Ep. 332: Why do Indian roads fail so quickly? with Prathap Rao

This episode is part of a series called, Engineering The Everyday.In collaboration with Godrej Design LabSummaryWhy do potholes keep returning, and what would it take to build roads that last? Prathap Rao breaks down how roads are actually built, where they fail, and why maintenance is only part of the problem. We also discuss GridMats, recycled plastic, infrastructure innovation, slow adoption, and what India needs to rethink as it builds the next generation of roads.About the guestPrathap Rao is an entrepreneur, infrastructure innovator and founder of PotholeRaja. His work focuses on road safety, recycled materials, GridMats and sustainable infrastructure.Who should listen• Architects, urban designers and planners who want to understand what really makes roads fail and how infrastructure could be designed better.• Engineers and material researchers interested in recycled plastic, GridMats and new approaches to road construction.• Founders and entrepreneurs building physical products who want to understand why infrastructure innovation takes time and what it takes to get new ideas adopted.• Anyone curious about potholes, road quality and why fixing visible problems is often easier than changing the system behind them.Topics discussed in the episode* How did your journey from flying and corporate leadership to potholes, material science and GridMats happen?* When did you realise that potholes are not just a maintenance problem, but also a material and engineering problem?* What actually goes beneath a road, how are the different layers built, and why do potholes and sinkholes form?* Why do Indian roads fail so quickly despite having standards, regulations and large infrastructure budgets?* Why is innovation in infrastructure so slow, and where do contractors, approvals, risk and bureaucracy create the biggest barriers?* What are GridMats, how do they work, and how can recycled polypropylene change the way roads and hard surfaces are built?* Can GridMats move beyond private projects and become part of mainstream public infrastructure and government tenders?* How can recycled materials, GridMats and better road design help reduce carbon impact and improve sustainability in infrastructure?* What new materials and technologies do you think will shape infrastructure over the next five to ten years?* What should young entrepreneurs know before building in infrastructure, material science and physical products, especially when it comes to business models, adoption and scale?Reference links* Prathap Rao on LinkedIn* GridMats* PotholeRaja* Design of Bangalore with Naresh Narasimhan on The Gyaan Project* Indian Roads Congress on Wikipedia* Indian Roads Congress* Ministry of Road Transport and Highways* Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Wikipedia* Road engineering measures by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways* National Highways Authority of India* National Highways Authority of India on Wikipedia* NHAI on Instagram* NHAI on X* National Highways Infra Trust* Public Works Department in India on Wikipedia* Smart Cities Mission on Wikipedia* Smart Cities Mission* Smart Cities Mission and sustainable development goals by UN Habitat* Smart Cities Mission update by Press Information BureauPrathap makes a strong point that the problem is not just potholes, but how roads are designed, built and maintained. What do you think fails most often in India: engineering, execution or the system itself? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

Register for The Drawing Board Competition for undergraduate students. Last date of submission is 18th Sept 2026! - https://thedrawingboard.in/SummaryPhillippe Fouché looks at the wall as an instrument of relationship between inside and outside, openness and refuge, people and place. He explores how height, depth, material, glass and light change our experience of space, why walls should serve a purpose, how architecture can respond to historic fabric, and what happens when a wall moves, disappears or becomes something else.This episode concludes The Gyaan Project’s three part series with The Drawing Board, an international architecture competition hosted by Rohan Builders and Mindspace Architects.About the guestPhillippe Fouché is a Principal at SAOTA in South Africa. He joined the practice as a project architect in 2008 and works across residential, urban and commercial architecture. His approach explores the relationship between architecture, context and SAOTA’s principles of light, space and life.Who should listen* Architecture students and young architects interested in how walls shape space, light, movement and experience.