BIC TALKS
Bangalore International Centre (BIC) is a non profit, public institution which serves as an inclusive platform for informed conversations, arts and culture. BIC TALKS aims to be a regular bi-weekly podcast that will foster discussions, dialogue, ideas, cultural enterprise and more.
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316. Echoes of AI
05/10/2024
316. Echoes of AI
On the surface, an Indian doctor, a British poet, an UberEats courier in Pittsburgh, and a Chinese activist in exile have nothing in common. But they are in fact linked by a profound common experience―unexpected encounters with artificial intelligence. In her debut book Code Dependent, shortlisted for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Non-fiction 2024, Madhumita Murgia shows how automated systems are reshaping our lives all over the world, from technology that marks children as future criminals, to an app that is helping to offer medical diagnoses to a remote tribal community. By highlighting the voices of ordinary people in places far removed from the cozy enclave of Silicon Valley, Madhumita explores the impact of this often-exploitative technology on individuals, communities, and our wider society. Vidushi Marda, a lawyer and researcher, specialises in examining the socio-legal ramifications of data-driven technologies. Her research centers on technology regulation, asymmetric power dynamics, and fundamental rights. Through her endeavors, she collaborates with governments, corporations, and technical communities to promote social justice. Together, they will discuss and unpack how AI can strip away our collective and individual sense of agency, and shatter our illusion of free will. AI has already infiltrated our day-to-day, through language-generating chatbots like ChatGPT and social media. But it’s also affecting us in more insidious ways. It touches everything from our interpersonal relationships, to our kids’ education, work, finances, public services, and even our human rights. It is already changing what it means to be human, in ways large and small, and Madhumita and Vidushi reveal what could happen if we fail to reclaim our humanity. In this episode of BIC Talks, Author - Madhumita Murgia is in conversation with the Lawyer and Researcher - Vidushi Marda. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in May 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favorite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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315. Tracing Origins
05/07/2024
315. Tracing Origins
Karthik Venkatesh, in his book, 10 Indian Languages and How They Came to Be, traces the long and varied journeys of ten languages through time, examining the cultural shifts and political and social influences that have shaped them. He provides a glimpse of their literature, tracks the growth of their scripts and identifies landmark moments that have preserved and reinvented these ten Indian languages. Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan, in his book, The Origin Story of India’s States, gives us an account of the genesis of India’s states, presenting the incredible origin stories of each of India’s twenty-eight states and eight union territories, spanning from Independence until today. The authors come together in this session to delve into the historical, cultural, and political dimensions of both subjects, to compare and contrast their development and to share with us their process in putting together books that are accessible and of historical import. In this episode of BIC Talks, Author & Executive Editor of Penguin Random House India - Karthik Venkatesh is in conversation with the Writer, Actor & Director - Venkataraghavan Subha Srinivasan. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in May 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favorite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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314. India Votes 2024: Karnataka Elections (Part 4 of 4)
04/30/2024
314. India Votes 2024: Karnataka Elections (Part 4 of 4)
Karnataka elects 28 members to the Lok Sabha and is considered a crucial swing state (to borrow a term from American politics) in the forthcoming elections as the INDIA Alliance is hoping to make major gains here. But if history is any indicator, then the BJP has an advantage. In the past four parliamentary elections since 2004, the BJP has managed to win more seats than the Congress. In the elections of 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019, the BJP won 18, 19, 17 and 25 seats respectively. In the 2019 elections, the BJP, riding on a national wave that favoured the reelection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, secured a staggering 51.7 percent of the vote share in Karnataka. The lone independent MP who was elected also subsequently extended her support to the BJP which means that the party now has 26 seats in Karnataka. While the electoral history of the past two decades favours the saffron party as Karnataka gets ready to vote in two phases on April 26 and May 7, the Indian National Congress is hoping to regain its past glory in Karnataka. The party which won a thumping majority in the Legislative Assembly elections last year is banking on two issues; its successful implementation of its five guarantees and the injustice done to the State in the devolution of funds from the Union government. The panel that has been curated carefully will discuss whether Karnataka will follow the same pattern that it has set in place from the past 20 years of preferring the BJP or will it witness a change and provide a boost to the INDIA Alliance. The panel will also dwell on other salient themes such as why Karnataka remains an outlier in south India as far as support to the BJP is concerned and the significance of the BJP’s alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular). Leading up to the elections, both the main parties in the fray have witnessed factional wrangles accompanying the selection of candidates while they have also been accused of perpetuating dynastic politics. In this episode of BIC Talks, Professor of Public Policy & Governance, Azim Premji University - A Narayana; Senior Journalist at The Hindu - Rishikesh Bahadur Desai and Senior Journalist at The News Minute - Pooja Prasanna are in conversation with Journalist, Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in April 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favorite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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313. India Votes 2024: Seeds of Democracy (Part 3 of 4)
