EP-415 | Ramayana & Mahabharata in Urdu, and Art of Storytelling | Fouzia Dastango

In this edition of ANI Podcast, Smita Prakash speaks to India’s first female Dastango, Fouzia Dastango, about Urdu, theatre, storytelling, women in traditional art spaces, and her journey of keeping the 16th-century art of Dastangoi alive in modern India.She explains why people should not have any problem with her reciting the Ramayana and Mahabharata in Urdu, and how the art of storytelling must evolve with the current generation.00:00 - Introduction01:04 - What is Dastangoi?03:08 - Kathavachak vs Dastango04:37 - Real Identity of Urdu05:32 - Ramayana & Mahabharata in Urdu09:14 - Fouzia Dastango’s Story15:05 - Feminist Elements in Stories22:53 - Choosing Stories Based on Audience28:47 - Classical vs Folk Art33:14 - Inspiration Behind Performance37:05 - Gen Z Connect with Dastangoi42:03 - Hardest Emotion to Portray46:46 - Cultural Home of Dastangoi51:48 - Advice for Younger Generation

Geetam Tiwari is an Emeritus Professor at the Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. She has over 25 years of experience in transportation planning, road safety, and urban mobility. Her work focuses on safer roads, better footpaths, bicycle infrastructure, and protecting pedestrians.In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she talks about why Indian cities face traffic chaos, unsafe roads, and poor pedestrian facilities. She also discusses what India needs to do to build safer, smarter, and more efficient transport systems.00:00 – Introduction02:21 – Rising Road Deaths08:13 – International Driving Tests10:03 – Road Safety Rules11:49 – School Bus Safety13:38 – Highways & Expressways Design Flaws17:03 – Audible Road Markers21:12 – Why Indians Ignore Road Signs22:05 – Facilities on Expressways & Highways23:53 – Expressways & Highways for Two-Wheelers25:41 – Importance of Service Roads29:07 – Wrong-Side Driving31:26 – Pedestrians & Cyclists37:45 – Public Spaces Accessibility39:13 – Reality of Vendors on Indian Roads41:38 – Why Foot Overbridges & Underpasses Fail46:31 – The Pothole Problem49:58 – Corruption in Road Construction53:11 – Municipal Corporations and Dug-Up Roads55:02 – Labourers at Road Construction Sites58:18 – Road Reality Check Segment1:04:49 – Building Proper Bicycle Paths

Dr Arvind Gupta is Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation and a former Deputy National Security Advisor of India.Ambassador Veena Sikri is a former Indian diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Malaysia, with decades of experience in foreign policy.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the discussion focuses on how the global power structure is changing and whether institutions like NATO, the Quad, the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20 still remain relevant in today’s world.The episode also explores India’s foreign policy approach, including strategic autonomy, multi-alignment and the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, as well as Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role and its impact on South Asia.00:00 – Introduction02:04 – NATO Crisis07:15 – Decline of Post-Cold War Order13:34 – Gulf Countries’ Security Alliances18:25 – Germany and Japan’s Defence Reset21:48 – Future of US-China G227:09 – Global Sea Route Security30:47 – India’s Balancing Act in West Asia35:25 – Pakistan as Mediator Between the US and Iran39:34 – Can SAARC Be Revived?43:36 – India, Pakistan & Narrative War52:47 – India-Bangladesh Ties55:44 – India’s Strategic Role in BRICS1:02:13 – ‘Vishwamitra’ Doctrine Under PM Modi1:05:08 – India’s Geopolitical Challenges1:09:08 – Regionalisation & Global Power Shifts

The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus – Edition 8.0 is here, packed with raw, uncensored, and no-holds-barred conversations.Joining the panel are:Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORFTehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analystAnand Ranganathan, author and scientistAbhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict StudiesThis episode discusses the recently conducted Assembly polls in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam; the Iran war; the Trump phenomenon; Pakistan’s stature after the war.

In this live session of the ANI Podcast, the guests discuss the lessons India has drawn from the Iran war and the learnings from Operation Sindoor as it completes one year. The conversation explores military readiness, evolving threats, and the role of technology and strategy in shaping India’s defence posture.ParticipantsSushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, ORFTilak Devasher, Author; Former Member, National Security Advisory BoardModeratorsSmita Prakash, Chief Editor & Deputy CEO, ANINaveen Kapoor, National Bureau Chief, ANI*Timestamps*00:00 - Introduction00:34 - Lessons from Operation Sindoor13:46 - Pakistan’s Close Ties with the USA25:48 - How Pakistan Handles the Media31:26 - What Changed in Pak After Op Sindoor?35:56 - Dhurandar Operations in Pakistan42:35 - India’s Strategic Autonomy48:45 - How Pakistanis View Indians1:00:28 - India’s Reaction to Global Conflicts1:09:09 - India’s Defence Strategy1:20:10 - India’s Border Security