* Architects and designers thinking about openness, privacy, shelter and our relationship with the outside world.* People working with historic buildings who are interested in how new architecture can reveal and respond to what already exists.* Anyone curious about how something as simple as the height, depth or material of a wall can completely change how a space feels.Topics discussed in the episode* 00:00 Introduction* 01:35 What does a wall mean to you?* 02:53 Is a wall a surface or a structure?* 03:50 Balancing porosity and safety* 05:46 How does a wall become intimidating?* 08:50 How do beauty and function connect?* 10:02 How do topology and location shape a wall?* 10:55 Balancing openness and privacy* 14:17 Balancing private and public life* 16:02 Can a wall give new life to an old place?* 19:07 How can one small detail change a wall?* 23:12 If walls can move, do we need boundaries?Reference links* The Drawing Board* The Drawing Board 2026 on YouTube* The Drawing Board on Instagram* The Drawing Board 2026 on Facebook* Le Corbusier* Carlo Scarpa* Castelvecchio* Saint Tropez* Berlin Wall* Mandela Rhodes Foundation* Dubrovnik* SAOTA* Phillippe Fouché at SAOTA* Light, Space, Life by SAOTA* Le Pine, Saint Tropez by SAOTAA wall can protect us, open us to the outside, frame what we see or completely change how a space feels.When does a wall make you feel protected, and when does it make you feel confined? Would love to know your thoughts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

Register for The Drawing Board Competition for undergraduate students. Last date of submission is 18th Sept 2026!SummaryChanna Daswatte reflects on what walls really mean and why they matter in architecture and society. From power, control and separation to memory, heritage and sustainability, he looks at how walls shape people and places. The conversation moves from Chikkajala, Hampi and the Berlin Wall to the future, where digital boundaries may become the new walls that control how we connect. The episode is part of The Gyaan Project’s fifth year of collaboration with The Drawing Board, an international architecture competition hosted by Rohan Builders and Mindspace Architects.About the guestChanna Daswatte is a Sri Lankan architect, design critic and writer. He is principal architect and partner at MICD Associates and has authored several books.Who should listen* Architecture students and young architects who want to think beyond plans and sections and understand architecture as lived experience.* Architects and designers interested in how walls shape power, control, movement, memory and human relationships.* People working with heritage, conservation and public space who want to think about how old structures can evolve instead of simply being preserved or demolished.* Anyone curious about how physical and digital boundaries influence society, culture and the way we connect with each other.Topics discussed in the episode* 0:00 Introduction* 1:25 What does a wall mean to you?* 4:07 Is building walls a human thing?* 8:45 Does the physicality of a wall define its function?* 10:15 How can a wall connect two worlds?* 13:58 What can we learn from the history of walls?* 17:40 What should architects understand before drawing?* 22:29 Why do we break walls?* 26:59 What will walls look like 50 years from now?Reference links* The Drawing Board* The Drawing Board 2026 on YouTube* The Drawing Board on Instagram* The Drawing Board 2026 on Facebook* Channa Daswatte on Instagram* Channa Daswatte at Geoffrey Bawa* Channa Daswatte at Barefoot Gallery* MICD Associates* Channa Daswatte in Elle Decor* Channa Daswatte at Bengal Institute* Channa Daswatte on Life Online* Channa Daswatte on YouTube* Channa Daswatte on LinkedIn* Channa Daswatte at Galle Literary FestivalIf a wall has lost the purpose it was built for, should we preserve it, adapt it or leave it alone? Would love to know your thoughts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

SummaryPrem Chandavarkar looks at the wall as more than a physical boundary. He speaks about trust, porosity, beauty, public life, inhabitation and the growing divide between physical and digital worlds. The episode is part of The Gyaan Project’s fifth year of collaboration with The Drawing Board, an international architecture competition hosted by Rohan Builders and Mindspace Architects.About the guestArchitect, academic and writer Prem Chandavarkar is managing partner of CnT Architects and former executive director of Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design & Technology.Who should listen* Architecture students and young architects who want to think beyond form and function, and understand architecture through space, inhabitation and experience.* Architects, urban designers and planners interested in how walls shape trust, safety, public life, exclusion and the way cities are organised.