Sanjeev Sanyal is a historian, economist, author, and currently serves as a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.

In this edition of the Podcast with Smita Prakash, he uncovers colonial ‘lies’ in India’s history. He talks about his project on INSV Kaundinya, showcasing India’s ancient maritime exploration.

He speaks on the IndiGo crisis, freebies, pensions, and the future of India’s economy. He also explains urban challenges in Indian cities and GDP measurement tools.

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

01:08 – INSV Kaundinya Sailing Vessel History

04:54 – Sailing Training for INSV Kaundinya

09:12 – The Forgotten Chapters of Indian History

13:53 – Kalinga War & The Myths About Ashoka

16:55 – Indian History and Language

18:58 – India vs Big Tech: The Battle for Narrative

31:13 – Can India Build Its Own Tech Platforms?

33:44 – Indian Democracy

37:12 – The West on India’s Growth

41:42 – India Growing Without Creating Enough Jobs?

46:05 – India’s Skill Development in the 20th Century

51:44 – Universalisation of Education & NEP

53:32 – Bureaucracy & the Changing World

01:00:09 – Delhi Pollution

01:04:40 – Infrastructure Crisis in India

01:07:54 – Millionaires Leaving India

01:10:55 – Indigo Crisis & Monopoly Problem

01:11:53 – India’s Financial System

01:15:58 – Impact of Freebies & Pensions

01:22:03 – India’s Role in the Global Power Order

01:27:25 – Is India’s GDP Data Reliable?

The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus –Edition 7.0 is here, packed with raw, uncensored, and no-holds-barred conversations.

Joining the panel are:

Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF

Tehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analyst

Anand Ranganathan, author and scientist

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

This episode dives into issues like illegal immigration and demographic changes, rising radicalisation in Bangladesh, the Vande Mataram debate, the SIR showdown, internal security threats and India’s foreign policy challenges.

The panel also talks about propaganda in cinema, marriage in the modern world, and much more.

Don’t miss the sharp arguments and witty banter in this episode!

*Timestamps*

00:00 – Introduction

06:00 – Kangana, Mahua & Supriya at Jindal Wedding

11:48 – India’s Road Safety Crisis

18:35 – TV Panelists vs Anchors

28:36 – The ‘Godi Media’ Label

41:06 – Demography vs Democracy

48:28 – Congress Leadership & Rahul Gandhi

01:01:15 – India’s Education System

01:16:20 – Hindu Temples

01:26:48 – Islam in India

01:35:03 – Radicalism in Bangladesh

01:48:17 – Idea of Marriage in India

01:59:31 – Media & Celebrity Culture

02:10:20 – Putin’s Visit to India

02:22:45 – Karnataka Hate Speech Bill

02:30:18 – Hybrid Threats & Internal Radicalisation

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we are joined by Lt. Col. Pavithran Rajan, a former intelligence officer, academic, and tech entrepreneur, and Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian Foreign Service officer and Distinguished Fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation.

Together, they discuss India’s narrative war against Pakistan and why winning this battle is crucial. Should India’s armed forces have a dedicated team to counter Pakistani propaganda in real time? Why does India still lack a strong and organised information-warfare system? How can India protect its global image?

They also examine how Western think tanks publish anti-India reports that shape global opinion, and how India should respond.

00:00 – Introduction

01:17 – India vs Pak: Information Warfare

07:06 – India vs Pak: Social Media Battle

11:57 – India’s Fact-Checking System

18:34 – Information Warfare: What Should India Do?

23:10 – India vs Pak Narrative During War

27:24 – Red Fort Attack & GPS Spoofing

33:00 – Sanchar Saathi App & Surveillance Concerns

40:54 – Phone Tapping

44:56 – How Terror Networks Avoid Detection

46:23 – Freedom of Speech vs National Security

50:24 – Open-Source Intelligence and Data Leaks

53:13 – National Security Rules for Tech Companies

56:10 – Disinformation During Operation Sindoor

01:00:18 – Western Media Bias Against India

01:03:48 – Rise of Anti-Drone Systems

01:06:28 – India’s Drone Challenge

01:13:06 – Gaps in Internal Security

01:16:01 – Grey-Zone Tactics & Diplomacy

01:17:33 – Role of AI in Information Warfare

01:22:36 – Need for a Unified Tech Framework

01:26:29 – Hybrid Warfare Challenges with Pakistan

01:28:19 – Possibility of Operation Sindoor 2?

01:31:26 – Public Trust & Security Strategy