04/26/2024
313. India Votes 2024: Seeds of Democracy (Part 3 of 4)
In India, the question of whether voters are truly getting what they vote for remains a complex and often debated issue. While elections provide a platform for citizens to express their preferences and hold their representatives accountable, challenges such as electoral misconduct, corruption, and the influence of money and power continue to cast doubt on the efficacy of the electoral process. Moreover, the disconnect between campaign promises and actual governance outcomes further muddles the picture. Despite strides in transparency and electoral reforms, the gap between voter expectations and political realities underscores the need for sustained efforts to enhance accountability, strengthen institutions, and foster a more responsive and inclusive democracy. Cultivating Democracy: Politics and Citizenship in Agrarian India by Mukulika Banerjee is an anthropological study of the relationship of formal political democracy and the cultivation of active citizenship in one particular rural setting in India, studied from 1998 to 2013. It draws on deep ethnographic engagement with the people and social life in two villages, both during elections and in the time in between them, to show how these two temporalities connect. The analysis shows how an agrarian village society produces the social imaginaries required for democratic and republican values. The ethnographic microscope on a single paddy growing setting allows us to examine how the various social institutions of kinship, economy, and religion are critical sites for the continual civic cultivation of cooperation, vigilance, redistribution, inviolate commitment, and hope—values that are essential for democracy. In this episode of BIC Talks, Author of 'Cultivating Democracy' & Professor of Social Anthropology at LSE - Mukulika Banerjee will present her findings and engage in a conversation with Professor of Public Policy & Governance, Azim Premji University - A Narayana and Political Consultant, Gender & Civic Activist - Tara Krishnaswamy. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in April 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favorite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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312. India Votes 2024: Electoral Bonds (Part 2 of 4)
04/22/2024
312. India Votes 2024: Electoral Bonds (Part 2 of 4)
On the eve of the 2024 general election, electoral bonds have been thrust into the spotlight, representing a focal point in discussions surrounding political financing in India. These bonds, introduced as a means to ostensibly bring transparency to political funding, have instead been criticised for exacerbating the problem by allowing for anonymous and unrestricted donations to political parties. It leads to the question of what exactly the cost is of fighting an election and what it means for the future of India’s democracy. In this episode of BIC Talks, Prof. Trilochan Sastry, founder-member of the Association for Democratic Reforms - a petitioner in the electoral bonds case in the Supreme Court, Brijesh Kalappa who has contested a state election and T.M. Veeraraghav who has covered politics for 25 years will discuss elections, money and sources of funding in Indian politics. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in March 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favorite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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311. India Votes 2024: Democracy vs Disinformation (Part 1 of 4)
04/19/2024
311. India Votes 2024: Democracy vs Disinformation (Part 1 of 4)
Misinformation and fake news pose significant challenges in the electoral context in India, influencing public opinion, political discourse, and ultimately, democratic processes. With the widespread use of social media and messaging platforms, false narratives can spread rapidly, often targeting specific communities or political factions. This phenomenon not only undermines the credibility of information but also exacerbates societal divisions and hampers informed decision-making among voters. In India, where diverse perspectives and identities intersect, the proliferation of misinformation can further polarise communities and distort electoral outcomes. Love Jihad and Other Fictions is a book that debunks the viral falsehoods tearing India apart. Co-authored by three award-winning journalists – Sreenivasan Jain, Supriya Sharma and Mariyam Alavi – the book interrogates inflammatory conspiracy theories centred around the assertion that India’s minorities are plotting to weaken Hindus. Once confined to the fringe, these claims are today amplified by politicians, the mainstream media, and countless social media posts, a trend likely to accelerate as the Lok Sabha election approaches. A book like this, which debunks these divisive theories through hard nosed journalistic scrutiny, has never felt more timely. In this episode of BIC Talks, the authors of the book, Sreenivasan Jain and Supriya Sharma, along with Vasu HV from Eedina.com are in conversation with Journalist, Dhanya Rajendran. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in March 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favorite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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310. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 5 of 5)
03/25/2024
310. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 5 of 5)
