Our economy was going down, down, down well before Covid-19 struck. And now? Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma in episode 177 of The Seen and the Unseen to spread his usual quota of sunshine and joy. Also check out : 1. TikTok and Indian Society — An online course by Amit Varma. 2. Bad Money — Vivek Kaul. 3. Taking Stock of Covid-19 — Episode 169 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan). 4. The Nuances of Lockdown — Episode 176 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Anup Malani). 5. The Indian Economy...
Jun 14, 2020•2 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 177
What do past epidemics teach us about Covid-19? What do past disasters teach us about politics and the state? Is there a false binary between lockdown and no-lockdown? Anup Malani joins Amit Varma in episode 176 of The Seen and the Unseen to share his insights on these subjects and more. Also check out : 1. Anup Malani's homepage . 2. Taking Stock of Covid-19 -- Episode 169 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan). 3. We Are Fighting Two Disasters -- Amit Varma. 4. The Economic Approach...
Jun 07, 2020•2 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 176
As institutions wither around us, the Indian Armed Forces have retained their credibility. But is there a risk of politicization there as well? Lt Gen Prakash Menon joins Amit Varma in episode 175 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the evolution of our armed forces through the decades, and the challenges they face today. Also check out : 1. India in the Nuclear Age -- Episode 80 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Lt Gen Prakash Menon). 2. The Strategy Trap -- Lt Gen Prakash Menon. 3. The India-Pak...
May 31, 2020•2 hr 46 min•Season 1Ep. 175
Tawaifs played a unique role in Indian society and culture in the 19th century, but have since been either vilified or romanticized. Filmmaker and author Saba Dewan joins Amit Varma in episode 174 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the fascinating human stories behind this lost community. Also check out : 1. Tawaifnama -- Saba Dewan 2. The Other Song -- Saba Dewan 3. Films, Feminism, Paromita -- Episode 155 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Paromita Vohra) 4. The History of Desire in India -- ...
May 24, 2020•2 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 174
So much of our history has been weaponized by politics -- especially the Mughal period. Manimugdha Sharma joins Amit Varma in episode 173 of The Seen and the Unseen to shed light on the tug of war around Emperor Akbar -- and why that history remains relevant even today. Also check out : 1. Allahu Akbar: Understanding the Great Mughal in Today's India -- Manimugdha Sharma. 2. Parthian Shot -- Manimugdha Sharma's column archives. 3. Manimugdha Sharma's reporting in Times of India . 4. Who Broke Ou...
May 17, 2020•3 hr 41 min•Season 1Ep. 173
There is much more to Delhi than Old Delhi and New Delhi. The stones bear witness to a rich history, with much drama and tumult. Rana Safvi joins Amit Varma in episode 172 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about how the forgotten past of Delhi continues to shape its present. Also check out: 1. Where Stones Speak -- Rana Safvi 2. The Forgotten Cities of Delhi -- Rana Safvi 3. Shahjahanabad: The Living City of Old Delhi -- Rana Safvi 4. City of My Heart -- Rana Safvi 5. The History of Desire in I...
May 10, 2020•2 hr 50 min•Season 1Ep. 172
Many entrepreneurs aim to plug a hole in the world. Some try to expand the universe. Mohit Satyanand joins Amit Varma in episode 171 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about why these are exciting times to be an angel investor. Also check out: 1. Two Economic Crises (2008 & 2019) -- Episode 135 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Mohit Satyanand) 2. Poker and Stock Markets -- Episode 47 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Mohit Satyanand) 3. Entrepreneurship: If You Love Them, Set Them Free -- Mohit Satyana...
May 03, 2020•2 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 171
So much of the lives of common people depends on the relationships between nations. But is foreign policy an arcane subject, meant only for wonks and elites? No! Pranay Kotasthane and Manoj Kewalramani join Amit Varma in episode 170 of The Seen and the Unseen to demystify international relations. Note : This episode contains an update about how foreign policy will be affected by Covid-19. That sections begins at around 1 hr 57 minutes. Also check out: 1. Foreign Policy -- Episode 63 of The Seen ...
Apr 26, 2020•3 hr 38 min•Season 1Ep. 170
How should India handle Covid-19? Every option on the table carries huge costs, and will take countless lives. Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 169 of The Seen and the Unseen to help navigate the complex decisions that policy makers are being forced to make with little information. Also check out: 1. India must shut itself down to contain the coronavirus -- Shruti Rajagopalan (Mar 16) 2. Shruti Rajagopalan on India and the coronavirus -- Marginal Revolution (Mar 25) 3. The lockdown...
Apr 19, 2020•3 hr 51 min•Season 1Ep. 169
There are over 6000 languages in the world. How can we possibly understand one another? Arunava Sinha joins Amit Varma in episode 168 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain the importance of translation, and literature itself, in these divisive times.. Select books translated by Arunava: 1. Chowringhee -- Sankar 2. When the Time is Right -- Buddhadeva Bose 3. Shake the Bottle and Other Stories -- Ashapurna Debi 4. Seventeen -- Anita Agnihotri 5. Harbart -- Nabarun Bhattacharya 6.. The Greatest Be...
