14:40) Bengaluru bookstores

(18:31) Love-hate relationship with bondas

(24:39) Experience in Bundi 

(27:53) The room in Rohet Garh 

(32:15) Encounter with RK Narayan

(36:20) Kongunadu cuisine

(41:57) Street food in Delhi

(44:40) Best places for beer in India

]]> 3090 Sudha Pai and Sajjan Kumar on the future of Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/sudha-pai-and-sajjan-kumar-on-the-future-of-dalit-politics-in-uttar-pradesh-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article66992959.ece In 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party that originated from a rare Dalit movement in North India in 1984, reached its lowest ebb winning just one seat and garnering merely 12.9 percent votes. With the general elections less than a year away, it raises an important question, what is the future for BSP and Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh. In this episode, we speak to the authors- Professor Sudha Pai and political scientist Sajjan Kumar about their new book - Maya, Modi, Azad- Dalit Politics In The Time of Hindutva. The book analyses the reasons for the BSP's decline, whether and why Dalit voters are attracted to the BJP. It also raises the all-important question - are we in a post-BSP phase in Uttar Pradesh and what is the future of Dalit politics in the state?   Wed, 21 Jun 2023 08:09:00 -0000 Sudha Pai and Sajjan Kumar on the future of Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh full The Hindu The authors analyse the reasons for BSP's decline, and why Dalit voters are attracted to the BJP in their recent book ‘Maya, Modi, Azad- Dalit Politics in The Time Of Hindutva.’ In 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party that originated from a rare Dalit movement in North India in 1984, reached its lowest ebb winning just one seat and garnering merely 12.9 percent votes. With the general elections less than a year away, it raises an important question, what is the future for BSP and Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh. In this episode, we speak to the authors- Professor Sudha Pai and political scientist Sajjan Kumar about their new book - Maya, Modi, Azad- Dalit Politics In The Time of Hindutva. The book analyses the reasons for the BSP's decline, whether and why Dalit voters are attracted to the BJP. It also raises the all-important question - are we in a post-BSP phase in Uttar Pradesh and what is the future of Dalit politics in the state?   In 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party that originated from a rare Dalit movement in North India in 1984, reached its lowest ebb winning just one seat and garnering merely 12.9 percent votes. With the general elections less than a year away, it raises an important question, what is the future for BSP and Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh. In this episode, we speak to the authors- Professor Sudha Pai and political scientist Sajjan Kumar about their new book - Maya, Modi, Azad- Dalit Politics In The Time of Hindutva. The book analyses the reasons for the BSP's decline, whether and why Dalit voters are attracted to the BJP. It also raises the all-important question - are we in a post-BSP phase in Uttar Pradesh and what is the future of Dalit politics in the state?  


]]> 2303 Arati Kumar-Rao on her new book 'Marginlands' | The Hindu On Books podcast In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by Arati Kumar-Rao, an artist, photographer and author of 'Marginlands', a book that chronicles a decade of travels to fringes of the subcontinent that journalism often leaves unexplored: the mangroves of the Sundarbans, the Thar desert and the tidepools of Goa.  In this podcast, Kumar-Rao talks about how she discovers a desert full of water, about the 40 names for clouds the people of the Thar have, how Tagore and Satyajit Ray inform her work, and her form of slow journalism. Thu, 15 Jun 2023 10:55:08 -0000 Arati Kumar-Rao on her new book 'Marginlands' | The Hindu On Books podcast full The Hindu In her book, the artist and photographer brings us stories of people who inhabit the most hostile corners of the subcontinent. In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by Arati Kumar-Rao, an artist, photographer and author of 'Marginlands', a book that chronicles a decade of travels to fringes of the subcontinent that journalism often leaves unexplored: the mangroves of the Sundarbans, the Thar desert and the tidepools of Goa.  In this podcast, Kumar-Rao talks about how she discovers a desert full of water, about the 40 names for clouds the people of the Thar have, how Tagore and Satyajit Ray inform her work, and her form of slow journalism. In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by Arati Kumar-Rao, an artist, photographer and author of 'Marginlands', a book that chronicles a decade of travels to fringes of the subcontinent that journalism often leaves unexplored: the mangroves of the Sundarbans, the Thar desert and the tidepools of Goa. 


In this podcast, Kumar-Rao talks about how she discovers a desert full of water, about the 40 names for clouds the people of the Thar have, how Tagore and Satyajit Ray inform her work, and her form of slow journalism.

]]> 922 Rajeev Bhargava on how the Constitution of India represents the distilled wisdom of the founders of the nation | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/rajeev-bhargava-on-how-the-constitution-of-india-represents-the-distilled-wisdom-of-the-founders-of-the-nation-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article66852743.ece We are living through an era of immense political and social turmoil. People have thought the same in many past eras too. But still, the enormity of the present is something that we cannot overlook.Assumptions about our collective self that evolved over decades have been challenged, and we seem to be in the search for alternative organizing principles. This is true for India, as is for the whole world. Professor Bhargava’s writings in the recent years, seek to address some fundamental questions about how we see ourselves and relate to one another. For Professor Bhargava, the Constitution of India represents the distilled wisdom of the founders of the nation. And it offers a moral compass as well as the institutional framework to create what we call Unity in diversity.  In this episode, we are joined by Rajeev Bhargava who is one of the finest thinkers and political philosophers of our time. He is familiar to the readers of the Hindu, as a regular writer in our op-ed pages.  We discuss with Professor Bhargava his faith in the Constitution, which he considers sacred and why he remains optimistic, regardless of the sectarianism that surrounds us all.  Mon, 15 May 2023 08:02:00 -0000 full The Hindu Bhargava speaks to us about why he considers the constitution sacred, and why he remains optimistic regardless of the sectarianism that surrounds us. We are living through an era of immense political and social turmoil. People have thought the same in many past eras too. But still, the enormity of the present is something that we cannot overlook.Assumptions about our collective self that evolved over decades have been challenged, and we seem to be in the search for alternative organizing principles. This is true for India, as is for the whole world. Professor Bhargava’s writings in the recent years, seek to address some fundamental questions about how we see ourselves and relate to one another. For Professor Bhargava, the Constitution of India represents the distilled wisdom of the founders of the nation. And it offers a moral compass as well as the institutional framework to create what we call Unity in diversity.  In this episode, we are joined by Rajeev Bhargava who is one of the finest thinkers and political philosophers of our time. He is familiar to the readers of the Hindu, as a regular writer in our op-ed pages.  We discuss with Professor Bhargava his faith in the Constitution, which he considers sacred and why he remains optimistic, regardless of the sectarianism that surrounds us all.  We are living through an era of immense political and social turmoil. People have thought the same in many past eras too. But still, the enormity of the present is something that we cannot overlook.Assumptions about our collective self that evolved over decades have been challenged, and we seem to be in the search for alternative organizing principles. This is true for India, as is for the whole world. Professor Bhargava’s writings in the recent years, seek to address some fundamental questions about how we see ourselves and relate to one another. For Professor Bhargava, the Constitution of India represents the distilled wisdom of the founders of the nation. And it offers a moral compass as well as the institutional framework to create what we call Unity in diversity. 

In this episode, we are joined by Rajeev Bhargava who is one of the finest thinkers and political philosophers of our time. He is familiar to the readers of the Hindu, as a regular writer in our op-ed pages. 

We discuss with Professor Bhargava his faith in the Constitution, which he considers sacred and why he remains optimistic, regardless of the sectarianism that surrounds us all. 

]]> 4131 Yogesh Maitreya on Dalit representation in India | The Hindu On Books podcast In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by Yogesh Maitreya a leading independent Dalit publisher, writer and poet.  We are discussing his memoir, ‘Water In A Broken Pot’- where he recounts his life journey growing up in a working-class family with meagre wages to starting publishing house - Panther's Paw Publication from the hostel room of Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 2017. The memoir is more than the story of his personal struggles. It is an introspective account of growing up in a casteist society that interrogates both his own self, his family, friends and the society at large. It questions the stereotypes that we have grown up with in the mainstream media, both films & books and how it leads to othering of an entire section of society. Tue, 02 May 2023 12:02:22 -0000 Yogesh Maitreya on Dalit representation in India | The Hindu On Books podcast full The Hindu In the memoir, 'Water in a Broken Pot', the author writes an interrogative account of growing up as a Dalit and how they are denied right to their stories. In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by Yogesh Maitreya a leading independent Dalit publisher, writer and poet.  We are discussing his memoir, ‘Water In A Broken Pot’- where he recounts his life journey growing up in a working-class family with meagre wages to starting publishing house - Panther's Paw Publication from the hostel room of Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 2017. The memoir is more than the story of his personal struggles. It is an introspective account of growing up in a casteist society that interrogates both his own self, his family, friends and the society at large. It questions the stereotypes that we have grown up with in the mainstream media, both films & books and how it leads to othering of an entire section of society. In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by Yogesh Maitreya a leading independent Dalit publisher, writer and poet. 

We are discussing his memoir, ‘Water In A Broken Pot’- where he recounts his life journey growing up in a working-class family with meagre wages to starting publishing house - Panther's Paw Publication from the hostel room of Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 2017. The memoir is more than the story of his personal struggles. It is an introspective account of growing up in a casteist society that interrogates both his own self, his family, friends and the society at large. It questions the stereotypes that we have grown up with in the mainstream media, both films & books and how it leads to othering of an entire section of society.

]]> 1726 Tanvi Srivastava on tracing the life of an Indian teenager in Japan during WWII and life in Netaji's Indian National Army | The Hindu On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/tanvi-srivastava-on-tracing-the-life-of-an-indian-teenager-in-japan-during-wwii-and-life-in-netajis-indian-national-army-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article66423040.ece The War Diary of Asha-san: From Tokyo to Netaji’s Indian National Army is based on the diary Asha-san wrote in Japanese while growing up in Japan during the World War II. The English translation published by HarperCollins, is not a simple memoir but a book rich in history that also tells the story of the Indian National Army and the freedom movement.   At 17, she lived her dream -- of meeting Bose and joining the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the INA. As Lt. Bharati Asha Sahay Choudhury, the young girl learnt how to hold a rifle and shoot the enemy and what it meant to be fighting for the liberation of a country she had never seen but wanted to serve like a true patriot. Her adventurous journey from Japan to Thailand for the Army training, is no less than a thriller, says Tanvi.   The Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombing and Subhash Bose’s death changed the course of Asha-san’s life as she returned to India in 1946. She now lives in Patna with her son, Sanjay Choudhury. The memories of her struggles and sacrifice would have been lost in the pages of her diary if she had not herself translated it into Hindi in 1973. Half-a-century later, her grand daughter-in-law, Tanvi Srivastava, has translated the Hindi diary into English and on 126th birth anniversary of Netaji (January 23), the book is a perfect gift from a family that was close to one of the greatest nationalist heroes.       This is an interview with the translator Tanvi Srivastava. Mon, 23 Jan 2023 07:55:00 -0000 full The Hindu Short story and fiction writer Tanvi Srivastava’s first book as a translator is the life story of Asha-san, who was born in Kobe in 1928 and groomed by her parents to live for India’s freedom. The War Diary of Asha-san: From Tokyo to Netaji’s Indian National Army is based on the diary Asha-san wrote in Japanese while growing up in Japan during the World War II. The English translation published by HarperCollins, is not a simple memoir but a book rich in history that also tells the story of the Indian National Army and the freedom movement.   At 17, she lived her dream -- of meeting Bose and joining the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the INA. As Lt. Bharati Asha Sahay Choudhury, the young girl learnt how to hold a rifle and shoot the enemy and what it meant to be fighting for the liberation of a country she had never seen but wanted to serve like a true patriot. Her adventurous journey from Japan to Thailand for the Army training, is no less than a thriller, says Tanvi.   The Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombing and Subhash Bose’s death changed the course of Asha-san’s life as she returned to India in 1946. She now lives in Patna with her son, Sanjay Choudhury. The memories of her struggles and sacrifice would have been lost in the pages of her diary if she had not herself translated it into Hindi in 1973. Half-a-century later, her grand daughter-in-law, Tanvi Srivastava, has translated the Hindi diary into English and on 126th birth anniversary of Netaji (January 23), the book is a perfect gift from a family that was close to one of the greatest nationalist heroes.       This is an interview with the translator Tanvi Srivastava. The War Diary of Asha-san: From Tokyo to Netaji’s Indian National Army is based on the diary Asha-san wrote in Japanese while growing up in Japan during the World War II. The English translation published by HarperCollins, is not a simple memoir but a book rich in history that also tells the story of the Indian National Army and the freedom movement.  

At 17, she lived her dream -- of meeting Bose and joining the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the INA. As Lt. Bharati Asha Sahay Choudhury, the young girl learnt how to hold a rifle and shoot the enemy and what it meant to be fighting for the liberation of a country she had never seen but wanted to serve like a true patriot. Her adventurous journey from Japan to Thailand for the Army training, is no less than a thriller, says Tanvi.  

The Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombing and Subhash Bose’s death changed the course of Asha-san’s life as she returned to India in 1946. She now lives in Patna with her son, Sanjay Choudhury. The memories of her struggles and sacrifice would have been lost in the pages of her diary if she had not herself translated it into Hindi in 1973. Half-a-century later, her grand daughter-in-law, Tanvi Srivastava, has translated the Hindi diary into English and on 126th birth anniversary of Netaji (January 23), the book is a perfect gift from a family that was close to one of the greatest nationalist heroes.      

This is an interview with the translator Tanvi Srivastava.

]]> 1786 Mark Galeotti on the attack on terrorism in Chechnya amid the post-Soviet chaos to the invasion of Ukraine In over more than 30 books about Russia, author Mark Galeotti has uncovered and explained the factors behind the rise of President Vladimir Putin, and his remarkable successes in wars, ranging from the attack on terrorism in Chechnya amid the post-Soviet chaos to the invasion of Ukraine last February. His latest book Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine follows a prescient 2019 book, We Need to Talk About Putin: How the West Gets Him Wrong, on why the world should have paid more attention to Moscow’s moves in the past few years. Guest: Mark Galeotti Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Edited by Reenu Cyriac Sat, 07 Jan 2023 13:34:58 -0000 full The Hindu Mark Galeotti speaks to us on his recent book, Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine In over more than 30 books about Russia, author Mark Galeotti has uncovered and explained the factors behind the rise of President Vladimir Putin, and his remarkable successes in wars, ranging from the attack on terrorism in Chechnya amid the post-Soviet chaos to the invasion of Ukraine last February. His latest book Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine follows a prescient 2019 book, We Need to Talk About Putin: How the West Gets Him Wrong, on why the world should have paid more attention to Moscow’s moves in the past few years. Guest: Mark Galeotti Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Edited by Reenu Cyriac In over more than 30 books about Russia, author Mark Galeotti has uncovered and explained the factors behind the rise of President Vladimir Putin, and his remarkable successes in wars, ranging from the attack on terrorism in Chechnya amid the post-Soviet chaos to the invasion of Ukraine last February. His latest book Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine follows a prescient 2019 book, We Need to Talk About Putin: How the West Gets Him Wrong, on why the world should have paid more attention to Moscow’s moves in the past few years.