"The Gift That Keeps Giving," is a special five-part BIC Talks mini-series on the life and work of A.K. Ramanujan. Join us as we venture into the rich tapestry of Ramanujan's legacy, featuring exclusive interviews with writers, artists, and scholars who share a profound connection with his work. With each episode, we unravel the enduring impact of Ramanujan’s poetry, translations, and scholarship, providing insights into the creative spirit that continues to inspire generations. Discover the man whose intellectual contributions remain a perpetual gift to the world of literature, art, and academic thought. The fifth episode, "The Folklorist and His Legend," delves into A.K. Ramanujan's groundbreaking work as a folklorist, highlighting his dedication to preserving and interpreting the rich folklore traditions of South Asia. Through his meticulous collection and insightful analysis of folk tales, songs, and rituals, Ramanujan revealed the complex layers of meaning and cultural significance embedded in these oral traditions. Featuring interviews with anthropologists, folklorists, and those who were directly influenced by his work, this episode uncovers the ways in which Ramanujan's scholarship has shaped our understanding of folklore as a vibrant, living form of cultural expression. We celebrate Ramanujan's legacy as a folklorist who not only documented these stories but also illuminated their enduring relevance and power, cementing his status as a legend in the field. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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309. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 4 of 5)
03/21/2024
309. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 4 of 5)
"The Gift That Keeps Giving," is a special five-part BIC Talks mini-series on the life and work of AK Ramanujan. Join us as we venture into the rich tapestry of Ramanujan's legacy, featuring exclusive interviews with writers, artists, and scholars who share a profound connection with his work. With each episode, we unravel the enduring impact of Ramanujan’s poetry, translations, and scholarship, providing insights into the creative spirit that continues to inspire generations. Discover the man whose intellectual contributions remain a perpetual gift to the world of literature, art, and academic thought. The fourth episode, "The Poet," casts a spotlight on AK Ramanujan's profound contributions to poetry, showcasing his extraordinary talent for capturing the complexities of human emotion and experience. It delves into his poetic universe, where each verse weaves together the personal and the universal, the contemporary and the timeless. Featuring readings of his most celebrated poems and insights from fellow poets and literary critics, this episode reveals the layers of meaning and the linguistic mastery that mark Ramanujan's poetry as a vital part of his legacy. "The Poet" invites listeners to experience the beauty and depth of Ramanujan's work, highlighting his enduring influence on the literary world. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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308. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 3 of 5)
03/18/2024
308. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 3 of 5)
"The Gift That Keeps Giving," is a special five-part BIC Talks mini-series on the life and work of A.K. Ramanujan. Join us as we venture into the rich tapestry of Ramanujan's legacy, featuring exclusive interviews with writers, artists, and scholars who share a profound connection with his work. With each episode, we unravel the enduring impact of Ramanujan’s poetry, translations, and scholarship, providing insights into the creative spirit that continues to inspire generations. Discover the man whose intellectual contributions remain a perpetual gift to the world of literature, art, and academic thought. The third episode, "The Translator and the Teacher," explores A.K. Ramanujan's dual roles as a masterful translator and an inspiring educator. It delves into how his translations bridged linguistic and cultural divides, bringing ancient texts to life for modern audiences, while his teaching ignited a passion for learning and discovery in his students. Through personal anecdotes and insights from literary experts, we uncover the depth of Ramanujan's impact, showcasing his ability to connect deeply with both the texts he translated and the minds he shaped. This episode celebrates the legacy of a scholar whose work and teaching continue to influence and inspire long after his time. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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307. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 2 of 5)
03/14/2024
307. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 2 of 5)
"The Gift That Keeps Giving," is a special five-part BIC Talks mini-series on the life and work of A.K. Ramanujan. Join us as we venture into the rich tapestry of Ramanujan's legacy, featuring exclusive interviews with writers, artists, and scholars who share a profound connection with his work. With each episode, we unravel the enduring impact of Ramanujan’s poetry, translations, and scholarship, providing insights into the creative spirit that continues to inspire generations. Discover the man whose intellectual contributions remain a perpetual gift to the world of literature, art, and academic thought. In the second episode, we delve into A.K. Ramanujan's vast intellectual landscape, exploring his unique ability to weave together the ancient and the modern through his translations and scholarship. This journey illuminates how Ramanujan's work serves as a bridge across cultures, uncovering universal human experiences within the rich tapestries of folklore, mythology, and literary traditions. Through engaging discussions with scholars and admirers, we celebrate Ramanujan's profound insight and boundless curiosity, inviting listeners to experience the world through his visionary lens, where every text and tradition opens new vistas of understanding and connection. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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306. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 1 of 5)