Apr 12, 2020•2 hr 45 min•Season 1Ep. 168
In 1906, a 13-year-old boy burnt down his school in a village in Kerala and ran away from home to work in the gold mines of Kolar. Decades later, he put this country together. Narayani Basu joins Amit Varma in episode 167 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about the extraordinary life of VP Menon. Also check out : 1. VP Menon: The Unsung Architect of Modern India -- Narayani Basu 2. Integration of the Indian States -- VP Menon 3. The Transfer of Power in India -- VP Menon 4. Kashmir and Article ...
Apr 05, 2020•3 hr 43 min•Season 1Ep. 167
The man known as Guru Nanak was one of the great travellers of his time, passing through lands that are today spread across nine countries. Amardeep Singh joins Amit Varma in episode 166 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about how he retraced Nanak's path -- and also about his efforts at documenting the Sikh heritage of Pakistan. Also check out : 1. Lost Heritage: The Sikh Legacy in Pakistan -- Amardeep Singh. 2. The Quest Continues: Lost Heritage -- Amardeep Singh. 3. Peering Soul -- A documen...
Mar 29, 2020•2 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 166
Humans are the only bots with the ability to reprogram themselves. Shambhavi Naik joins Amit Varma in episode 165 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the science, ethics, politics and policy implications of genetic engineering. Also check out : 1. A Framework for Governing Gene Editing -- Takshashika Discussion Document. 2. Gene Drives in Infectious Diseases -- Takshashila Discussion Slidedoc 3. Chinese gene-edited baby row rekindles need for guidelines in India -- Shambhavi Naik. 4. The scien...
Mar 22, 2020•2 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 165
Contrary to popular belief, the Indian constitution was not a copy-paste job without a vision. It emerged from decades of intellectual ferment. Madhav Khosla joins Amit Varma in episode 164 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the history of the key ideas that drove our founders and shaped our constitution. Also check out : 1. India's Founding Moment -- Madhav Khosla 2. The Indian Constitution (Oxford Short Introductions) -- Madhav Khosla 3. The Idea of India -- Sunil Khilnani 4. The Citizensh...
Mar 15, 2020•2 hr 58 min•Season 1Ep. 164
Seven decades after Independence, India is still wracked by poverty and strife. Who is responsible? Kapil Komireddi joins Amit Varma in episode 163 of The Seen and the Unseen to excoriate every political player of Independent India. No prisoners taken. Also check out : 1. Malevolent Republic -- Kapil Komireddi. 2. Kashmir and Article 370 -- Episode 134 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Srinath Raghavan). 3. Understanding Gandhi. Part One: Mohandas -- Episode 104 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guh...
Mar 08, 2020•2 hr 55 min•Season 1Ep. 163
So much of our culture is shaped by our social fault lines. TM Krishna joins Amit Varma in episode 162 of The Seen and the Unseen to peel the layers off the development of Karnatik music -- and Indian society itself. Also check out : 1. Sebastian and Sons -- TM Krishna 2. A Southern Music -- TM Krishna 3. Reshaping Art -- TM Krishna 4. TM Krishna singing on a bus . 5. Superforecasting -- Philip Tetlock & Dan Gardner 6. The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism -- Episode 139 of The Seen and the Unsee...
Mar 01, 2020•3 hr 40 min•Season 1Ep. 162
We may be a sexually repressed country today, but it wasn't always like this. Madhavi Menon joins Amit Varma in episode 161 of The Seen and the Unseen to elaborate on the infinite variety of our desires all through history, Also check out : 1. Infinite Variety -- Madhavi Menon 2. Madhavi Menon's Amazon page . 3. Masala Shakespeare -- Jonathan Gil Harris 4. The Seven Basic Plots -- Christopher Booker 5. The Ascetic of Desire -- Sudhir Kakar 6. Early Indians -- Tony Joseph 7. Early Indians -- Epis...
Feb 23, 2020•2 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 161
In India, we have government of the people and for the people, but not by the people. How can we fix this? Polymath thinker Ashwin Mahesh joins Amit Varma in episode 160 of The Seen and the Unseen to chat about participatory democracy, India Against Corruption, the Aam Aadmi Party and what makes a Good Indian. Also check out : 1. Ashwin Mahesh's homepage . 2. With the Government, Within the Government, As the Government -- Ashwin Mahesh 3. The State of our Farmers -- Episode 86 of The Seen and t...
Feb 16, 2020•2 hr 29 min•Season 1Ep. 160
Budgets matter more than they should -- and the process of making them matters more than their contents. Ajay Shah and Vivek Kaul join Amit Varma in episode 159 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss both journey & destination, strategy & tactics. Also check out : 1. The Art and Science of Economic Policy -- Episode 154 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Vijay Kelkar and Ajay Shah) 2. Analysing the February 2020 budget -- Ajay Shah 3. India budget raises more questions than answers -- Vivek Kaul 4. Wh...