Guest: Mark Galeotti

Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Edited by Reenu Cyriac

]]> 1961 Ravinder Kaur on India’s ‘nation building’ and global identity | On Books podcast https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/ravinder-kaur-on-indias-nation-building-and-global-identity-on-books-podcast/article65826084.ece ‘Nation branding’ has replaced ‘nation building’ these days, Ravinder Kaur argues in her fascinating and provocative book, ‘Brand New Nation.’ She explains how India blends cultural and material factors to build its global identity, and how this branding efforts impact domestic politics. Mon, 29 Aug 2022 11:15:00 -0000 Ravinder Kaur on India’s ‘nation building’ and global identity full The Hindu Kaur explains the creation of the nation’s ‘brand image’ to build its global identity in her recent book ‘Brand New Nation: Capitalist Dreams and Nationalist Designs in Twenty-First-Century India.’ ‘Nation branding’ has replaced ‘nation building’ these days, Ravinder Kaur argues in her fascinating and provocative book, ‘Brand New Nation.’ She explains how India blends cultural and material factors to build its global identity, and how this branding efforts impact domestic politics. ‘Nation branding’ has replaced ‘nation building’ these days, Ravinder Kaur argues in her fascinating and provocative book, ‘Brand New Nation.’ She explains how India blends cultural and material factors to build its global identity, and how this branding efforts impact domestic politics.

]]> 2348 Shruti Kapila on violence and fraternity in Indian political thought As the title, Violent Fraternity: Indian Political Thought in the Global Age, suggests, Shruti Kapila’s latest book deals with fraternity, violence and sovereignty. Her core argument is that violence has not been as distant from India’s politics as we have been told. In this episode, Kapila talks about the role of violence in the making of the Indian republic. Zeroing in on the ‘power of ideas’ in instituting the political foundations of modern India, Kapila also looks at the role of Buddhism. Host: Varghese K. George Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:46:00 -0000 full The Hindu Shruti Kapila speaks to us on her book 'Violent Fraternity: Indian Political Thought in the Global Age' As the title, Violent Fraternity: Indian Political Thought in the Global Age, suggests, Shruti Kapila’s latest book deals with fraternity, violence and sovereignty. Her core argument is that violence has not been as distant from India’s politics as we have been told. In this episode, Kapila talks about the role of violence in the making of the Indian republic. Zeroing in on the ‘power of ideas’ in instituting the political foundations of modern India, Kapila also looks at the role of Buddhism. Host: Varghese K. George As the title, Violent Fraternity: Indian Political Thought in the Global Age, suggests, Shruti Kapila’s latest book deals with fraternity, violence and sovereignty. Her core argument is that violence has not been as distant from India’s politics as we have been told. In this episode, Kapila talks about the role of violence in the making of the Indian republic. Zeroing in on the ‘power of ideas’ in instituting the political foundations of modern India, Kapila also looks at the role of Buddhism.

Host: Varghese K. George

]]> 2415 Shyam Saran on the authoritative view of India-China relationship In this episode we are in conversation with the former chairman of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) Shyam saran about his new book, How China sees India and the world and the authoritative view of India-China relationship. Two years after the Galwan clashes on June 15-16, 2020, in which at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed, the government says it has still not ascertained why China amassed its troops in such large numbers at the border. In this episode, author Shyam Saran lists a number of reasons while also delving deep into the historic relationships between the two countries. With dates, events and personality, this book sums up volumes of Chinese history, giving it a very comprehensive and uniquely Indian perspective as well. In this episode of the On Books podcast, we discuss some of the history but most importantly talk about what we can learn from China that will help up deal with this challenge today and in the future.  Fri, 01 Jul 2022 07:02:36 -0000 Shyam Saran on the authoritative view of India-China relationship full The Hindu Shyam Saran traces decades of Indo-Chinese history and the reasons behind clashes in his book How China sees India and the world. In this episode we are in conversation with the former chairman of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) Shyam saran about his new book, How China sees India and the world and the authoritative view of India-China relationship. Two years after the Galwan clashes on June 15-16, 2020, in which at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed, the government says it has still not ascertained why China amassed its troops in such large numbers at the border. In this episode, author Shyam Saran lists a number of reasons while also delving deep into the historic relationships between the two countries. With dates, events and personality, this book sums up volumes of Chinese history, giving it a very comprehensive and uniquely Indian perspective as well. In this episode of the On Books podcast, we discuss some of the history but most importantly talk about what we can learn from China that will help up deal with this challenge today and in the future.  In this episode we are in conversation with the former chairman of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) Shyam saran about his new book, How China sees India and the world and the authoritative view of India-China relationship.

Two years after the Galwan clashes on June 15-16, 2020, in which at least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed, the government says it has still not ascertained why China amassed its troops in such large numbers at the border. In this episode, author Shyam Saran lists a number of reasons while also delving deep into the historic relationships between the two countries.

With dates, events and personality, this book sums up volumes of Chinese history, giving it a very comprehensive and uniquely Indian perspective as well. In this episode of the On Books podcast, we discuss some of the history but most importantly talk about what we can learn from China that will help up deal with this challenge today and in the future. 

]]> 2670 Rahul Sagar on How Nineteenth Century Indians Saw Their World and Shaped Ours https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/rahul-sagar-on-how-nineteenth-century-indians-saw-their-world-and-shaped-ours-on-books-podcast/article65514033.ece In this episode, we are joined by Rahul Sagar, author of a new book that sheds light on how Indian thinkers in the 19th century viewed India’s place in the world and how their debates would leave a lasting impact on India’s strategic thought in the 20th century. “To Raise a Fallen People: How Nineteenth Century Indians Saw Their World and Shaped Ours” looks at the late 19th century as a critical but often ignored period in India’s intellectual history, but one that, as the author argues, would become a seminal moment in how Indians came to think about India’s place in the world as they wrestled with colonialism and other contemporary developments, from racism faced by Indians in South Africa to the devastating impact of opium trade on the economies of India and China. Guest: Rahul Sagar, author of “To Raise a Fallen People: How Nineteenth Century Indians Saw Their World and Shaped Ours” Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu Edited by Reenu Cyriac Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:15:33 -0000 full The Hindu Rahul Sagar speaks to us on his recent book, which sheds light on how Indian thinkers in the 19th century viewed India’s place in the world and how their debates would leave a lasting impact on India’s strategic thought in the 20th century. In this episode, we are joined by Rahul Sagar, author of a new book that sheds light on how Indian thinkers in the 19th century viewed India’s place in the world and how their debates would leave a lasting impact on India’s strategic thought in the 20th century. “To Raise a Fallen People: How Nineteenth Century Indians Saw Their World and Shaped Ours” looks at the late 19th century as a critical but often ignored period in India’s intellectual history, but one that, as the author argues, would become a seminal moment in how Indians came to think about India’s place in the world as they wrestled with colonialism and other contemporary developments, from racism faced by Indians in South Africa to the devastating impact of opium trade on the economies of India and China. Guest: Rahul Sagar, author of “To Raise a Fallen People: How Nineteenth Century Indians Saw Their World and Shaped Ours” Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu Edited by Reenu Cyriac In this episode, we are joined by Rahul Sagar, author of a new book that sheds light on how Indian thinkers in the 19th century viewed India’s place in the world and how their debates would leave a lasting impact on India’s strategic thought in the 20th century. “To Raise a Fallen People: How Nineteenth Century Indians Saw Their World and Shaped Ours” looks at the late 19th century as a critical but often ignored period in India’s intellectual history, but one that, as the author argues, would become a seminal moment in how Indians came to think about India’s place in the world as they wrestled with colonialism and other contemporary developments, from racism faced by Indians in South Africa to the devastating impact of opium trade on the economies of India and China.

Guest: Rahul Sagar, author of “To Raise a Fallen People: How Nineteenth Century Indians Saw Their World and Shaped Ours”

Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu

Edited by Reenu Cyriac

]]> 2029 Rasheed Kidwai on the defining figures in Indian politics https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/rasheed-kidwai-on-the-defining-figures-in-indian-politics-on-books-podcast/article65367127.ece In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by senior journalist Rasheed Kidwai author of “Leaders, Politicians, Citizens- Fifty Figures Who Influenced India’s Politics”. Mr. Kidwai has been a journalist for over three decades while writing political columns for multiple publications, he is also a visiting fellow with the Observer Research Foundation. This book is an unusual anthology of public figures and Mr. Kidwai goes beyond the usual cradle to grave narrative. He dredges up their quirks, fears, insecurities, ambitions, and disappointments. From a fascinating account of the hold astrologer, Chandraswami had on international leaders including former Prime Minister of UK Margret Thatcher, to the original political strategist of India Arun Nehru, the book brings in an interesting mix of characters, some well-known and a few forgotten ones. Guest: Rasheed Kidwai, journalist and author of “Leaders, Politicians, Citizens- Fifty Figures Who Influenced India’s Politics” Host: Sobhana K. Nair Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan Fri, 29 Apr 2022 13:11:35 -0000 full The Hindu Rasheed Kidwai speaks to us on his recent book, which brings in an interesting mix of characters from Indian politics, some well-known and some forgotten In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by senior journalist Rasheed Kidwai author of “Leaders, Politicians, Citizens- Fifty Figures Who Influenced India’s Politics”. Mr. Kidwai has been a journalist for over three decades while writing political columns for multiple publications, he is also a visiting fellow with the Observer Research Foundation. This book is an unusual anthology of public figures and Mr. Kidwai goes beyond the usual cradle to grave narrative. He dredges up their quirks, fears, insecurities, ambitions, and disappointments. From a fascinating account of the hold astrologer, Chandraswami had on international leaders including former Prime Minister of UK Margret Thatcher, to the original political strategist of India Arun Nehru, the book brings in an interesting mix of characters, some well-known and a few forgotten ones. Guest: Rasheed Kidwai, journalist and author of “Leaders, Politicians, Citizens- Fifty Figures Who Influenced India’s Politics” Host: Sobhana K. Nair Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan In this episode of On Book Podcast with The Hindu, we are joined by senior journalist Rasheed Kidwai author of “Leaders, Politicians, Citizens- Fifty Figures Who Influenced India’s Politics”. Mr. Kidwai has been a journalist for over three decades while writing political columns for multiple publications, he is also a visiting fellow with the Observer Research Foundation. This book is an unusual anthology of public figures and Mr. Kidwai goes beyond the usual cradle to grave narrative. He dredges up their quirks, fears, insecurities, ambitions, and disappointments. From a fascinating account of the hold astrologer, Chandraswami had on international leaders including former Prime Minister of UK Margret Thatcher, to the original political strategist of India Arun Nehru, the book brings in an interesting mix of characters, some well-known and a few forgotten ones.

Guest: Rasheed Kidwai, journalist and author of “Leaders, Politicians, Citizens- Fifty Figures Who Influenced India’s Politics”

Host: Sobhana K. Nair

Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan

]]> 1843 Jan Breman and Ghanshyam Shah on Gujarat as the cradle of identity politics In this episode, we are joined by two distinguished scholars who have closely documented the changing social and political trends in India for close to half a century, Jan Breman and Ghanshyam Shah. The two of them have come out with a new book, titled ‘Gujarat, Cradle and Harbinger of Identity Politics: India’s Injurious Frame of Communalism’, published by Tulika Books. This book, a collection of essays written during the period of Hindutva’s growth in Gujarat and beyond, is an attempt to answer why majoritarian politics found fertile ground in Gujarat, of all places. In this edition of The Hindu On Books podcast, we speak with Breman and Shah about the history of communal politics in India, how it has evolved over the years, Gujarat’s role in its expansion, and whether it is changing the average India’s sense of nationhood and what it means to be an Indian. Guest: Jan Breman, Professor Emeritus of Comparative Sociology at the University of Amsterdam and Honorary Fellow at the International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam and Ghanshyam Shah, retired Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and was earlier Dr Ambedkar Chair Professor at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Edited by Reenu Cyriac Fri, 15 Apr 2022 13:18:13 -0000 full The Hindu Jan Breman and Ghanshyam Shah speak to us on the history of communal politics in India, Gujarat’s role in its expansion, and whether it is changing the average India’s sense of nationhood and what it means to be an Indian In this episode, we are joined by two distinguished scholars who have closely documented the changing social and political trends in India for close to half a century, Jan Breman and Ghanshyam Shah. The two of them have come out with a new book, titled ‘Gujarat, Cradle and Harbinger of Identity Politics: India’s Injurious Frame of Communalism’, published by Tulika Books. This book, a collection of essays written during the period of Hindutva’s growth in Gujarat and beyond, is an attempt to answer why majoritarian politics found fertile ground in Gujarat, of all places. In this edition of The Hindu On Books podcast, we speak with Breman and Shah about the history of communal politics in India, how it has evolved over the years, Gujarat’s role in its expansion, and whether it is changing the average India’s sense of nationhood and what it means to be an Indian. Guest: Jan Breman, Professor Emeritus of Comparative Sociology at the University of Amsterdam and Honorary Fellow at the International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam and Ghanshyam Shah, retired Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and was earlier Dr Ambedkar Chair Professor at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Edited by Reenu Cyriac In this episode, we are joined by two distinguished scholars who have closely documented the changing social and political trends in India for close to half a century, Jan Breman and Ghanshyam Shah.

The two of them have come out with a new book, titled ‘Gujarat, Cradle and Harbinger of Identity Politics: India’s Injurious Frame of Communalism’, published by Tulika Books. This book, a collection of essays written during the period of Hindutva’s growth in Gujarat and beyond, is an attempt to answer why majoritarian politics found fertile ground in Gujarat, of all places.

In this edition of The Hindu On Books podcast, we speak with Breman and Shah about the history of communal politics in India, how it has evolved over the years, Gujarat’s role in its expansion, and whether it is changing the average India’s sense of nationhood and what it means to be an Indian.