03/11/2024
306. The Gift that Keeps on Giving: The Life and Work of AK Ramanujan (Part 1 of 5)
"The Gift That Keeps Giving," is a special five-part BIC Talks mini-series on the life and work of A.K. Ramanujan. Join us as we venture into the rich tapestry of Ramanujan's legacy, featuring exclusive interviews with writers, artists, and scholars who share a profound connection with his work. With each episode, we unravel the enduring impact of Ramanujan’s poetry, translations, and scholarship, providing insights into the creative spirit that continues to inspire generations. Discover the man whose intellectual contributions remain a perpetual gift to the world of literature, art, and academic thought. The first episode, offers an intimate narrative through the eyes of a fictional, yet relatable reader, tracing their transformative encounter with the brilliance of AK Ramanujan. This opening chapter invites listeners to embark on their own voyage of discovery, tracing the contours of Ramanujan's intellectual landscapes and delving into the essence of his work that continues to enchant and enlighten. Join us as we begin this exploration into the life and legacy of a man whose contributions are a ceaseless source of inspiration and wonder. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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305. From Farmers to Free Speech
03/08/2024
305. From Farmers to Free Speech
As the pillars of democracy crumble across the globe, big and small actions of resistance prop up hope and keep alive a way to rebuild. In the past few decades, ordinary folk in India have stood up to repressive state authority over and over again. Their vital acts of hope preserve the collective spirit of resistance and unwavering resilience necessary to continue the fight for democracy. Audacious Hope is an archive of these struggles, including the protests that united farmers across state borders in 2020 and the national outcry following the controversial CAA legislation. From the myriad ways people came to the aid of their fellow citizens during the pandemic to the testing of free-speech boundaries by cultural activists, this book undertakes the task of documenting resistance in its many forms. The author, Indrajit Roy challenges the reader with his account of how a proud people are battling to save their beloved democracy. The question is, how can we, through individual and collective action, resist authoritarianism, casteism and majoritarianism? The answer is, of course, through the audacity of hope. In this episode of BIC Talks, Indrajit is in conversation with journalist and editor Prem Panicker. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in February 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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304. Kicking and Flying Beyond Boundaries
03/05/2024
304. Kicking and Flying Beyond Boundaries
Ruchira Gupta grew up on her father’s bedtime stories, sparking a desire to become a storyteller like him. Inspired by a childhood article titled The Autobiography of a Pencil, published at the age of ten, Ruchira resolved to become a journalist. Despite initial disinterest in college, she pursued it to secure a job at a Kolkata newspaper. A turning point occurred during a work assignment in Nepal, where she discovered the harrowing reality of girls being trafficked into Indian brothels. Her documentary, The Selling of Innocents, earned her an Emmy. Unfulfilled, Ruchira left journalism, founded the NGO Apne Aap, and collaborated with the United Nations to combat sex trafficking globally. Despite accolades and a book, I Kick and I Fly, she remains dedicated to eradicating human trafficking and envisions a world free from the buying and selling of human beings. In this episode of BIC Talks Ruchira shares her story on art and activism and discusses with activist and educator Manira Alva, her book, her work and the work that is yet to be done. This is an excerpt from an in-person event that took place in the BIC premises in February 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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303. The Intersection of AI and Economics
03/01/2024
303. The Intersection of AI and Economics
The global economic outlook in the future is going to be uncertain with wide disruption in all walks of life. The accelerating progress of AI comes at a pivotal moment in the global economy. AI and automation may offer a broad-based surge in productivity – resulting in all-round development and a more positive outlook. But to harness the true power of an AI-powered economy, a robust policy framework that fosters collaboration, and enhances human potential and responsible management of data is required. In this episode of BIC Talks economist & Nobel Laureate, Michael Spence is in a conversation educationist & CEO of Azim Premji Foundation with Anurag Behar. This is an extract from an in-person event that took place in the bic premises in February 2024 Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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301. The Rise of H-Pop
02/22/2024
301. The Rise of H-Pop
Can a song trigger a murder? Can a poem spark a riot? Can a book divide a people? From catchy songs with acerbic lyrics to poetry recited in kavi sammelans to social media influencers shaping opinions with their brand of ‘breaking news’ to books rescripting historical events, ‘Hindutva Pop’ or H-Pop is steadily creating societal acceptability for Hindutva’s core beliefs. What makes H-Pop so popular? Who are its stars and its audience? Who is pouring in the money, the effort and the resources to produce and broadcast it? What is the political economy of H-Pop? These are some of the questions that award-winning independent journalist Kunal Purohit explores in his riveting investigative book, H-Pop: The Secretive World Of Hindutva Pop Stars, as he travels through India profiling some of H-Pop’s most prolific and popular creators—its stars and celebrities. In the process, he interrogates whether the creators are driven by ideology or commerce, and what motivates the audience to consume their daily dose of bigotry. In this episode of BIC Talks, an extract from an in-person event that took place in December 2023, Kunal along with stand up comedian Namit Jain and cultural practitioner Arundhati Ghosh discusses the key issues raised in the book and explore the effects of the the Political Influencer Economy. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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300. A History of Economic Ideas