* Designers and creative practitioners interested in beauty, practice, sadhana and the difference between designing something and how people actually experience it.* Anyone thinking about our digital future and what we lose when physical and digital life become increasingly disconnected.Topics discussed in the episode[0:00] Introduction[1:21] What does a wall mean to you?[4:53] How do you see order as a concept?[9:07] What does a wall reveal about society?[11:58] Can making a wall be ethically wrong?[15:02] When is a wall about safety or exclusion?[22:48] Inclusion and exclusion in designing walls[23:48] What happens when a wall outlives its purpose?[24:40] What should students question before they design?[28:05] Does everything need to be utility driven?[37:49] What will walls look like 50 years from now?People mentioned in this episodeErnő Goldfinger, Christopher Alexander, William Cronon, Donald Trump, Rafiq Azam, Jane Jacobs, James Stirling, Mahatma Gandhi, Humberto Maturana, Francisco Varela, Joseph Rykwert, Gernot Böhme, Geoffrey Bawa, Frank Lloyd Wright, Carlo Scarpa, Tadao Ando, Luis Barragán, Louis Kahn, Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Manuel Castells, William GibsonReference reading• The Drawing Board website• The Drawing Board on YouTube• The Drawing Board on Instagram• The Drawing Board on Facebook• Prem Chandavarkar on LinkedIn• Prem Chandavarkar on Medium• CnT Architects• Prem Chandavarkar on Instagram• Prem Chandavarkar linksWalls do much more than divide space. They reveal what we value, what we fear and how we choose to live together.Do walls make us safer, or do they reveal how little we trust each other? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

SummaryDebbie Millman joins Kedar to talk about what creativity is, why making things matters, and what keeps creative people going. We discuss confidence and courage, personal branding, discipline, design as deliberate differentiation, the responsibility designers have to society, and why reaching the top too quickly may not be the goal. She also reflects on what Design Matters has taught her over time.About the guestDebbie Millman is a designer, writer, educator, brand consultant and host of Design Matters. For over two decades, she has interviewed some of the world’s most creative people.Who should listen• Designers and creative professionals thinking about how to sustain a creative career.• People who keep waiting for confidence before starting something.• Anyone spending more time building a personal brand than building their work.• Creators thinking about discipline, ambition, success and what they want their work to leave behind.Topics discussed in the episode[00:00] Intro [01:22] What is common between a chef and a poet? [02:11] How can one spot commonality? [02:51] What is the essence of creativity? [03:57] How do you connect the dots? [06:25] Three habits and patterns of creative people [08:13] How do you see response and reaction? [09:27] Key lessons from Design Matters [13:31] How has your definition of design changed? [14:40] Short announcement [15:41] Do designers owe anything to society? [17:30] What could incentivise designers to contribute to society? [19:16] How to build a personal brand? [21:44] How to balance consistency and intensity? [24:13] How to create work that outlasts your life? [25:08] How can your work help people 50 years from now?Reference links* Debbie Millman* Design Matters on Apple Podcasts* Design Matters on Spotify* Debbie Millman on Instagram* Debbie Millman on LinkedIn* Debbie Millman on X* Debbie Millman on TED* Debbie Millman at School of Visual Arts* Books by Debbie Millman* Debbie Millman at Type Directors Club* Debbie Millman on Wikipedia* Is the world getting uglier?* Debbie Millman on creativity and leadership* Debbie Millman on creating brands that stand the test of timeWould you rather build a personal brand or a body of work? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

SummaryCreated in collaboration with Godrej Design Lab, this episode explores how electricity moves across India and why the India Energy Stack could change how energy is produced, bought and shared. Rahool Gadkari explains peer to peer energy, smart meters, clean power markets and what this shift could mean for businesses, architects, designers, consumers and the homes and cities we build in the coming decade.The Gyaan Project is labour of love since 2016. Please do subscribe to get the latest updates!About the guestRahool Gadkari is the cofounder of Neufin, a company working to make clean energy more accessible and affordable for businesses in India.Who should listen• Designers, architects and builders who want to understand how energy systems may shape future homes, buildings and cities.