Guest: Jan Breman, Professor Emeritus of Comparative Sociology at the University of Amsterdam and Honorary Fellow at the International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam and Ghanshyam Shah, retired Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and was earlier Dr Ambedkar Chair Professor at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.

Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Edited by Reenu Cyriac

]]> 3025 Shrayana Bhattacharya on ‘Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh’ and women’s agency https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/shrayana-bhattacharya-on-desperately-seeking-shah-rukh-and-womens-agency-on-books-podcast/article65317838.ece In this episode, we are joined by Shrayana Bhattacharya author of ‘Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India’s Lonely Young Women and The Search for Intimacy And Independence’. She is a technocrat who works with the World Bank as an economist. The genre-bending book maps the economic and personal trajectories - the jobs, desires, prayers, love affairs and rivalries of a diverse group of women. Deep adoration for actor Shahrukh Khan is the only unifying factor among these women. It talks about the hidden tax that working women have to pay. Breaking all the social science rules, the book talks about the economic burden of being a woman through individual stories. The reader gets to see and feel first-hand of the emotional cost of pay disparity, skewed labour markets and simply lack of freedom to choose. It took Ms. Bhattacharya 15-years to cover this longitudinal journey from the slums of Ahmedabad in 2006 where, as a young researcher she had gone for her first field trip. Guest: Shrayana Bhattacharya, technocrat who works with the World Bank as an economist Host: Sobhana K. Nair Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan Wed, 13 Apr 2022 13:04:00 -0000 full The Hindu Shrayana Bhattacharya speaks to us on the economic burden of being a woman and the hidden tax that working women have to pay In this episode, we are joined by Shrayana Bhattacharya author of ‘Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India’s Lonely Young Women and The Search for Intimacy And Independence’. She is a technocrat who works with the World Bank as an economist. The genre-bending book maps the economic and personal trajectories - the jobs, desires, prayers, love affairs and rivalries of a diverse group of women. Deep adoration for actor Shahrukh Khan is the only unifying factor among these women. It talks about the hidden tax that working women have to pay. Breaking all the social science rules, the book talks about the economic burden of being a woman through individual stories. The reader gets to see and feel first-hand of the emotional cost of pay disparity, skewed labour markets and simply lack of freedom to choose. It took Ms. Bhattacharya 15-years to cover this longitudinal journey from the slums of Ahmedabad in 2006 where, as a young researcher she had gone for her first field trip. Guest: Shrayana Bhattacharya, technocrat who works with the World Bank as an economist Host: Sobhana K. Nair Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan In this episode, we are joined by Shrayana Bhattacharya author of ‘Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India’s Lonely Young Women and The Search for Intimacy And Independence’. She is a technocrat who works with the World Bank as an economist. The genre-bending book maps the economic and personal trajectories - the jobs, desires, prayers, love affairs and rivalries of a diverse group of women. Deep adoration for actor Shahrukh Khan is the only unifying factor among these women. It talks about the hidden tax that working women have to pay. Breaking all the social science rules, the book talks about the economic burden of being a woman through individual stories. The reader gets to see and feel first-hand of the emotional cost of pay disparity, skewed labour markets and simply lack of freedom to choose. It took Ms. Bhattacharya 15-years to cover this longitudinal journey from the slums of Ahmedabad in 2006 where, as a young researcher she had gone for her first field trip.

Guest: Shrayana Bhattacharya, technocrat who works with the World Bank as an economist

Host: Sobhana K. Nair

Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan

]]> 1811 Ananth Krishnan and Stanly Johny on China and Afghanistan’s central role in global politics https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/ananth-krishnan-and-stanly-johny-on-china-and-afghanistans-central-role-in-global-politics-on-books-podcast/article65287377.ece Disturbed Afghanistan has always fascinated writers and journalists. Its history has drawn people in. The absence of Central control, the terrible civil war within, foreign intervention and a staging point for the cold war to defeat the Soviet Union. Afghanistan has seen it all. And you thought it might have ended. After the sudden withdrawal of American troops, Washington has left Afghanistan to the Taliban, a group that they were bombing after 9/11. Pakistan is back in focus along with its ally China – a country that looks set to influence the course of events in Afghanistan. Guests: Ananth Krishnan, Hong Kong-based China correspondent of The Hindu and Stanly Johny, Foreign Editor, The Hindu. Co-authors of ‘The Comrades and the Mullahs – China, Afghanistan and the New Asian Geopolitics’, Harper Collins, 277 pages, Rs. 599. Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan Thu, 07 Apr 2022 05:41:34 -0000 full The Hindu Ananth Krishnan and Stanly Johny speak to us on the key global issues that feature in their book ‘The Comrades and the Mullahs – China, Afghanistan and the New Asian Geopolitics’ Disturbed Afghanistan has always fascinated writers and journalists. Its history has drawn people in. The absence of Central control, the terrible civil war within, foreign intervention and a staging point for the cold war to defeat the Soviet Union. Afghanistan has seen it all. And you thought it might have ended. After the sudden withdrawal of American troops, Washington has left Afghanistan to the Taliban, a group that they were bombing after 9/11. Pakistan is back in focus along with its ally China – a country that looks set to influence the course of events in Afghanistan. Guests: Ananth Krishnan, Hong Kong-based China correspondent of The Hindu and Stanly Johny, Foreign Editor, The Hindu. Co-authors of ‘The Comrades and the Mullahs – China, Afghanistan and the New Asian Geopolitics’, Harper Collins, 277 pages, Rs. 599. Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan Disturbed Afghanistan has always fascinated writers and journalists. Its history has drawn people in. The absence of Central control, the terrible civil war within, foreign intervention and a staging point for the cold war to defeat the Soviet Union. Afghanistan has seen it all. And you thought it might have ended.

After the sudden withdrawal of American troops, Washington has left Afghanistan to the Taliban, a group that they were bombing after 9/11. Pakistan is back in focus along with its ally China – a country that looks set to influence the course of events in Afghanistan.

Guests: Ananth Krishnan, Hong Kong-based China correspondent of The Hindu and Stanly Johny, Foreign Editor, The Hindu. Co-authors of ‘The Comrades and the Mullahs – China, Afghanistan and the New Asian Geopolitics’, Harper Collins, 277 pages, Rs. 599.

Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu

Edited by Ranjani Srinivasan

]]> 1788 Barkha Dutt on the hardships Indians faced during the carnage of COVID https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/barkha-dutt-on-the-hardships-indians-faced-during-the-carnage-of-covid-on-books-podcast/article65264649.ece The story of Covid could not be told sitting in the studio, says journalist, anchor, columnist and author Barkha Dutt. What began as daily reporting of going to Delhi border and returning to the studio to put out the story of India’s fight against COVID after the 21-day lockdown was announced during the first wave, Ms. Barkha realised the story of the pandemic was not about policies, announcements and statistics. It was about reaching out to human beings behind the numbers. Her people-connect stories took her on a journey of 30,000 kms across 14 States in 120 days and became her new book: “Humans of Covid- To Hell and Back”, published by Juggernaut. Nothing was planned, in writing of the book. The poignant accounts of hardships that millions of ordinary Indians faced with courage during the carnage of COVID over the last two years just kept adding up. While writing about the migrants who were compelled to walk home after the first lockdown, to chronicling victims, survivors and heroes of the pandemic, Ms. Barkha herself became the story she was reporting. She lost her father to COVID and despite her privilege and connections, she could do nothing to save him when he called her to say, “I am choking; Treat me.” A devastated Barkha did not stop her journey because she realised what was unfurling was the story of India and her people, each of whose grief was personal but the nation was passing through a collective trauma. And it had to be documented. In this episode, she talks at length on the book and the people she met across the length and breadth of the country. Guest: Barkha Dutt, Journalist, anchor, columnist and author Host: Soma Basu Edited by Reenu Cyriac Sun, 27 Mar 2022 11:56:32 -0000 full The Hindu Barkha Dutt speaks to us on her new book ‘Humans of COVID: To Hell and Back’ The story of Covid could not be told sitting in the studio, says journalist, anchor, columnist and author Barkha Dutt. What began as daily reporting of going to Delhi border and returning to the studio to put out the story of India’s fight against COVID after the 21-day lockdown was announced during the first wave, Ms. Barkha realised the story of the pandemic was not about policies, announcements and statistics. It was about reaching out to human beings behind the numbers. Her people-connect stories took her on a journey of 30,000 kms across 14 States in 120 days and became her new book: “Humans of Covid- To Hell and Back”, published by Juggernaut. Nothing was planned, in writing of the book. The poignant accounts of hardships that millions of ordinary Indians faced with courage during the carnage of COVID over the last two years just kept adding up. While writing about the migrants who were compelled to walk home after the first lockdown, to chronicling victims, survivors and heroes of the pandemic, Ms. Barkha herself became the story she was reporting. She lost her father to COVID and despite her privilege and connections, she could do nothing to save him when he called her to say, “I am choking; Treat me.” A devastated Barkha did not stop her journey because she realised what was unfurling was the story of India and her people, each of whose grief was personal but the nation was passing through a collective trauma. And it had to be documented. In this episode, she talks at length on the book and the people she met across the length and breadth of the country. Guest: Barkha Dutt, Journalist, anchor, columnist and author Host: Soma Basu Edited by Reenu Cyriac The story of Covid could not be told sitting in the studio, says journalist, anchor, columnist and author Barkha Dutt. What began as daily reporting of going to Delhi border and returning to the studio to put out the story of India’s fight against COVID after the 21-day lockdown was announced during the first wave, Ms. Barkha realised the story of the pandemic was not about policies, announcements and statistics. It was about reaching out to human beings behind the numbers.

Her people-connect stories took her on a journey of 30,000 kms across 14 States in 120 days and became her new book: “Humans of Covid- To Hell and Back”, published by Juggernaut.

Nothing was planned, in writing of the book. The poignant accounts of hardships that millions of ordinary Indians faced with courage during the carnage of COVID over the last two years just kept adding up.

While writing about the migrants who were compelled to walk home after the first lockdown, to chronicling victims, survivors and heroes of the pandemic, Ms. Barkha herself became the story she was reporting. She lost her father to COVID and despite her privilege and connections, she could do nothing to save him when he called her to say, “I am choking; Treat me.”

A devastated Barkha did not stop her journey because she realised what was unfurling was the story of India and her people, each of whose grief was personal but the nation was passing through a collective trauma. And it had to be documented.

In this episode, she talks at length on the book and the people she met across the length and breadth of the country.

Guest: Barkha Dutt, Journalist, anchor, columnist and author

Host: Soma Basu

Edited by Reenu Cyriac

]]> 2235 How India became a BJP-centric polity https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/nalin-mehta-on-how-india-became-a-bjp-centric-polity-the-hindu-on-books-podcast/article65227285.ece In this episode, we are joined by Nalin Mehta, author of ‘The New BJP: Modi and the Making of the World’s Largest Political Party’, a book that looks at the factors behind the rise of the BJP to a position of hegemony in Indian politics. How did India become a BJP-centric polity, from first being ruled mostly by the Congress, to a period of coalitions drawn from regional players and socialists and then a bipolar system? Mehta examines all these templates. Guest: Nalin Mehta, Political scientist, author and journalist Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu Edited by Reenu Cyriac Wed, 16 Mar 2022 09:22:50 -0000 full The Hindu Nalin Mehta speaks to us on his new book ‘The New BJP: Modi and the Making of the World’s Largest Political Party’ In this episode, we are joined by Nalin Mehta, author of ‘The New BJP: Modi and the Making of the World’s Largest Political Party’, a book that looks at the factors behind the rise of the BJP to a position of hegemony in Indian politics. How did India become a BJP-centric polity, from first being ruled mostly by the Congress, to a period of coalitions drawn from regional players and socialists and then a bipolar system? Mehta examines all these templates. Guest: Nalin Mehta, Political scientist, author and journalist Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu Edited by Reenu Cyriac In this episode, we are joined by Nalin Mehta, author of ‘The New BJP: Modi and the Making of the World’s Largest Political Party’, a book that looks at the factors behind the rise of the BJP to a position of hegemony in Indian politics. How did India become a BJP-centric polity, from first being ruled mostly by the Congress, to a period of coalitions drawn from regional players and socialists and then a bipolar system? Mehta examines all these templates.

Guest: Nalin Mehta, Political scientist, author and journalist

Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu

Edited by Reenu Cyriac

]]> 2635 Isaac Stone Fish on how America’s elites have helped make China stronger and the lessons for India In this episode, we are joined by Isaac Stone Fish, author of America Second: How America's elites are making China stronger, a book that traces China’s growing influence on America’s elites and corporations — how this influence has grown, how Beijing wields it, and how America should respond, while not compromising on its values. From Henry Kissinger to the leading lights of Hollywood, the book explains how China cultivated key opinion shapers in the U.S. and traces the history of U.S.-China engagement in the 50 years since Nixon’s historic 1972 trip. While the focus is on China and the U.S., Fish explains how there are plenty of lessons for other countries engaging with China, including India, that are wrestling with similar dilemmas. Guest: Isaac Stone Fish Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu  Edited By: Reenu Cyriac Mon, 28 Feb 2022 13:48:52 -0000 full The Hindu Isaac Stone Fish speaks to us on his new book "America Second: How America's elites are making China stronger" In this episode, we are joined by Isaac Stone Fish, author of America Second: How America's elites are making China stronger, a book that traces China’s growing influence on America’s elites and corporations — how this influence has grown, how Beijing wields it, and how America should respond, while not compromising on its values. From Henry Kissinger to the leading lights of Hollywood, the book explains how China cultivated key opinion shapers in the U.S. and traces the history of U.S.-China engagement in the 50 years since Nixon’s historic 1972 trip. While the focus is on China and the U.S., Fish explains how there are plenty of lessons for other countries engaging with China, including India, that are wrestling with similar dilemmas. Guest: Isaac Stone Fish Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu  Edited By: Reenu Cyriac In this episode, we are joined by Isaac Stone Fish, author of America Second: How America's elites are making China stronger, a book that traces China’s growing influence on America’s elites and corporations — how this influence has grown, how Beijing wields it, and how America should respond, while not compromising on its values. From Henry Kissinger to the leading lights of Hollywood, the book explains how China cultivated key opinion shapers in the U.S. and traces the history of U.S.-China engagement in the 50 years since Nixon’s historic 1972 trip. While the focus is on China and the U.S., Fish explains how there are plenty of lessons for other countries engaging with China, including India, that are wrestling with similar dilemmas.