02/19/2024
300. A History of Economic Ideas
Described as “a brilliant history of economic ideas” by Amartya Sen, Aditya Balasubramanian’s recent book Toward a Free Economy: Swatantra and Opposition Politics in Democratic India, shows how ideas of ‘free economy’ emerged from communities in southern and western India as they embraced new forms of entrepreneurial activity, in opposition to the so-called ‘socialist planned economy’ of Nehruvian India. ‘Free economy’ became the rallying cry for the Swatantra (Freedom) Party, which rose and fell in 1960s India. Its project of opposition politics sought to create a viable conservative alternative to the dominant Indian National Congress and push India toward a two-party system. In this episode of BIC talks, author Aditya Balasubramanian is in conversation with Narayan Ramachandran. This discussion provides a perspective on the changing relationship between the state and markets and the evolution of democracy in India and help us better understand communities who have been disproportionately successful in the aftermath of liberalisation and shed light on the constructive role opposition has played in Indian society. This episode is an extract from an in-person event that took place at the BIC premises in December 2023. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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299. Beyond Imitation
02/16/2024
299. Beyond Imitation
The thinking on political theory that went into the making of the Indian Constitution was not derivative, but highly original. The constitution is based on a long tradition of highly original Indian political reflection. This originality lay in the framers’ forceful critique against some basic axioms of Western political theory. As illustrations, in this episode of BIC Talks Sudipta Kaviraj (Professor, Columbia University, and Distinguished Visiting Faculty at the NLSIU) shall present Tagore’s thinking on religion and modernity, Gandhi-Tagore-Nehru’s ideas of the nation, and Ambedkar’s late deployment of Buddhism. Indian nationalist thought also displayed a contending tradition that accepted and elaborated on fundamental Western ideas – as in Iqbal and Savarkar. The constitution sought to develop a state-form that was based on a rejection of the European idea of a nation-state – though this is sometimes obscured, because the framers used a Western-derived language. Thus, those who believe that the constitution is ‘Western’ or colonial are in error; and their search for an alternative is based, ironically, on an imitation of modern Western ideals. This episode was originally delivered by Sudipta Kaviraj as the MK Nambyar Annual Lecture in November 2023, in collaboration with National Law School of India University. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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298. Literary Bonds
02/13/2024
298. Literary Bonds
It is not often that an author and his editor strike up a relationship that survives forty years of epistolary exchanges and intellectual sparring. The strangely enduring and occasionally fractious friendship that developed between the famously outspoken historian Ramachandra Guha and his reticent editor Rukun Advani is the subject of his new literary memoir. It started in Delhi in the early 1980s, when Guha was an unpublished PhD scholar, and Advani a greenhorn editor with the Oxford University Press. It blossomed through the 1990s, when Guha grew into a pioneering historian of the environment and of cricket, while also writing his biography of Verrier Elwin. Over these years, Advani was Guha’s most constant confidant, his most reliable reader. He encouraged him to craft and refine the literary style for which Guha became internationally known. Four decades later, though he no longer publishes his books, Advani remains Guha’s most trusted literary adviser. Yet they also disagree ferociously on politics, human nature, and the nature of their commitment to India. They usually make up – because it just wouldn’t do to allow such an odd relationship to die. In this episode of BIC Talks, built around letters and emails between an outgoing and occasionally combative scholar and a reclusive editor prone to private outbursts of savage sarcasm, Ramachandra Guha discusses his new book, The Cooking of Books: A Literary Memoir. This episode is adapted from an in-person event that took place at the BIC premises in early February 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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297. Decoding India's Economic Path
02/08/2024
297. Decoding India's Economic Path
Dr. Raghuram Rajan Economist, Educator & Former Governor, RBI speaks in context of his latest book - Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future, in the context of a first-time collaboration between Dr Rajan and economist Rohit Lamba. These two distinguished voices from the field of economics and public policy have put together a gripping book about the future of India’s economic development. There is a truly Indian path to prosperity, they argue, that builds on the strengths of our people and our political and societal frameworks. They examine fundamental policy choices that concern every Indian. In this episode of BIC Talks, Dr. Rajan speaks followed by a conversation with Dr. Lamba and Prof. Manaswini Bhalla, Associate Professor of Economics, IIM-B, tackling questions like - Where is India going today? Is it surging forward, having just overtaken the United Kingdom to become the fifth-largest economy in the world? Or is it floundering, unable to provide jobs for the millions joining the labour force? What should India do to secure a better future? Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future tackles these critical questions that revolve around India’s growth and progress in the 21st century. This is an excerpt from an in-person event that took place in December 2023. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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296. Autonomy Ascendant