• Business owners and operators who want a clearer view of clean energy, electricity costs and how future energy markets could affect them.• People curious about the India Energy Stack and how buying, selling and sharing electricity could become easier.• Anyone interested in how invisible infrastructure influences everyday life, sustainability and India’s next decade.Topics discussed in the episode* What made you move from building consumer products to working in clean energy through Neufin?* How does electricity flow across India through producers, transmission networks, distribution companies, national grids and state grids?* Why is energy described as a ledger, and how is electricity measured, scheduled and accounted for?* What is the India Energy Stack, and in what way could it become the UPI moment for electricity?* How could peer to peer energy give consumers and businesses more choice, and could it also lead to new surcharges or pricing risks?* What parts of the energy system are visible to consumers, and what important infrastructure remains invisible?* How could smart meters, better bills and real time data help people understand and manage their electricity use?* What do identities, consent and verifiable records mean within the India Energy Stack?* How could the India Energy Stack change the way architects, designers and builders plan homes, offices and cities by 2030?* What can India learn from energy markets in countries such as the United Kingdom, and what role does Neufin want to play in this future?Reference links* https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahoolgadkari/* https://neufin.co/* https://neufin.co/blog/neufin-the-india-energy-stack-report/* https://www.outlookindia.com/announcements/rec-showcases-first-live-demonstration-of-peertopeer-energy-trading-pilot-at-india-ai-impact-summit-2026* AI for Energy: Digital Twins and India’s Energy Stack* https://www.indiaenergyweek.com/india-energy-club/* https://www.news18.com/opinion/opinion-from-capacity-to-connectivity-the-case-for-india-energy-stack-ws-l-9936966.html* https://ies.fsrglobal.org/* https://www.linkedin.com/in/rushilnoronha/* https://www.youtube.com/@thegyaanproject* Godrej Design LabThe Gyaan Project is labour of love since 2016. Please share this episode in your network. It will mean a lot to me.Would you buy electricity directly from your neighbour if it were cheaper and cleaner? Let me know in the comments section. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

In this episode of The Gyaan Project, Kedar Nimkar sits down with Manisha Pande, Editorial Director at Newslaundry and the writer and host of TV Newsance, to break down what news really means in today's noisy, polarized India.Manisha walks us through the basics of journalism, the inner workings of newsrooms, the rise of TV anchors as circus masters, and the business model that makes Newslaundry one of India's only ad free, subscription driven independent news platforms. She also unpacks fake news, misinformation, disinformation and propaganda, and shares practical tips on how to design a healthier news diet.Whether you are a journalist, a student, a designer, a content creator or simply a citizen trying to make sense of the news, this conversation will sharpen the way you consume information.About the guestManisha Pande is the Editorial Director at Newslaundry and the writer and host of TV Newsance, a weekly satirical critique of Indian television news. Previously with DNA and Business Standard, she has won the Ramnath Goenka Award and the Laadli Media Award for her reporting.Chapters(00:00) Introduction(03:03) What is news?(06:36) Roles of different journalists in the news ecosystem(11:35) What is Newslaundry?(16:56) Why critique news and not just report news?(21:34) How do you define misinformation, disinformation and fake news?(25:49) What travels faster in India?(32:22) How to read news?(40:29) What is the future of independent news?Reference readinghttps://www.thegyaanproject.com/https://www.youtube.com/@thegyaanprojecthttps://www.instagram.com/thegyaanprojectpodcast/https://www.instagram.com/manisha.pande/https://www.newslaundry.com/author/manisha-pande This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