Feb 09, 2020•2 hr 51 min•Season 1Ep. 159
From the Arab Spring to Shaheen Bagh, radically networked societies are rising up to express themselves. What do they have in common? How will a hierarchical state deal with a networked society? Pranay Kotasthane shares his insights with Amit Varma in episode 158 of The Seen and the Unseen. Also check out : 1. Individual Liberty vs Public Security in a Radically Networked Society -- Nitin Pai and Pranay Kotasthane. 2. Networked Societies and Hierarchical States: The Emerging Challenge to Politic...
Feb 01, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 158
India has endured -- but as we celebrate another Republic Day, we must remember that we cannot take this for granted. Historian Ramachandra Guha joins Amit Varma in episode 157 of The Seen and the Unseen to examine some of the currents of history that brought us here, and are still in flux. Also check out : 1. The books of Ramachandra Guha on Amazon. 2. Ramachandra Guha's columns in the Telegraph. 3. Understanding Gandhi: Part 1: Mohandas : Episode 104 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha). 4....
Jan 26, 2020•1 hr 27 min•Season 1Ep. 157
Kerala has a madly interesting history. It was a hub of globalisation centuries ago, an exemplar of tolerance. Almost in contrast, it took casteism to an extreme. It also had a matrilineal system, a tradition of empowered women, and some badass queens. Historian Manu Pillai joins Amit Varma in episode 156 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss all this and more. Also check out : 1. The Ivory Throne -- Manu Pillai 2. Our Colourful Past -- Episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) 3. T...
Jan 20, 2020•2 hr 21 min•Season 1Ep. 156
Immense changes have swept through our lives in the last three decades. Filmmaker and writer Paromita Vohra joins Amit Varma in episode 155 of The Seen and the Unseen, and turns her unique gaze both inwards and outwards. Also check out : 1. Agents of Ishq 1. Unlimited Girls (95 mins) 2. Cosmopolis: Two Tales of a City (13 mins) 3. Where's Sandra (18 mins) 4. Morality TV (32 mins) 5. Partners in Crime (95 mins) 6. A Love Latika (Trailer) 7. Interview of Paromita Vohra by Anuradha Sengupta 8. A Lo...
Jan 13, 2020•3 hr 50 min•Season 1Ep. 155
Economic policy affects each of us -- and yet, India has gotten it wrong for decades. In their groundbreaking new book, Vijay Kelkar and Ajay Shah write not just how to do policy, but how to think about policy. They join Amit Varma in episode 154 of The Seen and the Unseen to share their learnings, first principles onwards. Also check out : 1. In Service of the Republic -- Vijay Kelkar & Ajay Shah 2. Zombie Firms and Creative Destruction -- Ep 118 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ajay Shah) 3. The ...
Jan 06, 2020•3 hr 44 min•Season 1Ep. 154
Alongside much social unrest, the Indian economy went to hell in 2019. Vivek Kaul joins Amit Varma in episode 153 of The Seen and the Unseen to survey the damage, and to demystify the rubble. For detailed show notes, head on over to seenunseen.in .
Dec 30, 2019•2 hr 54 min•Season 1Ep. 153
Why is India burning over the Citizenship Amendment Bill? Why does the NRC matter? What is happening in Assam? Srinath Raghavan joins Amit Varma in episode 152 of The Seen and the Unseen to give historical perspective on our current ferments. For detailed show notes, head on over to seenunseen.in ....
Dec 22, 2019•3 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 152
Politics in Maharashtra is deeply complicated. Its themes and fault lines have been formed over decades. Veteran journalist and author Sujata Anandan joins Amit Varma in episode 151 of The Seen and the Unseen to unravel some of the mysteries behind its fascinating dramas. Also check out : 1. Hindu Hriday Samrat -- Sujata Anandan 2. Maharashtra Maximus -- Sujata Anandan 3. Marathi Manoos -- Sujata Anandan....
Dec 16, 2019•2 hr 25 min•Season 1Ep. 151
How has Indian publishing evolved in the last few decades? What does India read, and why? Publisher VK Karthika joins Amit Varma in episode 150 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about what she learnt in her years in Penguin, Harper Collins and (now) Westland. Also check out: Death of the Author -- Roland Barthes (pdf link) How to Read and Why -- Harold Bloom A Poetry Handbook -- Mary Oliver Roseanna -- Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism -- Akshaya Mukul...
Dec 09, 2019•2 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 150
Jayaprakash Narayan was trained as a physician, served in the IAS, and went on to start a political movement. JP joins Amit Varma in episode 149 of The Seen and the Unseen to share his insights on Indian politics, the nature of the state and what we need to do to change India for the better. Also check out: The State of Indian Politics -- Episode 50 of The Seen and the Unseen (w JP Narayan) What Is It Like to Be a Bat? -- Thomas Nagel (pdf link) Lessons from an Ankhon Dekhi Prime Minister -- Ami...
Dec 02, 2019•3 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 149
In episode 148 of The Seen and the Unseen, host Amit Varma invokes a fictional super-weapon to build an argument against gun rights in India. Guests Shubho Roy and Sudhanshu Neema disagree with him, and each other, most vigorously. Also check out: The Bombzooka Question -- Amit Varma on India Uncut Resisting State Injustice -- Episode 120 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Jason Brennan) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://iv...
Nov 25, 2019•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 148