02/05/2024
296. Autonomy Ascendant
The ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza highlight the pressing need for a revamped international approach that recognizes the increasing autonomy of middle and smaller powers globally. This necessitates a rejection of attempts to revive a failed unilateral U.S. dominance or force diverse conflicts into an outdated "great power competition" model akin to the Cold War. In both Ukraine and the Middle East, the United States has faced challenges in imposing its will, both militarily and diplomatically. Smaller nations have successfully resisted American-backed military efforts, and a substantial part of the global community diverges from endorsing U.S. diplomatic perspectives on international norms. Importantly, this opposition does not align with the Cold War paradigm, lacking the support of a superpower peer competitor. The emerging world order is characterized by "regionalization," where middle and small powers worldwide feel empowered to bypass or defy U.S. interpretations of global norms based on localized interests and regional security considerations. The roots of this situation trace back to the U.S. pursuit of unilateral power during the War on Terror, diminishing the legitimacy of the post–World War Two international order. This has led the international community to seek alternatives to a system perceived as granting unchecked power to the United States. The U.S. foreign policy establishment must grapple with this newly deglobalized and regionalized world order, as failure to do so poses a significant threat to U.S. power and influence. Relationships with key emerging powers like India and traditional U.S. allies in Europe and Asia are susceptible to the de–globalizing and regionalizing forces observed in Ukraine and the Middle East. In this episode of BIC Talks, renowned scholar, Dr. Faisal Devji makes sense of the enduring bewilderment that global history was and continues to be, offering a vantage point that is objective in understanding the enigmatic creature that is globalisation. This episode is an extract from an in-person session that took place in December 2023 at the BIC premises, as part of Alliance’s Public Lecture Series. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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295. Shifting Spaces
02/01/2024
295. Shifting Spaces
Contemporary India is witness to a huge change in which, space for serious conversations on all aspects of culture, is receding. The advocacy of religious-cultural nationalism has come to replace all forms of culture. It has also come to take many forms. For instance, the murder of rationalists – Kalburgi, Pansare, and Gauri Lankesh – underlines the contested nature of secularism, and the fragile space for freedom of thought in religion, media and culture in India. There has been a determined attempt to rewrite the cultural history of India, a project that has fed into the writing of school textbooks. The rise of online archival projects offering alternative accounts of Indian history, the popular cultures of televised Hinduism, curbs on art and cinema, the huge nexus of religion and market, rise of hate speech are signals to a certain kind of revivalism. Writings that celebrate plurality and tolerance are being decried, systematically countered and a monolithic agenda of culture is gradually being established. In the absence of a real space for cultural conversations, politics dominates all kinds of discourses. In this episode of BIC Talks Aruna Roy, Activist & Former Civil Servant, sheds light on these receding spaces. This lecture took place at the BIC premises in early January 2024 as the U R Ananthamurthy Memorial Lecture. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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294. Bridging Boundaries
01/30/2024
294. Bridging Boundaries
That the 20th century shapes our present and will influence our future is common point of debate in India. Clearly, politics and economics, culture and society clearly were deeply influenced, if not fundamentally shaped, by choices made at key points of time. Yet this applies equally, so with even greater long-term consequences, to the environment in its widest sense. In a more focussed way, this is how human actions, via technological choices or the ways land or water are governed, influence the non-human entities we share spaces with. Rather than view ecology and society as two distinct entities, the overlaps and interfaces can shed fresh light on where we stand today. knowing how we got to where we stand matters. India’s recent environmental pasts have bearing not only on this country, but Asia and the world at large. In this episode of BIC Talks, Professor of History and Environmental Studies, Ashoka University Prof. Mahesh Rangarajan delivers the first annual Vijay Thrivuvady memorial lecture that took place at the big premises in early January 2024. Vijay Thiruvady was a naturalist, environmental historian and a true blue Bangalore who will be terribly missed by all who knew him and all who have walked Lal Bagh with him. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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293. Kumaravyasa's Epic Renaissance (Part 3 of 3)
01/25/2024
293. Kumaravyasa's Epic Renaissance (Part 3 of 3)