Guest: Isaac Stone Fish

Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu 

Edited By: Reenu Cyriac

]]> 1419 Rukmini S on what data can and cannot tell us about modern India In "Whole Numbers and Half Truths", data journalist Rukmini S delves deep into a range of numbers to answer some of the burning questions India is dealing with, from crime and how India votes to how India handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on on-the-ground reporting and backed with data, the book questions some of the most deeply-held conventional wisdoms about politics and society in India. Guest: Rukmini S, author, Whole Numbers and Half Truths Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu Edited by: Ranjani Srinivasan Tue, 04 Jan 2022 13:42:00 -0000 Rukmini S on what data can and cannot tell us about modern India full The Hindu Rukmini S talks to us about her book 'Whole Numbers and Half Truths' In "Whole Numbers and Half Truths", data journalist Rukmini S delves deep into a range of numbers to answer some of the burning questions India is dealing with, from crime and how India votes to how India handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on on-the-ground reporting and backed with data, the book questions some of the most deeply-held conventional wisdoms about politics and society in India. Guest: Rukmini S, author, Whole Numbers and Half Truths Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu Edited by: Ranjani Srinivasan In "Whole Numbers and Half Truths", data journalist Rukmini S delves

deep into a range of numbers to answer some of the burning questions

India is dealing with, from crime and how India votes to how India

handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on on-the-ground reporting and

backed with data, the book questions some of the most deeply-held

conventional wisdoms about politics and society in India.


Guest: Rukmini S, author, Whole Numbers and Half Truths

Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu

Edited by: Ranjani Srinivasan

]]> 1600 The evolution of Kamala Harris "Phenomenal Woman" is about Kamala Harris, the Vice-President of the United States. Chidanand Rajghatta not only talks about Kamala Harris, her links with India, and how she evolved through the rough and tumble of U.S. politics, but also through that narrative, he touches upon some of the fascinating and tectonic shifts that have been happening in U.S. politics. Guest: Chidanand Rajghatta, U.S. Bureau Chief, The Times of India Host: Narayan Lakshman, Associate Editor, The Hindu Edited by: Reenu Cyriac Thu, 23 Dec 2021 18:30:00 -0000 full The Hindu Chidanand Rajghatta speaks to us on his book "Phenomenal Woman" "Phenomenal Woman" is about Kamala Harris, the Vice-President of the United States. Chidanand Rajghatta not only talks about Kamala Harris, her links with India, and how she evolved through the rough and tumble of U.S. politics, but also through that narrative, he touches upon some of the fascinating and tectonic shifts that have been happening in U.S. politics. Guest: Chidanand Rajghatta, U.S. Bureau Chief, The Times of India Host: Narayan Lakshman, Associate Editor, The Hindu Edited by: Reenu Cyriac "Phenomenal Woman" is about Kamala Harris, the Vice-President of the United States. Chidanand Rajghatta not only talks about Kamala Harris, her links with India, and how she evolved through the rough and tumble of U.S. politics, but also through that narrative, he touches upon some of the fascinating and tectonic shifts that have been happening in U.S. politics.

Guest: Chidanand Rajghatta, U.S. Bureau Chief, The Times of India

Host: Narayan Lakshman, Associate Editor, The Hindu

Edited by: Reenu Cyriac

]]> 1996 A doctor speaks on the fundamental questions about health, sickness and medical treatment Kavery Nambisan belongs to a rare breed of writers – the doctor who writes fiction. She is a general surgeon – a domain where women are uncommon. Another uncommon thing about her career is that she is a rural doctor, having practised for the most part of her career in rural India. She has published seven critically acclaimed novels. "A Luxury Called Health: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Art, the Science and the Trickery of Medicine". A Luxury Called Health is her first book-length foray into non-fiction. This book is not easy to classify. At one level, it has strong elements of the memoir but it also contains social commentary, history, and feminist critique. She writes in moving detail about her late husband, the poet Vijay Nambisan’s battle with cancer and her unnerving experience with the hubris endemic in the medical profession. She also talks about her experience in treating hundreds of patients with Ivermectin, the drug’s remarkable efficacy against COVID-19, and why it hasn’t been more front and centre in the battle against the pandemic. A common thread running through the book is a desire to engage with fundamental questions about health, sickness and medical treatment. She speaks to The Hindu about her book, what prompted her to write it, and her concerns about the medical profession today. Guest: Kavery Nambisan Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Edited by: Reenu Cyriac Wed, 15 Dec 2021 13:36:00 -0000 full The Hindu Kavery Nambisan speaks to us on her new book " A Luxury Called Health: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Art, the Science and the Trickery of Medicine" Kavery Nambisan belongs to a rare breed of writers – the doctor who writes fiction. She is a general surgeon – a domain where women are uncommon. Another uncommon thing about her career is that she is a rural doctor, having practised for the most part of her career in rural India. She has published seven critically acclaimed novels. "A Luxury Called Health: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Art, the Science and the Trickery of Medicine". A Luxury Called Health is her first book-length foray into non-fiction. This book is not easy to classify. At one level, it has strong elements of the memoir but it also contains social commentary, history, and feminist critique. She writes in moving detail about her late husband, the poet Vijay Nambisan’s battle with cancer and her unnerving experience with the hubris endemic in the medical profession. She also talks about her experience in treating hundreds of patients with Ivermectin, the drug’s remarkable efficacy against COVID-19, and why it hasn’t been more front and centre in the battle against the pandemic. A common thread running through the book is a desire to engage with fundamental questions about health, sickness and medical treatment. She speaks to The Hindu about her book, what prompted her to write it, and her concerns about the medical profession today. Guest: Kavery Nambisan Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Edited by: Reenu Cyriac Kavery Nambisan belongs to a rare breed of writers – the doctor who writes fiction. She is a general surgeon – a domain where women are uncommon. Another uncommon thing about her career is that she is a rural doctor, having practised for the most part of her career in rural India. She has published seven critically acclaimed novels. "A Luxury Called Health: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Art, the Science and the Trickery of Medicine". A Luxury Called Health is her first book-length foray into non-fiction.

This book is not easy to classify. At one level, it has strong elements of the memoir but it also contains social commentary, history, and feminist critique. She writes in moving detail about her late husband, the poet Vijay Nambisan’s battle with cancer and her unnerving experience with the hubris endemic in the medical profession. She also talks about her experience in treating hundreds of patients with Ivermectin, the drug’s remarkable efficacy against COVID-19, and why it hasn’t been more front and centre in the battle against the pandemic. A common thread running through the book is a desire to engage with fundamental questions about health, sickness and medical treatment. She speaks to The Hindu about her book, what prompted her to write it, and her concerns about the medical profession today.

Guest: Kavery Nambisan

Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Edited by: Reenu Cyriac

]]> 2018 Delhi’s preparations for a free Bangladesh The 50 anniversary of Bangladesh’s liberation takes place on December 16. Much has been written about the Indian role and Delhi’s assistance to the Mukti Bahini.  Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, who served in India’s mission in Bangladesh soon after liberation, has provided a riveting, insider account of Delhi’s preparations for a free Bangladesh – by no means an agreed goal within the Indian establishment in the early part of March 1971 – in his new book “India and the Bangladesh Liberation War”.  But the Pakistani massacre in Dhaka on March 25 and subsequent attacks by the Pakistani Army in East Bengal convinced everyone in the Indian establishment that Bangladesh was an idea whose time had come.   Guest: Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, who was India’s ambassador to China (1993-1996) and the European Union (1996-2000).  Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu  Tue, 14 Dec 2021 18:06:00 -0000 full The Hindu Chandrashekhar Dasgupta speaks to us on his new book "India and the Bangladesh Liberation War" The 50 anniversary of Bangladesh’s liberation takes place on December 16. Much has been written about the Indian role and Delhi’s assistance to the Mukti Bahini.  Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, who served in India’s mission in Bangladesh soon after liberation, has provided a riveting, insider account of Delhi’s preparations for a free Bangladesh – by no means an agreed goal within the Indian establishment in the early part of March 1971 – in his new book “India and the Bangladesh Liberation War”.  But the Pakistani massacre in Dhaka on March 25 and subsequent attacks by the Pakistani Army in East Bengal convinced everyone in the Indian establishment that Bangladesh was an idea whose time had come.   Guest: Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, who was India’s ambassador to China (1993-1996) and the European Union (1996-2000).  Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu  The 50 anniversary of Bangladesh’s liberation takes place on December 16. Much has been written about the Indian role and Delhi’s assistance to the Mukti Bahini. 

Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, who served in India’s mission in Bangladesh soon after liberation, has provided a riveting, insider account of Delhi’s preparations for a free Bangladesh – by no means an agreed goal within the Indian establishment in the early part of March 1971 – in his new book “India and the Bangladesh Liberation War”. 

But the Pakistani massacre in Dhaka on March 25 and subsequent attacks by the Pakistani Army in East Bengal convinced everyone in the Indian establishment that Bangladesh was an idea whose time had come. 

 Guest: Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, who was India’s ambassador to China (1993-1996) and the European Union (1996-2000). 

Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu 

]]> 1831 Where home is a rubbish mountain Saumya Roy speaks to us on her latest book "Mountain Tales". It is a gut-wrenching story of the poor and marginalised who work and live at Mumbai’s Deonar landfill to earn their daily bread. Journalist Saumya Roy, who spent eight years researching the impact of urbanisation, over-consumption and waste mismanagement in Maximum City, describes it as ‘discarded desires’ of the moneyed-people. Roy initially planned to write a magazine article but in 2016 after fire erupted in Deonar’s garbage mountains engulfing the city in its smoke and the pickers got arrested, her Mountain Tales took shape as she witnessed the unspoken trauma of the marginalised community. She speaks at length on the books and the people in it in this episode. Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:21:00 -0000 full The Hindu Saumya Roy speaks to us on her latest book Mountain Tales Saumya Roy speaks to us on her latest book "Mountain Tales". It is a gut-wrenching story of the poor and marginalised who work and live at Mumbai’s Deonar landfill to earn their daily bread. Journalist Saumya Roy, who spent eight years researching the impact of urbanisation, over-consumption and waste mismanagement in Maximum City, describes it as ‘discarded desires’ of the moneyed-people. Roy initially planned to write a magazine article but in 2016 after fire erupted in Deonar’s garbage mountains engulfing the city in its smoke and the pickers got arrested, her Mountain Tales took shape as she witnessed the unspoken trauma of the marginalised community. She speaks at length on the books and the people in it in this episode. Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Saumya Roy speaks to us on her latest book "Mountain Tales". It is a gut-wrenching story of the poor and marginalised who work and live at Mumbai’s Deonar landfill to earn their daily bread.

Journalist Saumya Roy, who spent eight years researching the impact of urbanisation, over-consumption and waste mismanagement in Maximum City, describes it as ‘discarded desires’ of the moneyed-people. Roy initially planned to write a magazine article but in 2016 after fire erupted in Deonar’s garbage mountains engulfing the city in its smoke and the pickers got arrested, her Mountain Tales took shape as she witnessed the unspoken trauma of the marginalised community.

She speaks at length on the books and the people in it in this episode.

Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu

Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription)

Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 1982 no The agony and ecstasy of being Kabir Bedi In his memoir, "Stories I Must Tell, The Emotional life of an Actor", actor Kabir Bedi details his unique life experiences. In the barely 300 pages of the book, Kabir speaks candidly of his great successes (Sandokan, Khoon Bhari Maang, Octopussy) as well as his failures and mistakes. Writing through the prism of his relationships, Kabir reveals the agony and ecstasy of being a husband, lover, parent and son to unique personalities.  Host: Mini Anthikad Chibber Thu, 18 Nov 2021 14:21:00 -0000 full The Hindu Actor Kabir Bedi details his remarkable acting experience through his memoir "Stories I Must Tell, The Emotional life of an Actor" In his memoir, "Stories I Must Tell, The Emotional life of an Actor", actor Kabir Bedi details his unique life experiences. In the barely 300 pages of the book, Kabir speaks candidly of his great successes (Sandokan, Khoon Bhari Maang, Octopussy) as well as his failures and mistakes. Writing through the prism of his relationships, Kabir reveals the agony and ecstasy of being a husband, lover, parent and son to unique personalities.  Host: Mini Anthikad Chibber In his memoir, "Stories I Must Tell, The Emotional life of an Actor", actor Kabir Bedi details his unique life experiences. In the barely 300 pages of the book, Kabir speaks candidly of his great successes (Sandokan, Khoon Bhari Maang, Octopussy) as well as his failures and mistakes. Writing through the prism of his relationships, Kabir reveals the agony and ecstasy of being a husband, lover, parent and son to unique personalities. 

Host: Mini Anthikad Chibber

]]> 2016 no Amitav Ghosh on capitalism, climate change and a planet in crisis Amitav Ghosh speaks to us on his latest work of non-fiction “The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables For A Planet In Crisis” Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu Tue, 09 Nov 2021 16:38:00 -0000 full The Hindu Amitav Ghosh speaks to us on his latest work of non-fiction “The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables For A Planet In Crisis” Amitav Ghosh speaks to us on his latest work of non-fiction “The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables For A Planet In Crisis” Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu Amitav Ghosh speaks to us on his latest work of non-fiction “The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables For A Planet In Crisis”

Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu

]]> 1496 no The story of an unprecedented diplomatic win Syed Akbaruddin speaks to us on his latest book ‘India vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win’ Syed Akbaruddin was India’s Permanent Representative to the UN when India scored an unprecedented diplomatic victory in 2017 by defeating UK for a seat on the International Court of Justice. India’s Dalveer Bhandari was elected a judge of the ICJ. Mr. Akbaruddin’s recent book ‘India vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win’ is an account of the contest in which all five permanent members of the UNSC united against India. Guest: Syed Akbaruddin, who is currently Dean, Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad Host: Varghese K George, Resident Editor - Delhi, The Hindu Tue, 26 Oct 2021 17:26:00 -0000 full The Hindu Syed Akbaruddin speaks to us on his latest book ‘India vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win’ Syed Akbaruddin speaks to us on his latest book ‘India vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win’ Syed Akbaruddin was India’s Permanent Representative to the UN when India scored an unprecedented diplomatic victory in 2017 by defeating UK for a seat on the International Court of Justice. India’s Dalveer Bhandari was elected a judge of the ICJ. Mr. Akbaruddin’s recent book ‘India vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win’ is an account of the contest in which all five permanent members of the UNSC united against India. Guest: Syed Akbaruddin, who is currently Dean, Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad Host: Varghese K George, Resident Editor - Delhi, The Hindu Syed Akbaruddin speaks to us on his latest book ‘India vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win’

Syed Akbaruddin was India’s Permanent Representative to the UN when India scored an unprecedented diplomatic victory in 2017 by defeating UK for a seat on the International Court of Justice. India’s Dalveer Bhandari was elected a judge of the ICJ. Mr. Akbaruddin’s recent book ‘India vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win’ is an account of the contest in which all five permanent members of the UNSC united against India.