Sanjeev Kapoor is one of India’s most well-known chefs, authors and entrepreneurs. From ‘Khana Khazana’ to global restaurants, and from cookbooks to food innovation, he has influenced how India looks at cooking and flavour over the last few decades.In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Chef talks about how eating habits in India are changing, with busy lifestyles and ready-to-eat meals replacing home-cooked meals.He also explores India’s food culture, from street food and restaurant experiences to hygiene standards and cloud kitchens. Kapoor shares honest views on overhyped food trends, along with what makes a dish special.00:00 - Introduction01:23 - Choosing a Cooking Career13:43 - Starting the Restaurant Journey26:10 - Western Cooking vs. Indian Cooking34:13 - Curating Restaurant Menus38:38 - Indian Food Plating42:33 - Curating Airline Menus56:11 - Cooking in Modern Times1:01:22 – Restaurant Culture1:04:26 - Snap Reactions1:08:16 - Hygiene In Cloud Kitchens1:22:37 - Indian Food Culture1:44:02 - Underrated Indian Spices

Vikas Tiwari, also known as Ranu Tiwari, runs the YouTube channel Bastar Talkies. He has helped over 200 Naxals surrender and return to mainstream society. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about how Naxalism began in Chhattisgarh, the challenges of reporting from Bastar, and the goal set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make India Naxal-free. He was awarded the Rameshwaram Hindi Journalism National Award in December 2025. This is a simple, first-hand account from a journalist reporting directly from the remote areas of Chhattisgarh.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction03:18 – From Truck Driver to YouTuber11:58 – Dangers in Naxal-Affected Areas15:34 – Naxalism and Its Causes22:07 – How Naxals Return to the Mainstream28:33 – Challenges of Reporting in Naxal Areas36:41 – Naxals in Bastar: What Has Changed41:10 – Thulthuli Encounter Explained44:41 – The Story of Mukesh Chandrakar50:58 – Why Maoists Resisted Development56:03 – The Reality of Salwa Judum58:28 – Life After Maoists’ Surrender1:00:53 – Youth and Maoist Ideology1:02:35 – Reporting from Naxal Areas1:07:22 – Stories from Families of Martyrs1:14:08 – When Maoists Started Losing Power1:16:36 – Attack on Congress Leader V.C. Shukla1:18:35 – Understanding “Urban Naxals”1:24:10 – Suggestions to Counter “Urban Naxals”1:27:15 – Reality of Bastar Villages

India’s financial markets are going through a complex global situation, shaped by changing geopolitics and shifts in domestic growth. To help us understand what lies ahead, the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash is joined by one of the most respected voices in the investment world, Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company. He is also a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. With decades of experience across market cycles, he shares valuable insights on the economy, markets, and where investors should consider placing their bets. He also explains what lessons India can learn from the West Asia crisis.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction00:39 – Role in PM’s Economic Advisory Council03:49 – India’s GDP Ranking07:30 – India’s Economic Vulnerability12:30 – Progress of Banking in India16:16 – Impact of West Asia Conflict on India20:41 – How India Can Improve Its GDP25:22 – US Markets During Iran War27:44 – India–China Trade Explained31:07 – Monsoon Impact on Indian Economy32:30 – Why is Rupee Falling?37:55 – Role of AI in Indian Economy41:06 – Investor Trust in Indian Equities42:37 – IPO Rush in 2025 Explained44:09 – Buy or Sell in the Stock Market46:45 – How to Manage Money Better

In this episode of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, we take a deep dive into Women’s Reservation Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was defeated in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026.Joining the conversation are Varghese K. George, resident editor at The Hindu, and Swapnil Tripathi, lead at Charkha (Centre for Constitutional Law) at Vidhi.Together, they explain what the bill aimed to do and why linking it with delimitation and census data led to political disagreement.The discussion also covers concerns over North-South balance, population-based seat redistribution, and parliamentary accountability.*Timestamps*00:00 – Introduction01:47 – Political Timing of Women’s Quota Bill05:38 – Delimitation Debate11:02 – PM Modi’s Guarantee17:03 – Impact on South India20:24 – Chandrababu Naidu’s Stand25:49 – Furore Over Delimitation30:55 – Reserved Constituencies in India35:11 – Population & Tax Contribution40:28 – Tharoor’s Proposal49:23 – Political Consensus on Women’s Reservation52:44 – DMK’s Private Member’s Bill56:43 – Executive-Centric Governance in Democracies1:07:19 – Arvind Kejriwal & Mamata Banerjee in Court

Kangana Ranaut is a BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi and an actress known for speaking her mind. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she shares her journey in Bollywood and reflects on whether her bluntness has cost her opportunities in the industry.She also speaks about her controversies with Karan Johar and her ‘tapori’ remark on Rahul Gandhi. The conversation covers the Women’s Reservation Bill, her upcoming film Queen 2, why she chose to become a parliamentarian, and more.Timestamps00:00 – Introduction00:53 – Salman’s Compliment06:21 – Bollywood Journey12:54 – Interview with Karan Johar16:14 – Turning Point in Career18:52 – Why Actresses Avoid Comedy Roles20:51 – First-Time MP Experience25:57 – ‘Tapori’ Remark Against Rahul Gandhi29:28 – Women’s Reservation Bill39:36 – Delimitation Debate43:41 – Mandi Constituency Challenges48:13 – Passion for Handloom Sarees53:15 – ‘Dhurandhar’ Effect on Bollywood59:23 – Snap Reactions1:06:37 – Career vs Marriage Choice1:17:35 – Journey from Mandi to Mumbai