Kumaravyasa’s Bharata is a crown jewel of Kannada literature, beloved by scholars and common people alike. In this 15th-century classic, Kumaravyasa reimagines Vyasa’s epic, making it more compact, dramatic, closer to everyday life and language. He dispenses with most didactic material, cuts out subsidiary tales, and concludes with the end of the war. Here, Krishna, who is cool, clever, charming, and charismatic, is the central character, but many others, such as Draupadi, Karna, and Duryodhana leave an indelible mark. He narrates the story through fast-moving, deftly crafted situations, where characters confront grand conflicts and articulate subtle and complex emotions in brilliant metaphorical language. In this series of masterclasses, Professors SN Sridhar and Krishnamurthy Hanuru will introduce the audience to several aspects of Kumaravyasa’s poetic genius, illustrating them with the modern English translations the first volume of which has just been published as The Kannada Mahabharata by Harvard University Press in the Murty Classical Library of India series. The first episode places the poet in relation to his life and times, discusses his unique poetic manifesto, outlines the work, and highlights his originality in the way he creatively transforms Vyasa’s prototype of the Mahabharata and Pampa’s version. In this episode of BIC Talks Professors Sridhar and Hanuru illustrate Kumaravyasa’s genius and versatility while analysing what accounts for the enduring popularity of his work for over half a millennium. This is an excerpt from an in-person masterclass series that took place in January 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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292. Kumaravyasa's Epic Renaissance (Part 2 of 3)
01/22/2024
292. Kumaravyasa's Epic Renaissance (Part 2 of 3)
Kumaravyasa’s Bharata is a crown jewel of Kannada literature, beloved by scholars and common people alike. In this 15th-century classic, Kumaravyasa reimagines Vyasa’s epic, making it more compact, dramatic, closer to everyday life and language. He dispenses with most didactic material, cuts out subsidiary tales, and concludes with the end of the war. Here, Krishna, who is cool, clever, charming, and charismatic, is the central character, but many others, such as Draupadi, Karna, and Duryodhana leave an indelible mark. He narrates the story through fast-moving, deftly crafted situations, where characters confront grand conflicts and articulate subtle and complex emotions in brilliant metaphorical language. In this series of masterclasses, Professors SN Sridhar and Krishnamurthy Hanuru will introduce the audience to several aspects of Kumaravyasa’s poetic genius, illustrating them with the modern English translations the first volume of which has just been published as The Kannada Mahabharata by Harvard University Press in the Murty Classical Library of India series. The second session discusses some of the themes, characters and episodes in Kumaravyasa’s Bharata, such as the sexual harassment of Draupadi, the diplomacy of Krishna, the manipulative, determined Duryodhana, the tragedies of Abhimanyu and Karna, the killing of Shishupala, the tragic death of Pandu, and Arjuna’s confrontations with Shiva and Urvashi. In this episode of BIC Talks Professors Sridhar and Hanuru explore the contemporaneity and universality of Kumaravyasa’s ideas about class, caste, war, power, human relations, patriarchy, women’s status, and so forth. This is an excerpt from an in-person masterclass series that took place in January 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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291. Kumaravyasa's Epic Renaissance (Part 1 of 3)
01/18/2024
291. Kumaravyasa's Epic Renaissance (Part 1 of 3)
Kumaravyasa’s Bharata is a crown jewel of Kannada literature, beloved by scholars and common people alike. In this 15th-century classic, Kumaravyasa reimagines Vyasa’s epic, making it more compact, dramatic, closer to everyday life and language. He dispenses with most didactic material, cuts out subsidiary tales, and concludes with the end of the war. Here, Krishna, who is cool, clever, charming, and charismatic, is the central character, but many others, such as Draupadi, Karna, and Duryodhana leave an indelible mark. He narrates the story through fast-moving, deftly crafted situations, where characters confront grand conflicts and articulate subtle and complex emotions in brilliant metaphorical language. In this series of masterclasses, Professors SN Sridhar and Krishnamurthy Hanuru will introduce the audience to several aspects of Kumaravyasa’s poetic genius, illustrating them with the modern English translations the first volume of which has just been published as The Kannada Mahabharata by Harvard University Press in the Murty Classical Library of India series. The first episode places the poet in relation to his life and times, discusses his unique poetic manifesto, outlines the work, and highlights his originality in the way he creatively transforms Vyasa’s prototype of the Mahabharata and Pampa’s version. In this episode of BIC Talks Professors Sridhar and Hanuru illustrate Kumaravyasa’s genius and versatility while analysing what accounts for the enduring popularity of his work for over half a millennium. This is an excerpt from an in-person masterclass series that took place in January 2024. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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290. Power and Paperwork
01/16/2024
290. Power and Paperwork
How do people, who are often at the receiving end of legal violence, engage with the law? Amidst the grinding terror trials – which are replete with stories of torture, illegal detention and fabricated charges – this presentation will discuss how the terror-accused schooled themselves in legal language and came to understand how paperwork’s certificatory procedures produce legal truth. Though seemingly mundane, legal technicalities are fraught and highly contested, and acquire urgent ethical qualities in the life of a trial: legal language becomes a question of a form of life. The file becomes a space in which the world can be made or unmade, and the petition is a way of imagining a future. In attending to the ways in which legal technicalities are made to work – through legal language and through files – we are offered a way of understanding how human expressiveness, creativity and vulnerability emerge through the law. In this episode of BIC Talks, author and senior lecturer in law at SOAS, University of London, Mayur Suresh talks about his research in the area, followed by a conversation with research manager at Daksh, Leah Verghese. This episode is an extract from an in-person event that took place at the BIC premises in mid-December 2023. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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289. Symphony of Solutions