Guest: Syed Akbaruddin, who is currently Dean, Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad

Host: Varghese K George, Resident Editor - Delhi, The Hindu

]]> 1599 no Understanding the co-existence of violence and democracy Prof Neera Chandhoke speaks to us on her new book, The Violence in Our Bones: Mapping The Deadly Faultlines Within Indian Society G. SampathOne of the big promises of democracy is that it would solve – to a substantial extent – the problem of violence. It is commonly held that one of the differences between barbarism and civilization is that barbarians tend to kill those they hate or disagree with, whereas civilized folks resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations – that is, by non-violent means. The highest form of such a civilized society is liberal democracy – the kind of democracy our freedom fighters had in mind when we got independence in 1947. But with independent India about to turn 75, we find that violence is endemic in Indian democracy. So how do we reconcile this story that we tell the world – of India being the land of Buddha, Ashoka andn Gandhi, of India being a civilization that practically invented non-violence, as it were -- with the widespread proclivity for violence, ranging from road rage and gender violence all the way to communal riots and encounter killings? It is this difficult question that Prof Neera Chandhoke, a political science scholar, explores in her new book, The Violence in Our Bones: Mapping The Deadly Faultlines Within Indian Society. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Mon, 18 Oct 2021 17:41:00 -0000 full The Hindu Prof Neera Chandhoke speaks to us on her new book, The Violence in Our Bones: Mapping The Deadly Fault Lines Within Indian Society Prof Neera Chandhoke speaks to us on her new book, The Violence in Our Bones: Mapping The Deadly Faultlines Within Indian Society G. SampathOne of the big promises of democracy is that it would solve – to a substantial extent – the problem of violence. It is commonly held that one of the differences between barbarism and civilization is that barbarians tend to kill those they hate or disagree with, whereas civilized folks resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations – that is, by non-violent means. The highest form of such a civilized society is liberal democracy – the kind of democracy our freedom fighters had in mind when we got independence in 1947. But with independent India about to turn 75, we find that violence is endemic in Indian democracy. So how do we reconcile this story that we tell the world – of India being the land of Buddha, Ashoka andn Gandhi, of India being a civilization that practically invented non-violence, as it were -- with the widespread proclivity for violence, ranging from road rage and gender violence all the way to communal riots and encounter killings? It is this difficult question that Prof Neera Chandhoke, a political science scholar, explores in her new book, The Violence in Our Bones: Mapping The Deadly Faultlines Within Indian Society. Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Prof Neera Chandhoke speaks to us on her new book, The Violence in Our Bones: Mapping The Deadly Faultlines Within Indian Society

G. SampathOne of the big promises of democracy is that it would solve – to a substantial extent – the problem of violence. It is commonly held that one of the differences between barbarism and civilization is that barbarians tend to kill those they hate or disagree with, whereas civilized folks resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations – that is, by non-violent means. The highest form of such a civilized society is liberal democracy – the kind of democracy our freedom fighters had in mind when we got independence in 1947.

But with independent India about to turn 75, we find that violence is endemic in Indian democracy. So how do we reconcile this story that we tell the world – of India being the land of Buddha, Ashoka andn Gandhi, of India being a civilization that practically invented non-violence, as it were -- with the widespread proclivity for violence, ranging from road rage and gender violence all the way to communal riots and encounter killings?

It is this difficult question that Prof Neera Chandhoke, a political science scholar, explores in her new book, The Violence in Our Bones: Mapping The Deadly Faultlines Within Indian Society.

Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu

]]> 2078 no An Indian in Japan In this episode of The Hindu on Books, Pallavi Aiyer speaks to us on her latest book 'Orienting: An Indian In Japan'. Through the book, Pallavi Aiyer draws a comparative image between the life in India and Japan. She draws a contrast between the way of life, environment and the general state of India and Japan. She also raises the issue of race, caste and other arbitrary societal norms which are posted in the minds of Indians where no such exist in Japan. One of the key difference she draws in the safety of women and children in India when compared to Japan. Through her work, she tries to let the reader hope; Whether can India do and be better. Host: Kallol Bhattacherjee, Senior Assistant Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 03 Oct 2021 10:30:00 -0000 full The Hindu Pallavi Aiyer speaks to us on her latest book Orienting: An Indian In Japan In this episode of The Hindu on Books, Pallavi Aiyer speaks to us on her latest book 'Orienting: An Indian In Japan'. Through the book, Pallavi Aiyer draws a comparative image between the life in India and Japan. She draws a contrast between the way of life, environment and the general state of India and Japan. She also raises the issue of race, caste and other arbitrary societal norms which are posted in the minds of Indians where no such exist in Japan. One of the key difference she draws in the safety of women and children in India when compared to Japan. Through her work, she tries to let the reader hope; Whether can India do and be better. Host: Kallol Bhattacherjee, Senior Assistant Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode of The Hindu on Books, Pallavi Aiyer speaks to us on her latest book 'Orienting: An Indian In Japan'. Through the book, Pallavi Aiyer draws a comparative image between the life in India and Japan. She draws a contrast between the way of life, environment and the general state of India and Japan.

She also raises the issue of race, caste and other arbitrary societal norms which are posted in the minds of Indians where no such exist in Japan. One of the key difference she draws in the safety of women and children in India when compared to Japan.

Through her work, she tries to let the reader hope; Whether can India do and be better.

Host: Kallol Bhattacherjee, Senior Assistant Editor, The Hindu

Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription)

Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 1930 no Peering down India's deep state In this episode of The Hindu on Books, we are chatting with one the most acclaimed investigative journalist Josy Joseph where we talk about his new book "The Silent Coup". The book answers the question "Is our democracy slowly being degraded?" He also talk about how people simply bend the rules of suits the wims of the ones in the power seats. Josy Joseph makes the reader ask where the democracy in India on the decline as the deep state uses the security apparatus for political ends? In what can be described as an "angry book", Josy Joseph take the creative non-fiction form to tackle this question. Guest: Josy Joseph, Journalist and Author Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 12 Sep 2021 03:30:00 -0000 full The Hindu Josy Joseph speaks to us on his latest book, 'The Silent Coup' In this episode of The Hindu on Books, we are chatting with one the most acclaimed investigative journalist Josy Joseph where we talk about his new book "The Silent Coup". The book answers the question "Is our democracy slowly being degraded?" He also talk about how people simply bend the rules of suits the wims of the ones in the power seats. Josy Joseph makes the reader ask where the democracy in India on the decline as the deep state uses the security apparatus for political ends? In what can be described as an "angry book", Josy Joseph take the creative non-fiction form to tackle this question. Guest: Josy Joseph, Journalist and Author Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode of The Hindu on Books, we are chatting with one the most acclaimed investigative journalist Josy Joseph where we talk about his new book "The Silent Coup". The book answers the question "Is our democracy slowly being degraded?" He also talk about how people simply bend the rules of suits the wims of the ones in the power seats. Josy Joseph makes the reader ask where the democracy in India on the decline as the deep state uses the security apparatus for political ends?

In what can be described as an "angry book", Josy Joseph take the creative non-fiction form to tackle this question.

Guest: Josy Joseph, Journalist and Author

Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription)

Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 2001 no A new Cold War and the rise of China In this episode, we are joined by Sanjaya Baru and Suhasini Haidar to talk about the new book "A New Cold War: Henry Kissinger and the Rise of China” Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Kissinger's historic 1971 visit that marked the start of the era of U.S.-China engagement, the book examines the legacies of the visit. We discuss in this podcast how the 1971 visit happened, its impact on the Cold War, and the evolution of U.S.-China relations in the years since. We particularly focus on the consequences for India, and ask what the lessons from history are as India navigates a new era of U.S.-China competition. The book is a collection of essays by 18 authors, and is edited by Dr. Baru and Rahul Sharma. Suhasini Haidar is among the authors. Guests: Sanjaya Baru, political commentator, author, and previously media adviser to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Suhasini Haidar, National Editor and Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu Sun, 05 Sep 2021 14:30:00 -0000 full The Hindu Sanjaya Baru and Suhasini Haidar to talk about the new book "A New Cold War: Henry Kissinger and the Rise of China.” In this episode, we are joined by Sanjaya Baru and Suhasini Haidar to talk about the new book "A New Cold War: Henry Kissinger and the Rise of China” Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Kissinger's historic 1971 visit that marked the start of the era of U.S.-China engagement, the book examines the legacies of the visit. We discuss in this podcast how the 1971 visit happened, its impact on the Cold War, and the evolution of U.S.-China relations in the years since. We particularly focus on the consequences for India, and ask what the lessons from history are as India navigates a new era of U.S.-China competition. The book is a collection of essays by 18 authors, and is edited by Dr. Baru and Rahul Sharma. Suhasini Haidar is among the authors. Guests: Sanjaya Baru, political commentator, author, and previously media adviser to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Suhasini Haidar, National Editor and Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu In this episode, we are joined by Sanjaya Baru and Suhasini Haidar to talk about the new book "A New Cold War: Henry Kissinger and the Rise of China” Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Kissinger's historic 1971 visit that marked the start of the era of U.S.-China engagement, the book examines the legacies of the visit. We discuss in this podcast how the 1971 visit happened, its impact on the Cold War, and the evolution of U.S.-China relations in the years since. We particularly focus on the consequences for India, and ask what the lessons from history are as India navigates a new era of U.S.-China competition. The book is a collection of essays by 18 authors, and is edited by Dr. Baru and Rahul Sharma. Suhasini Haidar is among the authors.

Guests: Sanjaya Baru, political commentator, author, and previously media adviser to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Suhasini Haidar, National Editor and Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu

Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu

]]> 1788 no A sordid saga of money, lust and murder In this eposide of The Hindu on Books, we are sitting down for a chat with Nirupama Subramanian where she talks about her latest book "Murder on the Menu: The Sensational Story of the Tycoon who founded Saravana Bhavan" Twenty years ago, the murder case of Prince Santhakumar, a young tutor-turned-insurance agent, created a sensation in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere as it pointed to the involvement of P. Rajagopal, founder of what was once considered an empire in the field — Hotel Saravana Bhavan. Till the discovery of the murder, Rajagopal, who entered the fray with limited resources, was regarded as a model restaurateur as his chain of hotels became a byword for quality vegetarian food and employee welfare. At the same time, his story is an illustration of how a man, however successful he may be, can get caught out because of his own shortcomings. Through the book, Nirupama Subramanian tells the dark reality of the much-beloved vegetarian gormet empire. Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 29 Aug 2021 12:37:00 -0000 full The Hindu Nirupama Subramanian speaks to us on her latest book 'Murder on the Menu: The Sensational Story of the Tycoon who founded Saravana Bhavan' In this eposide of The Hindu on Books, we are sitting down for a chat with Nirupama Subramanian where she talks about her latest book "Murder on the Menu: The Sensational Story of the Tycoon who founded Saravana Bhavan" Twenty years ago, the murder case of Prince Santhakumar, a young tutor-turned-insurance agent, created a sensation in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere as it pointed to the involvement of P. Rajagopal, founder of what was once considered an empire in the field — Hotel Saravana Bhavan. Till the discovery of the murder, Rajagopal, who entered the fray with limited resources, was regarded as a model restaurateur as his chain of hotels became a byword for quality vegetarian food and employee welfare. At the same time, his story is an illustration of how a man, however successful he may be, can get caught out because of his own shortcomings. Through the book, Nirupama Subramanian tells the dark reality of the much-beloved vegetarian gormet empire. Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this eposide of The Hindu on Books, we are sitting down for a chat with Nirupama Subramanian where she talks about her latest book "Murder on the Menu: The Sensational Story of the Tycoon who founded Saravana Bhavan"

Twenty years ago, the murder case of Prince Santhakumar, a young tutor-turned-insurance agent, created a sensation in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere as it pointed to the involvement of P. Rajagopal, founder of what was once considered an empire in the field — Hotel Saravana Bhavan. Till the discovery of the murder, Rajagopal, who entered the fray with limited resources, was regarded as a model restaurateur as his chain of hotels became a byword for quality vegetarian food and employee welfare. At the same time, his story is an illustration of how a man, however successful he may be, can get caught out because of his own shortcomings.

Through the book, Nirupama Subramanian tells the dark reality of the much-beloved vegetarian gormet empire.

Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu

Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription)

Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 1754 no Tracing the inner workings of the RAW and the ISI In their book, Spy Stories: Inside the Secret World of The R.A.W and I.S.I, Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark make several explosive revelations, including about the Pulwama attack and alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The two foreign journalists seem to have enjoyed an unprecedented level of access to the intelligence establishments on both sides, even working as back-channel diplomats after the Pulwama attack. In this book, the duo seeks to document the inner workings of the RAW and the ISI. They also trace the career of NSA Ajit Doval through the past few decades, especially from the 1999 Indian Airlines’ flight IC-814 hijack, which the NSA describes as a “diplomatic failure”, to the 2000 Parliament attack, and more recently events in Kashmir, including the 2016 Pathankot and 2019 Pulwama attacks in which 40 personnel were killed, as well as the retaliatory Balakot strikes by the Indian Air Force. In this podcast, Adrian Levy speaks to Suhasini Haidar on the work that went into the book. Guest: Adrian Levy, Author Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sat, 14 Aug 2021 15:16:00 -0000 full The Hindu Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark spills the methods of RAW and ISI in their work: 'Spy Stories: Inside the Secret World of The R.A.W and I.S.I' In their book, Spy Stories: Inside the Secret World of The R.A.W and I.S.I, Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark make several explosive revelations, including about the Pulwama attack and alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The two foreign journalists seem to have enjoyed an unprecedented level of access to the intelligence establishments on both sides, even working as back-channel diplomats after the Pulwama attack. In this book, the duo seeks to document the inner workings of the RAW and the ISI. They also trace the career of NSA Ajit Doval through the past few decades, especially from the 1999 Indian Airlines’ flight IC-814 hijack, which the NSA describes as a “diplomatic failure”, to the 2000 Parliament attack, and more recently events in Kashmir, including the 2016 Pathankot and 2019 Pulwama attacks in which 40 personnel were killed, as well as the retaliatory Balakot strikes by the Indian Air Force. In this podcast, Adrian Levy speaks to Suhasini Haidar on the work that went into the book. Guest: Adrian Levy, Author Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In their book, Spy Stories: Inside the Secret World of The R.A.W and I.S.I, Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark make several explosive revelations, including about the Pulwama attack and alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. The two foreign journalists seem to have enjoyed an unprecedented level of access to the intelligence establishments on both sides, even working as back-channel diplomats after the Pulwama attack.