SummaryAmit Das, SVP of design at Urban Company, has spent years understanding how Indians actually live with their appliances. In this episode, he breaks down what designing for India's plurality really means, from durability and shared usage to what premium looks like across different households. He also challenges the popular idea of smart living and makes a case for convenience over complexity.About the guestSVP of design and native products at Urban Company, Amit Das is a software and hardware designer, blogger and hobby artist. He has previously worked at Housing.com, FusionCharts and Fab.com, and has co-founded two startups.Who should listen* Product and industrial designers who want to understand what designing for India’s real and diverse user base actually looks like on the ground.* Founders and product teams building consumer hardware or home appliances for the Indian market.* Anyone curious about how culture, affordability and everyday behaviour shape the products we live with.* Design students and early career professionals looking for honest, practical perspective on what the field demands beyond aesthetics and trends.Topics discussed in the episode* Rapid fire round: one appliance Indians buy more for hope than utility, buttons or dials, one everyday object that teaches good design, one button you would delete, your favourite industrial product and why, which product has the most emotional value, should products behave like tools or companions, the most over designed product in Indian homes, and manuals or no manuals?* You write about designing for moments rather than steps. How do you see household appliances in daily lives, and does this philosophy apply to digital products too?* India has many Indias. What are the most defining differences you observe in how people use products across different economic and social contexts?* What framework does Urban Company use to understand these diverse user dynamics, and how do you conduct ground level research including in home visits and shadowing?* Why did Urban Company venture into building native hardware products like RO water purifiers, and what was the origin story behind that decision?* How do different Indias define premiumness, and what does premium actually mean across social strata, geographies and product categories?* How should designers think about CMF for durable appliances that sit in a home for many years, compared to trend driven shorter shelf life products?* What does smart living actually mean for Indian homes, and why does the current definition of smartness often increase cognitive load rather than solve for convenience?* How do you balance aspiration versus affordability at scale, and what are the hardest trade offs between design aspiration, cost, reliability and repairability?* How did you transition from digital to hardware design, and what skills, mindsets and experiences should young designers build if they want to get into industrial design?Reference links* https://www.linkedin.com/in/dasamit88/* https://www.godgeez.com/about* https://www.instagram.com/godgeez/* https://medium.com/uc-design/amit-das-633fb92042e0* https://medium.com/@godgeez* How to Become a Senior UI/UX Designer? | The Ultimate Career Framework by Urban Company’s Design SVP* https://www.quora.com/profile/Amit-Das-5* https://x.com/Godgeez* https://www.instagram.com/urbancompany/* https://www.urbancompany.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

Every building has a story. Every crack, every stain, every surface holds a memory of someone who was there before you. The question is — are you looking?In this episode of The Gyaan Project, host Kedar Nimkar sits down with Mumbai-based artist Vishwa Shroff for a slow, rich, and deeply thoughtful conversation about the art of drawing, urban observation, and what it means to build a creative practice from the ground up.This episode is part of an ongoing series with MATTER — an architectural design and curatorial practice with a deep interest in design discourse in India.ABOUT VISHWA SHROFFVishwa Shroff is a Mumbai-based contemporary artist represented by TARQ Gallery and co-founder of SQW Lab. Her practice is rooted entirely in drawing — not painting — and she has exhibited her work internationally in London, Basel, and Tokyo. Her work explores urban memory, architectural space, and the human traces left behind in the built environment.WHAT WE TALK ABOUT🖊️ Drawing vs. Painting — Why Vishwa insists drawing is a fundamentally different act from painting, closer to writing than to gesture, and why the distinction matters more than the medium.🐦 Pigeons, Architecture & Memory — How Vishwa arrived at architecture as her subject matter by following the flight of pigeons in Baroda, and how a family home transition sparked a lifelong interest in memory and space.📷 Why the Camera Captures Too Much — Her complicated, tension-filled relationship with photography, why she believes drawing is an act of editing, and how she uses the camera as a tool without surrendering to it.🏙️ Reading Cracks & Stains — Why the details most people walk past — the cracks, the stains, the worn surfaces of buildings — are where Vishwa finds her richest material, and how each drawing becomes a time capsule.