01/11/2024
289. Symphony of Solutions
Pranay Kotasthane, Co-author of "Missing in Action," and Devashish Dhar, Author of "India’s Blind Spot," come together for a unique duet in the realm of policy. Drawing inspiration from the classical music approach of jugalbandi that allows artists to showcase their mastery of instruments, Pranay and Devashish leverage their experiences at Takshashila Institution and NITI Aayog, respectively, to weave a harmonious narrative on public policymaking. Having both spent time at the Takshashila Institution, they bring a rich understanding of the intricate world of policy. As they collaborate and build upon each other's work, this policy jugalbandi aims to unravel the complexities of policymaking for our audience. In this episode of BIC Talks, our speakers, Pranay Kotasthane and Devashish Dhar, delve into the core of public policy, offering fresh insights and perspectives. Pranay, with his co-authorship on "Missing in Action," challenges the prevalent perceptions about the Indian State, urging us to reflect on its workings. Meanwhile, Devashish, the author of "India’s Blind Spot," sheds light on the challenges and opportunities that define India's experiment with urbanization, emphasizing how cities have become the country's blind spot. In this exploration of policy, our participants dissect fundamental concepts and propose innovative solutions to the complex issues. This episode was adapted from a live event at the BIC premises. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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288. In Search of Swaraj
01/08/2024
288. In Search of Swaraj
Gandhiji gave expression to his dreams for Swaraj or Independent India on many occasions in many ways. “The Swaraj of my…our…dream recognizes no race or religious destinations. Nor is it to be the monopoly of the lettered persons nor yet of moneyed men. Swaraj is to be for all, including the farmer, but emphatically including the maimed, the blind, the starving toiling millions.” Young India, 26-3-1931 “It has been said that Indian Swaraj will be the rule of the majority community, i. e. the Hindus. There could not be a greater mistake than that. If it were to be true, I for one would refuse to call it Swaraj and would fight it with all the strength at my command, for to me Hind Swaraj is the rule of all people, is the rule of justice.” Young India, 16-4-1931 This talk by Prof. Mridula Mukherjee explores the multiple facts of the Mahatma’s vision for India, especially his ideas and practice on religion and secularism, democracy and dissent, violence and non-violence. It will also pose the question: to what extent have we been faithful to Gandhiji’s dreams? Where have we failed him? Does the India of his dreams remain an ideal for Indians today? This episode of BIC Talks is an excerpt from an in-person event that took place in October 2023 as the Prof. Satish Chandra Memorial Lecture. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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287. Unraveling the Tech-Law Tapestry in India
01/05/2024
287. Unraveling the Tech-Law Tapestry in India
This episode of BIC Talks is an excerpt from a live discussion at the BIC premises presented by DAKSH in late October 2023. The panelists in this discussion were Justice Suraj Govindraj, Judge, Karnataka High Court; Sarayu Natarajan, Founder, Aapti Institute; Prof. Nomesh Boliya, Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Delhi and moderated by Surya Prakash BS, Programme Director at DAKSH. The panel discusses Daksh’s newest publication - Technology and Analytics for Law and Justice - a unique volume that examines the evolution of technology in the law and justice system in India. It delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by technology, current thinking on the subject, and what the future may hold for this rapidly developing field. From tracing the historical journey of law and technology in India to the rise of ‘justice makers,’ the impact of cutting-edge forensic technology, the world of smart contracts, and the realm of surveillance, this book offers a comprehensive and thought-provoking look at the ever -changing landscape of law and technology. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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286. Navigating the Post-AI Hype Era
01/02/2024
286. Navigating the Post-AI Hype Era
In the aftermath of ChatGPT fueled AI hype, there’s an equally charged conversation on how the public and governments should respond to present (and future) harms related to these technologies. It’s a crowded space – with AI industry voices and existential risk (x-risk) doomers trying to shape the narrative on regulation alongside civil society advocates and government agencies. With many combined decades of experience critiquing and working within the tech industry, Meredith Whittaker, Amba Kak & Udbhav Tiwari share their insights and perspectives on the current AI hype wave and the related policy landscape, with a particular focus on the threats this poses to privacy, and the ways that the dominant narratives are getting AI wrong. This episode of BIC Talks is adapted from an in-person event that took place in early October 2023, in collaboration with Signal and Hasgeek. Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favourite podcast app! BIC Talks is available everywhere, including , , , , , and .
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