In this book, the duo seeks to document the inner workings of the RAW and the ISI. They also trace the career of NSA Ajit Doval through the past few decades, especially from the 1999 Indian Airlines’ flight IC-814 hijack, which the NSA describes as a “diplomatic failure”, to the 2000 Parliament attack, and more recently events in Kashmir, including the 2016 Pathankot and 2019 Pulwama attacks in which 40 personnel were killed, as well as the retaliatory Balakot strikes by the Indian Air Force.

In this podcast, Adrian Levy speaks to Suhasini Haidar on the work that went into the book.

Guest: Adrian Levy, Author

Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu

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Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 3039 no Malcolm Gladwell on his new narrative style in The Bomber Mafia Malcom Gladwell says "The Bomber Mafia" marks a departure for him stylistically as a writer as he has never told a story before that was just one narrative with no social science. But there is a common thread across Gladwell’s books, which is his fascination with how the human psyche deals with conflict; and this book has that in spades. The Bomber Mafia follows the competition between the two men in “one of the grandest and consequential stages of the Second World War,” Gladwell says hoping the book will invite people to look at how society operates along similar lines of division now. Guest: Malcom Gladwell, journalist and author Host: Divya Kala Bhavani, Technology Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 08 Aug 2021 05:52:00 -0000 full The Hindu Malcolm Gladwell on his new narrative style in The Bomber Mafia Malcom Gladwell says "The Bomber Mafia" marks a departure for him stylistically as a writer as he has never told a story before that was just one narrative with no social science. But there is a common thread across Gladwell’s books, which is his fascination with how the human psyche deals with conflict; and this book has that in spades. The Bomber Mafia follows the competition between the two men in “one of the grandest and consequential stages of the Second World War,” Gladwell says hoping the book will invite people to look at how society operates along similar lines of division now. Guest: Malcom Gladwell, journalist and author Host: Divya Kala Bhavani, Technology Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Malcom Gladwell says "The Bomber Mafia" marks a departure for him stylistically as a writer as he has never told a story before that was just one narrative with no social science. But there is a common thread across Gladwell’s books, which is his fascination with how the human psyche deals with conflict; and this book has that in spades.

The Bomber Mafia follows the competition between the two men in “one of the grandest and consequential stages of the Second World War,” Gladwell says hoping the book will invite people to look at how society operates along similar lines of division now.

Guest: Malcom Gladwell, journalist and author

Host: Divya Kala Bhavani, Technology Editor, The Hindu

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Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 1246 no The untold stories of India's first lady doctors Kavitha Rao tells the stories of six women, who in the 19th and early 20th century challenged societal norms, fought gender and caste battles to tread an unconventional path and become doctors in her famous work "Lady Doctor: The Untold Stories of India's First Women in Medicine" The book helps us to see what it was like for these six women who defied every obstacle, balanced work and family lives, and left a lasting impression and impact on their peers and especially on women who joined the field in the years after them. Memories of them, says the author, have been erased as history has been rewritten by men. And that is what prompted her to write about the motivating life stories of these women for all to know. In this podcast, Ms. Rao tells us how she put together the stories of Anandibai Joshi, Kadambini Ganguly, Rukhmabai Raut, Muthulakshmi Reddy, Mary Poonen Lukose, and Haimabati Sen, each of whom was a pioneer in her own way between 1860 and 1930. Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 01 Aug 2021 04:18:00 -0000 full The Hindu Kavitha Rao tells the stories of six women, who challenged societal norms to tread an unconventional path and become doctors in her work "Lady Doctor: The Untold Stories of India's First Women in Medicine" Kavitha Rao tells the stories of six women, who in the 19th and early 20th century challenged societal norms, fought gender and caste battles to tread an unconventional path and become doctors in her famous work "Lady Doctor: The Untold Stories of India's First Women in Medicine" The book helps us to see what it was like for these six women who defied every obstacle, balanced work and family lives, and left a lasting impression and impact on their peers and especially on women who joined the field in the years after them. Memories of them, says the author, have been erased as history has been rewritten by men. And that is what prompted her to write about the motivating life stories of these women for all to know. In this podcast, Ms. Rao tells us how she put together the stories of Anandibai Joshi, Kadambini Ganguly, Rukhmabai Raut, Muthulakshmi Reddy, Mary Poonen Lukose, and Haimabati Sen, each of whom was a pioneer in her own way between 1860 and 1930. Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Kavitha Rao tells the stories of six women, who in the 19th and early 20th century challenged societal norms, fought gender and caste battles to tread an unconventional path and become doctors in her famous work "Lady Doctor: The Untold Stories of India's First Women in Medicine"

The book helps us to see what it was like for these six women who defied every obstacle, balanced work and family lives, and left a lasting impression and impact on their peers and especially on women who joined the field in the years after them. Memories of them, says the author, have been erased as history has been rewritten by men. And that is what prompted her to write about the motivating life stories of these women for all to know.

In this podcast, Ms. Rao tells us how she put together the stories of Anandibai Joshi, Kadambini Ganguly, Rukhmabai Raut, Muthulakshmi Reddy, Mary Poonen Lukose, and Haimabati Sen, each of whom was a pioneer in her own way between 1860 and 1930.

Host: Soma Basu, Deputy Editor, The Hindu

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Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 1866 no Travelogue meets memoir in this descent down the Brahmaputra https://anchor.fm/in-conversation8/episodes/Travelogue-meets-memoir-in-this-descent-down-the-Brahmaputra-e1504i4 ‘The Braided River: A Journey Along the Brahmaputra’ is journalist-turned-author and Shillong native Samrat Choudhur's ode to his immediate neighbourhood. While the book pitches itself as travel, memoir and history rolled into one, it is in the latter two that it sparkles most. The book is yet another in a long line of academic scholarship and non-fiction that make a fervent plea against damming up the Northeast, a push triggered primarily by a hydropower race with China and as yet unfounded fears about it diverting Brahmaputra water away from the source channels. Choudhury highlights the short shrift given to green compliances, often in the face of protests by locals, in order to fast-track projects that would cut up the Siang, Lohit and Dibang. In this podcast, the author speaks to us about his experience writing the book. Host: Abdus Salam, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sat, 24 Jul 2021 16:30:00 -0000 full The Hindu Samrat Choudhur sits to talks about his experience travelling the Brahmaputra river in his work 'The Braided River: A Journey Along the Brahmaputra' ‘The Braided River: A Journey Along the Brahmaputra’ is journalist-turned-author and Shillong native Samrat Choudhur's ode to his immediate neighbourhood. While the book pitches itself as travel, memoir and history rolled into one, it is in the latter two that it sparkles most. The book is yet another in a long line of academic scholarship and non-fiction that make a fervent plea against damming up the Northeast, a push triggered primarily by a hydropower race with China and as yet unfounded fears about it diverting Brahmaputra water away from the source channels. Choudhury highlights the short shrift given to green compliances, often in the face of protests by locals, in order to fast-track projects that would cut up the Siang, Lohit and Dibang. In this podcast, the author speaks to us about his experience writing the book. Host: Abdus Salam, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in ‘The Braided River: A Journey Along the Brahmaputra’ is journalist-turned-author and Shillong native Samrat Choudhur's ode to his immediate neighbourhood. While the book pitches itself as travel, memoir and history rolled into one, it is in the latter two that it sparkles most.

The book is yet another in a long line of academic scholarship and non-fiction that make a fervent plea against damming up the Northeast, a push triggered primarily by a hydropower race with China and as yet unfounded fears about it diverting Brahmaputra water away from the source channels. Choudhury highlights the short shrift given to green compliances, often in the face of protests by locals, in order to fast-track projects that would cut up the Siang, Lohit and Dibang.

In this podcast, the author speaks to us about his experience writing the book.

Host: Abdus Salam, The Hindu

Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription)

Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 1088 no Chronicling the long reach of the Scindia dynasty in Indian politics Journalist Rasheed Kidwai's latest book “The House of Scindias - A Saga of Power, Politics and Intrigue” looks at the long-running Scindia dynasty whose story encompasses the Mughals, the British and the Gandhi dynasty in India. Whether on the same side or on opposing ideological poles, the Scindias have enjoyed long stints in public service and have seamlessly traversed the distance between royalty and democratic politics. Kidwai’s book profiles the family , and speaks about the difficulty of writing candidly about people still active in public life. He recalls his personal interactions with family members, and the roles they have played in post-Independence politics. Kidwai also reveals who he thinks is the most fascinating Scindia for him. Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sat, 17 Jul 2021 10:36:00 -0000 full The Hindu Journalist Rasheed Kidwai looks at the long-running Scindia dynasty in his latest work 'The House of Scindias - A saga of power, politics and intrigue' Journalist Rasheed Kidwai's latest book “The House of Scindias - A Saga of Power, Politics and Intrigue” looks at the long-running Scindia dynasty whose story encompasses the Mughals, the British and the Gandhi dynasty in India. Whether on the same side or on opposing ideological poles, the Scindias have enjoyed long stints in public service and have seamlessly traversed the distance between royalty and democratic politics. Kidwai’s book profiles the family , and speaks about the difficulty of writing candidly about people still active in public life. He recalls his personal interactions with family members, and the roles they have played in post-Independence politics. Kidwai also reveals who he thinks is the most fascinating Scindia for him. Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Journalist Rasheed Kidwai's latest book “The House of Scindias - A Saga of Power, Politics and Intrigue” looks at the long-running Scindia dynasty whose story encompasses the Mughals, the British and the Gandhi dynasty in India. Whether on the same side or on opposing ideological poles, the Scindias have enjoyed long stints in public service and have seamlessly traversed the distance between royalty and democratic politics.

Kidwai’s book profiles the family , and speaks about the difficulty of writing candidly about people still active in public life. He recalls his personal interactions with family members, and the roles they have played in post-Independence politics. Kidwai also reveals who he thinks is the most fascinating Scindia for him.

Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu

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Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 1561 no Former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on how the Chinese negotiate with India In this episode, we are joined by Vijay Gokhale, a former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China, to talk about his new book “The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India”, which is being published on July 19, 2021. The book examines the history of how China has negotiated with India through the lens of six significant moments in the relationship, from India’s recognition of the PRC to the 1954 Tibet trade agreement to the Chinese recognition of Sikkim and the aftermath of the India-U.S. nuclear deal. We revisit some of those moments and more importantly, discuss what the lessons are for some of India’s contemporary problems with China. Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 11 Jul 2021 12:38:00 -0000 full The Hindu Former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale talk on how the Chinese negotiate with India in his new book: 'The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India' In this episode, we are joined by Vijay Gokhale, a former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China, to talk about his new book “The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India”, which is being published on July 19, 2021. The book examines the history of how China has negotiated with India through the lens of six significant moments in the relationship, from India’s recognition of the PRC to the 1954 Tibet trade agreement to the Chinese recognition of Sikkim and the aftermath of the India-U.S. nuclear deal. We revisit some of those moments and more importantly, discuss what the lessons are for some of India’s contemporary problems with China. Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode, we are joined by Vijay Gokhale, a former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China, to talk about his new book “The Long Game: How the Chinese Negotiate with India”, which is being published on July 19, 2021. The book examines the history of how China has negotiated with India through the lens of six significant moments in the relationship, from India’s recognition of the PRC to the 1954 Tibet trade agreement to the Chinese recognition of Sikkim and the aftermath of the India-U.S. nuclear deal. We revisit some of those moments and more importantly, discuss what the lessons are for some of India’s contemporary problems with China.

Host: Ananth Krishnan, China correspondent, The Hindu

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Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 2129 no Manoj Kewalramani on "Smokeless War" and China's quest for geopolitical dominance We are joined by on this podcast by Manoj Kewalramani to talk about his new book "Smokeless War: China's Quest for Geopolitical Dominance". Kewalramani, a fellow at The Takshashila Institution who studies China, provides perhaps the first detailed and granular account assessing China's strategic and political responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The book focuses on Beijing's geopolitical strategies as it looked to turn around a crisis at home and criticism abroad into an opportunity for China. Has that strategy succeeded? Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Fri, 02 Jul 2021 16:43:00 -0000 full The Hindu Indian author Manoj Kewalramani discuses China's ongoing road to power in his work 'Smokeless War: China's Quest for Geopolitical Dominance' We are joined by on this podcast by Manoj Kewalramani to talk about his new book "Smokeless War: China's Quest for Geopolitical Dominance". Kewalramani, a fellow at The Takshashila Institution who studies China, provides perhaps the first detailed and granular account assessing China's strategic and political responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The book focuses on Beijing's geopolitical strategies as it looked to turn around a crisis at home and criticism abroad into an opportunity for China. Has that strategy succeeded? Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in We are joined by on this podcast by Manoj Kewalramani to talk about his new book "Smokeless War: China's Quest for Geopolitical Dominance".

Kewalramani, a fellow at The Takshashila Institution who studies China, provides perhaps the first detailed and granular account assessing China's strategic and political responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The book focuses on Beijing's geopolitical strategies as it looked to turn around a crisis at home and criticism abroad into an opportunity for China. Has that strategy succeeded?

Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent, The Hindu

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]]> 2119 no Jairam Ramesh on the poem that defined the Buddha | The Hindu On Books Podcast In this episode, we are joined by Jairam Ramesh to discuss his new book, The Light of Asia: The Poem That Defined the Buddha. Ramesh, author, Member of Parliament, former Union Minister, and Congress leader, digs deep in his new book to bring out the fascinating story behind the epic 1879 poem, The Light of Asia by Sir Edwin Arnold, that took the world by storm and in some ways, brought the Buddha's storyto the world at the turn of the last century. Ramesh's book is a biography both of the poem and of the man who wrote it, an Englishman who briefly lived in India, became a scholar of Sanskrit, was a voracious translator and later poet in his own right, and a man of contradictions, who had a deep affinity for Indian philosophy and literature, but was also a defender of empire. We discuss how and why Arnold's work came to influence an extraordinary range of 20th century figures from Gandhi and Nehru to C.V. Raman, and its continuing relevance today. Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondant, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 20 Jun 2021 16:39:00 -0000 full The Hindu MP Jairam Ramesh discuss his new book, 'The Light of Asia: The Poem That Defined the Buddha' In this episode, we are joined by Jairam Ramesh to discuss his new book, The Light of Asia: The Poem That Defined the Buddha. Ramesh, author, Member of Parliament, former Union Minister, and Congress leader, digs deep in his new book to bring out the fascinating story behind the epic 1879 poem, The Light of Asia by Sir Edwin Arnold, that took the world by storm and in some ways, brought the Buddha's storyto the world at the turn of the last century. Ramesh's book is a biography both of the poem and of the man who wrote it, an Englishman who briefly lived in India, became a scholar of Sanskrit, was a voracious translator and later poet in his own right, and a man of contradictions, who had a deep affinity for Indian philosophy and literature, but was also a defender of empire. We discuss how and why Arnold's work came to influence an extraordinary range of 20th century figures from Gandhi and Nehru to C.V. Raman, and its continuing relevance today. Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondant, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode, we are joined by Jairam Ramesh to discuss his new book, The Light of Asia: The Poem That Defined the Buddha. Ramesh, author, Member of Parliament, former Union Minister, and Congress leader, digs deep in his new book to bring out the fascinating story behind the epic 1879 poem, The Light of Asia by Sir Edwin Arnold, that took the world by storm and in some ways, brought the Buddha's storyto the world at the turn of the last century.

Ramesh's book is a biography both of the poem and of the man who wrote it, an Englishman who briefly lived in India, became a scholar of Sanskrit, was a voracious translator and later poet in his own right, and a man of contradictions, who had a deep affinity for Indian philosophy and literature, but was also a defender of empire. We discuss how and why Arnold's work came to influence an extraordinary range of 20th century figures from Gandhi and Nehru to C.V. Raman, and its continuing relevance today.

Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondant, The Hindu

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]]> 1729 no Ghazala Wahab on some truths about Islam in India | The Hindu In Focus Podcast Our guest today on the podcast is Ghazala Wahab, who's recently released book, Born a Muslim: Some Truths about Islam and India has created quite a stir, particularly in our present times. In contemporary politics, the debates and discussions around Hindus and Muslims are getting vitriolic and polarised and at the same time becoming more relevant. The author explains what it is to be a Muslim, a member of the largest religious minority in India today, and why the community lives in fear as prejudices persist. Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 20 Jun 2021 16:36:00 -0000 full The Hindu Executive Editor of FORCE Ghazala Wahab sheds light on Islam in India through her work 'Born a Muslim: Some Truths about Islam and India' Our guest today on the podcast is Ghazala Wahab, who's recently released book, Born a Muslim: Some Truths about Islam and India has created quite a stir, particularly in our present times. In contemporary politics, the debates and discussions around Hindus and Muslims are getting vitriolic and polarised and at the same time becoming more relevant. The author explains what it is to be a Muslim, a member of the largest religious minority in India today, and why the community lives in fear as prejudices persist. Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Our guest today on the podcast is Ghazala Wahab, who's recently released book, Born a Muslim: Some Truths about Islam and India has created quite a stir, particularly in our present times. In contemporary politics, the debates and discussions around Hindus and Muslims are getting vitriolic and polarised and at the same time becoming more relevant. The author explains what it is to be a Muslim, a member of the largest religious minority in India today, and why the community lives in fear as prejudices persist.

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Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 3464 no Vijay Gokhale on the making of the Tiananmen Square protest | The Hindu On Books Podcast In this episode of The Hindu on Books, we are chating with Vijay Gokale who was the Former Foreign Secretary of India. In his last work 'Tiananmen Square: The Making of a Protest', Vijay discuss the Tiananmen Square protest that shook the power seats of China. After 32 years, since the incident in Beijing, we are in conversation today with Vijay Gokhale, then a young diplomat serving in Beijing, who was a witness to the drama that unfolded. The events of that summer would not only set the course for China's politics but would also re-define its relationship with the world. Host: Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sat, 05 Jun 2021 13:21:00 -0000 full The Hindu Former Foreign Secretary of India Vijay Gokhale talks about the brutal incident, the 1989 Tiananmen Square in his latest work: 'Tiananmen Square: The Making of a Protest' In this episode of The Hindu on Books, we are chating with Vijay Gokale who was the Former Foreign Secretary of India. In his last work 'Tiananmen Square: The Making of a Protest', Vijay discuss the Tiananmen Square protest that shook the power seats of China. After 32 years, since the incident in Beijing, we are in conversation today with Vijay Gokhale, then a young diplomat serving in Beijing, who was a witness to the drama that unfolded. The events of that summer would not only set the course for China's politics but would also re-define its relationship with the world. Host: Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode of The Hindu on Books, we are chating with Vijay Gokale who was the Former Foreign Secretary of India. In his last work 'Tiananmen Square: The Making of a Protest', Vijay discuss the Tiananmen Square protest that shook the power seats of China.

After 32 years, since the incident in Beijing, we are in conversation today with Vijay Gokhale, then a young diplomat serving in Beijing, who was a witness to the drama that unfolded. The events of that summer would not only set the course for China's politics but would also re-define its relationship with the world.

Host: Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu

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]]> 2837 no Vinod Kapri on India's Migrant Crisis | The Hindu On Books Podcast In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, we are joined by Vinod Kapri, filmmaker and author, who speaks about his new book '1232 km: The Long Journey Home', published by HarperCollins. The book tells the story of the March 24, 2020 lockdown and its impact on the lives of millions, told through the stories of 7 young men. Left for themselves in Delhi, they undertake a perilous journey home - the distance they cover on bicycles gives the book its title - as they encounter incredible obstacles on their way, from police brutality to insults, and rely on the kindness of strangers to survive. The book grew out of a documentary film project that followed their journey home last year, and through seven lives, paints a broader picture of how India - its government at every level, people and society at large - treat a group of people who are so essential in powering everyday life and industry in India's cities, yet face little gratitude for doing so. Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Fri, 04 Jun 2021 03:08:00 -0000 full The Hindu Filmmaker Vinod Kapri talks about the hardships of the 2020 Lockdown in his new book '1232 km: The Long Journey Home' In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, we are joined by Vinod Kapri, filmmaker and author, who speaks about his new book '1232 km: The Long Journey Home', published by HarperCollins. The book tells the story of the March 24, 2020 lockdown and its impact on the lives of millions, told through the stories of 7 young men. Left for themselves in Delhi, they undertake a perilous journey home - the distance they cover on bicycles gives the book its title - as they encounter incredible obstacles on their way, from police brutality to insults, and rely on the kindness of strangers to survive. The book grew out of a documentary film project that followed their journey home last year, and through seven lives, paints a broader picture of how India - its government at every level, people and society at large - treat a group of people who are so essential in powering everyday life and industry in India's cities, yet face little gratitude for doing so. Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, we are joined by Vinod Kapri, filmmaker and author, who speaks about his new book '1232 km: The Long Journey Home', published by HarperCollins. The book tells the story of the March 24, 2020 lockdown and its impact on the lives of millions, told through the stories of 7 young men. Left for themselves in Delhi, they undertake a perilous journey home - the distance they cover on bicycles gives the book its title - as they encounter incredible obstacles on their way, from police brutality to insults, and rely on the kindness of strangers to survive.

The book grew out of a documentary film project that followed their journey home last year, and through seven lives, paints a broader picture of how India - its government at every level, people and society at large - treat a group of people who are so essential in powering everyday life and industry in India's cities, yet face little gratitude for doing so.

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]]> 1236 no Shivshankar Menon on India and Asian Geopolitics | The Hindu On Books Podcast In this episode, we are joined by Shivshankar Menon, former National Security Adviser, Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China, who traces the history and evolution of India’s foreign policy and place in the world in the new book, “India and Asian Geopolitics: The Past, Present.” Going back into history, the book looks at the origins and evolution of India's foreign policy and view of the world, from how India's leaders, in the early years after Independence, crafted the foreign policy of a newly independent country, to how India navigated the Cold War and then the age of globalisation and rise of China. It also examines India's present foreign policy challenges and how they may be best tackled. The author tells us why the country is served best when interconnected with the world and not by turning inward, although he fears we may now be headed in the wrong direction. The world, he says, is facing a hinge moment, and he explains why India needs to be clear-eyed in its vision of what it seeks in the international order, and particularly in crafting a new modus vivendi with China after the 2020 border crisis. Also read | China tore up the modus vivendi in 2020, the LAC is now live: Shivshankar Menon Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Thu, 29 Apr 2021 09:25:00 -0000 full The Hindu Former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon traces the history and evolution of India’s foreign policy and place in the world in the new book, “India and Asian Geopolitics: The Past, Present.” In this episode, we are joined by Shivshankar Menon, former National Security Adviser, Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China, who traces the history and evolution of India’s foreign policy and place in the world in the new book, “India and Asian Geopolitics: The Past, Present.” Going back into history, the book looks at the origins and evolution of India's foreign policy and view of the world, from how India's leaders, in the early years after Independence, crafted the foreign policy of a newly independent country, to how India navigated the Cold War and then the age of globalisation and rise of China. It also examines India's present foreign policy challenges and how they may be best tackled. The author tells us why the country is served best when interconnected with the world and not by turning inward, although he fears we may now be headed in the wrong direction. The world, he says, is facing a hinge moment, and he explains why India needs to be clear-eyed in its vision of what it seeks in the international order, and particularly in crafting a new modus vivendi with China after the 2020 border crisis. Also read | China tore up the modus vivendi in 2020, the LAC is now live: Shivshankar Menon Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode, we are joined by Shivshankar Menon, former National Security Adviser, Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to China, who traces the history and evolution of India’s foreign policy and place in the world in the new book, “India and Asian Geopolitics: The Past, Present.”

Going back into history, the book looks at the origins and evolution of India's foreign policy and view of the world, from how India's leaders, in the early years after Independence, crafted the foreign policy of a newly independent country, to how India navigated the Cold War and then the age of globalisation and rise of China.

It also examines India's present foreign policy challenges and how they may be best tackled. The author tells us why the country is served best when interconnected with the world and not by turning inward, although he fears we may now be headed in the wrong direction. The world, he says, is facing a hinge moment, and he explains why India needs to be clear-eyed in its vision of what it seeks in the international order, and particularly in crafting a new modus vivendi with China after the 2020 border crisis.

Also read | China tore up the modus vivendi in 2020, the LAC is now live: Shivshankar Menon

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]]> 1939 no Sanjaya Baru on the rise of India’s New Power Elite | The Hindu On Books Podcast In today’s episode we are in conversation with author Sanjaya Baru about his new book India’s Power Elite: Class, Caste and a Cultural Revolution. The ascent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national arena has disrupted politics as we knew it and the BJPs’ subsequent dominance over political discourse has led sociologists and political commentators to find new idioms through which to document the changes that this brought about on the political and social sphere. In his book, Mr. Baru, a former media advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tries to capture not just the churn brought about by the 2014 general election and the decline of the Congress in the political sphere, but its impact on the social and cultural landscape, and the nuts and bolts that make up India’s elite. Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in  Wed, 21 Apr 2021 16:13:00 -0000 full The Hindu Author Sanjaya Baru breaks down the Indian power hierarchy in his new book 'India’s Power Elite: Class, Caste and a Cultural Revolution' In today’s episode we are in conversation with author Sanjaya Baru about his new book India’s Power Elite: Class, Caste and a Cultural Revolution. The ascent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national arena has disrupted politics as we knew it and the BJPs’ subsequent dominance over political discourse has led sociologists and political commentators to find new idioms through which to document the changes that this brought about on the political and social sphere. In his book, Mr. Baru, a former media advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tries to capture not just the churn brought about by the 2014 general election and the decline of the Congress in the political sphere, but its impact on the social and cultural landscape, and the nuts and bolts that make up India’s elite. Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in  In today’s episode we are in conversation with author Sanjaya Baru about his new book India’s Power Elite: Class, Caste and a Cultural Revolution.

The ascent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national arena has disrupted politics as we knew it and the BJPs’ subsequent dominance over political discourse has led sociologists and political commentators to find new idioms through which to document the changes that this brought about on the political and social sphere. In his book, Mr. Baru, a former media advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tries to capture not just the churn brought about by the 2014 general election and the decline of the Congress in the political sphere, but its impact on the social and cultural landscape, and the nuts and bolts that make up India’s elite.

Host: Nistula Hebbar, Political Editor, The Hindu

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Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in 

]]> 1259 no Neha Sinha on the magic of the wild, and making peace with nature | The Hindu On Books Podcast In this episode, we are in conversation with author and wildlife conservationist Neha Sinha about her new book Wild and Wilful in which she chronicles tales of 15 iconic Indian species which are in need of conservation. To celebrate nature’s beauty and to also highlight the trauma that humans are inflicting on animals and birds, is a requisite attribute for those who write about the natural world. Sinha does this with an equitable sense of wonder, grief and balance in this book that is a must read for any nature lover. Host: KC Vijayakumar, Sports Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:15:00 -0000 full The Hindu Wildlife conservationist Neha Sinha chronicles tales of 15 iconic Indian species through her work 'Wild and Wilful' In this episode, we are in conversation with author and wildlife conservationist Neha Sinha about her new book Wild and Wilful in which she chronicles tales of 15 iconic Indian species which are in need of conservation. To celebrate nature’s beauty and to also highlight the trauma that humans are inflicting on animals and birds, is a requisite attribute for those who write about the natural world. Sinha does this with an equitable sense of wonder, grief and balance in this book that is a must read for any nature lover. Host: KC Vijayakumar, Sports Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode, we are in conversation with author and wildlife conservationist Neha Sinha about her new book Wild and Wilful in which she chronicles tales of 15 iconic Indian species which are in need of conservation. To celebrate nature’s beauty and to also highlight the trauma that humans are inflicting on animals and birds, is a requisite attribute for those who write about the natural world. Sinha does this with an equitable sense of wonder, grief and balance in this book that is a must read for any nature lover.

