315. Tracing Origins

In this episode of BIC Talks, Author & Historian- Hindol Sengupta discusses the relevance of a relatively lesser-known but fundamental text of the Advaita Vedanta School of Hinduism called the Ashtavakra Gita at a time of global conflict. It will focus on the personal experience of the transformative and redeeming power of the text amidst the turmoil, grief, and uncertainty that is the fate of human life. 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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.

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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.

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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.

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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.

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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.

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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.

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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.  

"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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.      

"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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.

"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 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible and Amazon Music.