📓 The Daily Practice — How her sketchbook works as a living database, why she takes notes even while watching Bollywood films, and how observations spiral into finished works over time.😴 Boredom as a Creative Tool — Why being bored is not a problem to fix but a creative state to cultivate, and why sitting in your studio doing nothing might be the most productive thing you can do.🎨 Finding a Gallery — The honest, unscripted story of how Vishwa found gallery representation — and why she describes it as an arranged marriage.💪 Advice for Young Artists — On discipline, rejection, daily practice, and why art-making is an addiction with no retirement and no exit strategy.KEY INSIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE"Drawing is an act of editing. The camera captures too much — more than what my eye wants to see. Drawing lets you take a mop to things.""The best way to get over a creative block is to be bored. Then you will start to find things to self-entertain.""Be active every single day. Make it the way you brush your teeth. Whatever your material is — just do it every single day.""Art-making is a compulsion. If you take away drawing, cigarettes, and food — there'll be none of me left."ABOUT THE MATTER SERIESThis conversation is part of The Gyaan Project's ongoing series with MATTER — an architectural design and curatorial practice with a deep interest in design discourse in India. Each episode in this series brings together artists, architects, and creative thinkers exploring the intersection of space, design, and culture.CONNECT WITH VISHWA SHROFF Follow Vishwa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vishwashroff/Explore SQW Lab: https://www.instagram.com/sqwlab/TARQ Gallery: https://www.instagram.com/tarqmumbai/CONNECT WITH THE GYAAN PROJECT thegyaanproject.comCHAPTERS(02:13) What is drawing for you? (04:11) Difference between drawing and painting (05:26) What happens when you see an object to draw? (07:16) Why does an artist's subject matter? (13:47) Isn't drawing technical? (14:36) What do you draw? (19:23) How do you connect the viewer to your work? (23:22) How does drawing enrich the person who is drawing? (27:31) How do you decide what to draw? (31:21) How does permanence look in your work? (33:17) Journey of a drawing — from sketchbook to a gallery (36:08) How can one train oneself to be slow and observe details? (40:00) Tips & advice for young artistsENJOYED THIS EPISODE?If this conversation made you stop and think, please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more curious minds find the show. Share this episode with a fellow artist, architect, or creative who needs to hear it.Stay curious. 🎙️----------------------------------------The Gyaan Project has been documenting Indian creative wisdom since 2016 — 300+ conversations on design, art, culture, and craft with leading practitioners across India and the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com

SummaryWhat does it really mean to teach design in India today? In this powerful conversation, Dinesh S, an architect with 35 years of practice and founder of Bangalore School of Design and Technology, challenges everything we think we know about design education. From the factory-like classrooms stuffing 90 students together to architecture syllabi unchanged since the 1980s, Dinesh unpacks the uncomfortable truths holding back Indian design innovation. This episode is for students, educators, and anyone who believes India can do better with how we teach creativity, curiosity, and aspirational design thinking.Topics we discussed* How do you define design, education, and design education in general?* Would you differentiate between education in general versus design education and if so, how?* Could you explain what is aspirational design?* What are the building blocks or framework that you use to make an aspirational designer?* What are the gaps that you see when students are entering into the market and getting a job?* How do you explain to break the rules before knowing the rules?* How can a well rounded multidisciplinary learning experience happen if a design student is wanting to learn design?* Is curiosity diminishing in students and what is stopping innovation in design at a radical level?* If a design school has to have some measure or metric of success, what would be the measure of it?* How do you see the future of design education in India?Reference reading* Bangalore School of Design and Technology* Bangalore School of Design and Technology LinkedIn* Bangalore School of Design and Technology Instagram* BSDT Facebook* Ken Robinson TED Talk* T-Shaped Designer Concept* Bangalore Interior Design Industry* New National Institute of Design This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegyaanproject.com