Host: KC Vijayakumar, Sports Editor, The Hindu

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]]> 1888 no Krish Ashok on The Science of Indian Cooking | The Hindu On Books Podcast On this episode of the podcast we are in conversation with Krish Ashok, author of the fascinating new book Masala Lab: The Science of Indian Cooking. In Ashok’s words, the book attempts to bring an engineering approach to Indian cooking, breaking down the physics and chemistry of some of its key processes and adopting an algorithmic approach to the combination of its vast array of ingredients. That may sound daunting at the outset and you may ask, why do we need a scientific approach to cooking? Isn’t it all skill and craft handed down and over generations and innate feel? That is where masala lab attempts to change your perception of Indian cooking. You can either spend years in the kitchen trying to master that innate feel, as all experienced cooks in our families did or you can follow recipe books that can give you a method but not even come close to conveying the craft. If you fall somewhere in between these two approaches, then Krish Ashok has a lot of lessons for you. Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:05:00 -0000 full The Hindu Food connoisseur Krish Ashok brings an engineering approach to Indian cooking with his work 'Masala Lab: The Science of Indian Cooking' On this episode of the podcast we are in conversation with Krish Ashok, author of the fascinating new book Masala Lab: The Science of Indian Cooking. In Ashok’s words, the book attempts to bring an engineering approach to Indian cooking, breaking down the physics and chemistry of some of its key processes and adopting an algorithmic approach to the combination of its vast array of ingredients. That may sound daunting at the outset and you may ask, why do we need a scientific approach to cooking? Isn’t it all skill and craft handed down and over generations and innate feel? That is where masala lab attempts to change your perception of Indian cooking. You can either spend years in the kitchen trying to master that innate feel, as all experienced cooks in our families did or you can follow recipe books that can give you a method but not even come close to conveying the craft. If you fall somewhere in between these two approaches, then Krish Ashok has a lot of lessons for you. Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in On this episode of the podcast we are in conversation with Krish Ashok, author of the fascinating new book Masala Lab: The Science of Indian Cooking. In Ashok’s words, the book attempts to bring an engineering approach to Indian cooking, breaking down the physics and chemistry of some of its key processes and adopting an algorithmic approach to the combination of its vast array of ingredients. That may sound daunting at the outset and you may ask, why do we need a scientific approach to cooking? Isn’t it all skill and craft handed down and over generations and innate feel? That is where masala lab attempts to change your perception of Indian cooking. You can either spend years in the kitchen trying to master that innate feel, as all experienced cooks in our families did or you can follow recipe books that can give you a method but not even come close to conveying the craft. If you fall somewhere in between these two approaches, then Krish Ashok has a lot of lessons for you.

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]]> 2722 no Suchitra Vijayan on a journey to find a people's history of modern India | The Hindu On Books Podcast Suchitra Vijayan undertook a 9000 mile journey over seven years to India's borderlands to write Midnight's Borders: A People's History of Modern India. India shares borders with a host of countries including Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and so forth. From the densely populated border that India shares with Bangladesh to the highly disputed one with Pakistan, she meets men, women and children who tell her how they live, struggle, fight and survive. She also offers notes on how the lines came to be and why some of them are arbitrary and still being contested. The award winning photographer -- there are some devastating black and white pictures accompanying the stories -- is founder and executive director of the Polis Project, a research and journalism organisation. Host: Sudipta Datta, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Wed, 17 Mar 2021 12:19:00 -0000 full The Hindu Indian author Suchitra Vijayan paints the struggles of life in the Indian borders with her latest book 'Midnight's Borders: A People's History of Modern India' Suchitra Vijayan undertook a 9000 mile journey over seven years to India's borderlands to write Midnight's Borders: A People's History of Modern India. India shares borders with a host of countries including Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and so forth. From the densely populated border that India shares with Bangladesh to the highly disputed one with Pakistan, she meets men, women and children who tell her how they live, struggle, fight and survive. She also offers notes on how the lines came to be and why some of them are arbitrary and still being contested. The award winning photographer -- there are some devastating black and white pictures accompanying the stories -- is founder and executive director of the Polis Project, a research and journalism organisation. Host: Sudipta Datta, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Suchitra Vijayan undertook a 9000 mile journey over seven years to India's borderlands to write Midnight's Borders: A People's History of Modern India. India shares borders with a host of countries including Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and so forth. From the densely populated border that India shares with Bangladesh to the highly disputed one with Pakistan, she meets men, women and children who tell her how they live, struggle, fight and survive. She also offers notes on how the lines came to be and why some of them are arbitrary and still being contested. The award winning photographer -- there are some devastating black and white pictures accompanying the stories -- is founder and executive director of the Polis Project, a research and journalism organisation.

Host: Sudipta Datta, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu

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]]> 2041 no Dan Morain on the rise of Kamala Harris | The Hindu on Books Podcast On this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, we speak to Dan Moraine, author of Kamala’s Way, the bestselling biography of the current US Vice president Kamala Harris. Mr. Morain has covered California policy politics and justice related issues for more than four decades and has brought his deep knowledge to bear on this riveting narrative about the evolution of Kamala Harris from a county and then San Francisco prosecutor, to the California District Attorney, a harder to US Senator, a presidential race candidate, and finally, then candidate Joe Biden's pick as running mate. Hosted by Narayan Lakshman, Associate Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Sun, 28 Feb 2021 21:31:00 -0000 full The Hindu American author Dan Morain talks about the spirited life of Kamala Harris in his book, 'Kamala's Way' On this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, we speak to Dan Moraine, author of Kamala’s Way, the bestselling biography of the current US Vice president Kamala Harris. Mr. Morain has covered California policy politics and justice related issues for more than four decades and has brought his deep knowledge to bear on this riveting narrative about the evolution of Kamala Harris from a county and then San Francisco prosecutor, to the California District Attorney, a harder to US Senator, a presidential race candidate, and finally, then candidate Joe Biden's pick as running mate. Hosted by Narayan Lakshman, Associate Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in On this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, we speak to Dan Moraine, author of Kamala’s Way, the bestselling biography of the current US Vice president Kamala Harris. Mr. Morain has covered California policy politics and justice related issues for more than four decades and has brought his deep knowledge to bear on this riveting narrative about the evolution of Kamala Harris from a county and then San Francisco prosecutor, to the California District Attorney, a harder to US Senator, a presidential race candidate, and finally, then candidate Joe Biden's pick as running mate.

Hosted by Narayan Lakshman, Associate Editor, The Hindu

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]]> 1369 no Mohamed Zeeshan on India's Quest for Global Leadership In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, journalist and author Mohammad Zeeshan discusses his latest book Flying Blind: India's Quest for Global Leadership. He discusses not just India’s foreign policy as it is today but discusses foreign policy history, taking us back through the decades to get an understanding of where India should lead or what kind of a world India should look to build. He also asks the question, how can a proactive foreign policy help India be more prosperous.  Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Fri, 12 Feb 2021 14:30:00 -0000 full 5 The Hindu Indian Journalist Mohammad Zeeshan discusses Indian's foreign policy his latest book 'Flying Blind: India's Quest for Global Leadership' In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, journalist and author Mohammad Zeeshan discusses his latest book Flying Blind: India's Quest for Global Leadership. He discusses not just India’s foreign policy as it is today but discusses foreign policy history, taking us back through the decades to get an understanding of where India should lead or what kind of a world India should look to build. He also asks the question, how can a proactive foreign policy help India be more prosperous.  Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast, journalist and author Mohammad Zeeshan discusses his latest book Flying Blind: India's Quest for Global Leadership. He discusses not just India’s foreign policy as it is today but discusses foreign policy history, taking us back through the decades to get an understanding of where India should lead or what kind of a world India should look to build. He also asks the question, how can a proactive foreign policy help India be more prosperous. 

Host: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu

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]]> 2174 no Chinmay Tumbe on The Age of Pandemics (1817-1920): How They Shaped India and the World In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast we talk to Chinmay Tumbe, professor at The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and author of two critically acclaimed books, India Moving (2018) and more recently, The Age of Pandemics (1817-1920): How They Shaped India and the World. In his latest books, Tumbe chronicles the many facets of the cholera, plague and influenza pandemics, which claimed over 70 million lives between 1817 and 1920, with India being the epicentre in all these episodes. When we talk of Covid-19 as an unprecedented event therefore, are we forgetting a key part of our history that we could have learned from? These are the questions we address in this episode. Host: Anuradha Raman, Associate Editor, The Hindu Fri, 05 Feb 2021 14:30:00 -0000 full 4 The Hindu Dr. Chinmay Tumbe explores the eerie history of pandamics in his lastest work 'The Age of Pandemics (1817-1920)' In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast we talk to Chinmay Tumbe, professor at The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and author of two critically acclaimed books, India Moving (2018) and more recently, The Age of Pandemics (1817-1920): How They Shaped India and the World. In his latest books, Tumbe chronicles the many facets of the cholera, plague and influenza pandemics, which claimed over 70 million lives between 1817 and 1920, with India being the epicentre in all these episodes. When we talk of Covid-19 as an unprecedented event therefore, are we forgetting a key part of our history that we could have learned from? These are the questions we address in this episode. Host: Anuradha Raman, Associate Editor, The Hindu In this episode of The Hindu On Books Podcast we talk to Chinmay Tumbe, professor at The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and author of two critically acclaimed books, India Moving (2018) and more recently, The Age of Pandemics (1817-1920): How They Shaped India and the World. In his latest books, Tumbe chronicles the many facets of the cholera, plague and influenza pandemics, which claimed over 70 million lives between 1817 and 1920, with India being the epicentre in all these episodes. When we talk of Covid-19 as an unprecedented event therefore, are we forgetting a key part of our history that we could have learned from? These are the questions we address in this episode.

Host: Anuradha Raman, Associate Editor, The Hindu

]]> 1857 no Audrey Truschke on The Language of History and Sanskrit histories of Indo-Muslim rule In this edition of The Hindu on Books Podcast, we talk to Audrey Truschke about her new book, The Language of History, in which she explains why Sanskrit histories of Indo-Muslim rule, ought to be acknowledged as crucial to the study of Indo-Persian political history. Truschke, who wrote a biography of the Mughal king Aurangzeb in 2017 for which she received both kudos and brickbats, takes us through cultural encounters through the ages, the importance of history, and her new project. Host: Sudipta Dutta, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:30:00 -0000 full 3 The Hindu Dr. Audrey Truschke explains why Sanskrit histories of Indo-Muslim rule in her new book 'The Langugae of History' In this edition of The Hindu on Books Podcast, we talk to Audrey Truschke about her new book, The Language of History, in which she explains why Sanskrit histories of Indo-Muslim rule, ought to be acknowledged as crucial to the study of Indo-Persian political history. Truschke, who wrote a biography of the Mughal king Aurangzeb in 2017 for which she received both kudos and brickbats, takes us through cultural encounters through the ages, the importance of history, and her new project. Host: Sudipta Dutta, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in In this edition of The Hindu on Books Podcast, we talk to Audrey Truschke about her new book, The Language of History, in which she explains why Sanskrit histories of Indo-Muslim rule, ought to be acknowledged as crucial to the study of Indo-Persian political history. Truschke, who wrote a biography of the Mughal king Aurangzeb in 2017 for which she received both kudos and brickbats, takes us through cultural encounters through the ages, the importance of history, and her new project.

Host: Sudipta Dutta, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu

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]]> 1636 no Subramananiam Swamy on India’s Himalayan challenge The crisis along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020 and the biggest loss of life of Indian soldiers on the China border since 1967 have put a large question mark on the future of India China relations. Subramanian Swamy discusses his new book, Himalayan Challenge: India, China and the Quest for Peace, in which he offers an intervention in this on-going debate on the future of relations and suggests a new way of engaging China — one that will involve, in his view, reassessing many of India’s fundamental positions on issues such as Tibet and the boundary. Swamy also discusses his long association with China, going back to his time at Harvard University in the 1960s, and his visits there in the late 1970s and early 1980s when he met with then leader Deng Xiaoping and helped push the post-1962 normalisation of relations. Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Fri, 22 Jan 2021 13:30:00 -0000 full 2 The Hindu MP Subramanian Swamy dicusses the crisis in the China Border in his opus 'Himalayan Challenge: India, China and the Quest for Peace' The crisis along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020 and the biggest loss of life of Indian soldiers on the China border since 1967 have put a large question mark on the future of India China relations. Subramanian Swamy discusses his new book, Himalayan Challenge: India, China and the Quest for Peace, in which he offers an intervention in this on-going debate on the future of relations and suggests a new way of engaging China — one that will involve, in his view, reassessing many of India’s fundamental positions on issues such as Tibet and the boundary. Swamy also discusses his long association with China, going back to his time at Harvard University in the 1960s, and his visits there in the late 1970s and early 1980s when he met with then leader Deng Xiaoping and helped push the post-1962 normalisation of relations. Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in The crisis along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2020 and the biggest loss of life of Indian soldiers on the China border since 1967 have put a large question mark on the future of India China relations.

Subramanian Swamy discusses his new book, Himalayan Challenge: India, China and the Quest for Peace, in which he offers an intervention in this on-going debate on the future of relations and suggests a new way of engaging China — one that will involve, in his view, reassessing many of India’s fundamental positions on issues such as Tibet and the boundary.

Swamy also discusses his long association with China, going back to his time at Harvard University in the 1960s, and his visits there in the late 1970s and early 1980s when he met with then leader Deng Xiaoping and helped push the post-1962 normalisation of relations.

Host: Ananth Krishnan, China Correspondent, The Hindu

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Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

]]> 2213 no Ramachandra Guha on 'The Commonwealth of Cricket' and his abiding love for the game We start the series with a freewheeling chat with Ramachandra Guha about his latest book The Commonwealth of Cricket. Mr. Guha wears many hats - as a historian, academician, social anthropologist, environmentalist - and above all, an old word lover of cricket in the true sense. His latest book juxtaposes his life with his abiding love for the game and this conversation could not come at a better time with India and Australia in the midst of an enthralling test series. Host: K.C. Vijaya Kumar, Sports Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in Fri, 15 Jan 2021 04:30:00 -0000 full 1 The Hindu Indian polymath Ramachandra Guha describes his love of cricket in the book 'The Commonwealth of Cricket' We start the series with a freewheeling chat with Ramachandra Guha about his latest book The Commonwealth of Cricket. Mr. Guha wears many hats - as a historian, academician, social anthropologist, environmentalist - and above all, an old word lover of cricket in the true sense. His latest book juxtaposes his life with his abiding love for the game and this conversation could not come at a better time with India and Australia in the midst of an enthralling test series. Host: K.C. Vijaya Kumar, Sports Editor, The Hindu Want to get more from The Hindu on books? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here (Newsletter Subscription) Write to us with comments and feedback at socmed4@thehindu.co.in We start the series with a freewheeling chat with Ramachandra Guha about his latest book The Commonwealth of Cricket. Mr. Guha wears many hats - as a historian, academician, social anthropologist, environmentalist - and above all, an old word lover of cricket in the true sense. His latest book juxtaposes his life with his abiding love for the game and this conversation could not come at a better time with India and Australia in the midst of an enthralling test series.

Host: K.C. Vijaya Kumar, Sports Editor, The Hindu

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