In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh unpacks the Indian Election results with India’s High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency, Gopal Baglay. In his first interview on the subject, High Commissioner Baglay discusses the surprise election result for Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. 

The 2024 Indian Election was the largest-ever democratic exercise in the world and saw more than 642 million people voting over a six-week period, to elect 543 MPs to the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament). While Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a historic third consecutive term in office, the result was much tighter than most were predicting.

 Ms Singh and High Commissioner Baglay also unpack what this third-term Modi government means for India, Australia and the world, they cover India’s development agenda and its foreign policy among other topics.

In this special episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh joins Ela Gandhi, a peace activist, politician and granddaughter to Mahatma Gandhi, at the Phoenix Settlement in Durban.

Ela Gandhi has devoted her life to carrying forward the legacy of her grandfather, and his values of truth and non-violence. She fought tirelessly to end apartheid and achieve social justice in South Africa.

Lisa and Ela Gandhi discuss the significance of the Pheonix settlement in Mahatma Gandhi’s transformation as an individual, his way of thinking and lifestyle. They touch on her upbringing with parents who actively fought against discrimination. Her early involvement into political activism, the experience of her father being jailed during apartheid and her continued efforts to fight discrimination despite her own political bans all arise in this powerful episode. 

Ela sheds light on her involvement with the United Democratic Front and Natal Organisation for Women and her experiences visiting Nelson Mandela in prison.

Ela spoke of being inspired by women leaders including her grandmother Kasturba Gandhi and how she continues to work to inspire and educate other women through her work at the Natal Organization for Women.

During the visit, Ela shares with Lisa the house she grew up in at Phoenix and the exhibitions that showcase the story of Mahatma Gandhi's political activism in South Africa, his legacy of peace and nonviolence on other global movements for freedom.

This episode of Chats Over Chai discusses the story of  the Anzac-India friendship forged amidst the trials of Gallipoli in 1915.  

Australia’s most distinguished military social historians, Professor Peter Stanley and the Institute’s defence researcher, Samuel Bashfield unpack the little-known details of the Australia-Indian military connection.  

This episode builds on Professor Peter Stanley’s book ‘ Die in Battle, Do Not Despair: The Indians on Gallipoli, 1915’.  

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, Head of Communications, Shuba Krishnan sits down with Melburnian comedian, writer and actor Urvi Majumdar to discuss the impact of the Indian diaspora in Victoria.  

Urvi moved from India to Australia at the age of 6 and has openly talked about the struggles of juggling two words, having to live up to her parent’s expectations while fill fitting in with the Australian crowd.  

The pair delve into the findings of the Institute’s report on 'Victorians’ Perceptions on India and the Indian Diaspora’ and Urvi shares her personal reflections on growing up as a diaspora member in Melbourne and how these experiences have helped shape her unique flavour of comedy. 

Urvi and Shuba connect over the overwhelming value of the Indian community in Victoria, and how India culture can be positively promoted to wider audiences through the media, arts and culture industry. 

The Australia India Institute with CUTS International delivered an ‘In Conversation’ for CUTS 40th anniversary on Critical Minerals for Security and Prosperity: The role the Quad should play. This insightful panel featured Mr Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General at CUTS International and Associate Professor Mohan Yellishetty from Monash University and was moderated by Australia India Institute CEO, the Hon Lisa Singh.

There is unprecedented interest in critical minerals and how these will help Australia and India to foster new commercial partnerships. This podcast discusses the role the Quad should play in building a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific, what the main risks are in the critical mineral supply chain, how multilateral agreements could minimise inherent vulnerabilities and more. Tune in to find out more.

In this episode of Chats Over Chat, CEO Lisa Singh hosts a delegation of Indian female MPs and delves into inclusive governance and women’s political empowerment. Joining Lisa is Agatha Sangma; from Tura, Meghalaya; Heena Gavit from Nandurbar, Maharashtra; and Fauzia Khan from Maharashtra. 

Under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Canberra Fellowships Program, this visit aims to foster a deeper understanding of Australia’s policymaking context around women’s political participation and leadership from grassroots politics in local communities through to state and federal governments.  

Listen to this insightful conversation on the challenges for women in politics and the advice for young women aspiring to enter politics and make an impact in governance. 

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO, Lisa Singh and Federal Member for Parramatta, Dr Andrew Charlton MP, delve into his new book, ‘Australia’s Pivot to India’, recently launched by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. 

Recorded in one of the hearts of the Indian diaspora in Australia, Parramatta, they trace the Australia-India relationship from "Acquaintances to Friends to Family to Partners”, and some of the key initiatives required at a business level to increase Australian investment into India.

A powerful declaration for the shared future between Australia and India underscores Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, as this timely book discusses the growing relations between Australia and India and how India is successfully positioning itself as a new global power. Anyone wanting to build an understanding of our relationship with India and why it is just so important for our security and prosperity in the 21st century? Tune in to this episode!

The Institute is honoured that this episode of Chats Over Chai comes to you from the spiritual city of Dharamshala in the Indian Himalayas.  The beautiful Himalayas are home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan diaspora, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and our special guest, Sikyong Penpa Tsering.

This follows from the visit the Sikyong made to the Institute earlier this year. Penpa Tsering has had various roles within the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration spanning back to the mid-1990s. Before being elected as Sikyong of the CTA, he was notably the North America Representative of the Dalai Lama.

This episode explores the deep historical and cultural connections between India and Tibet and the Tibetan people’s close spiritual connection to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Penpa Tsering sheds light on the Sino-Tibetan conflict and the issues of human rights, peace, cultural identity and territorial integrity facing Tibetans. We explore the mission of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and the role Australia can play to support the Middle-Way approach. Join us as we discover how we can continue to support an autonomous Tibet. 

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, the institute hears from a Nagaland leader and senior lecturer in Modern Asia at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Arkotong Longkumer, who highlights intercultural learning and shares Naga stories and experiences. The journey of repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains from the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford invites a process of peace, healing and reconciliation. This is a journey that is initiated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), and the Recover, Restore and Decolonise (RRaD ) research team.   

The podcast follows from the Institutes hosting of a delegation of 15 Naga elders and leaders who shared their stories that focused on social justice and decolonisation, allowing the delegation to share their perspectives, and heal from the burdens of a violent colonial past. 

We delved deep into the region's historical contexts, its rich cultural heritage, and the contemporary issues it grapples with. Dr. Longkumer's expertise sheds light on the intricacies of this fascinating region in India. 

In this episode of Chats over Chai Ambassador Vohra and CEO Lisa Singh unpack India’s journey since independence, how its relationship with Australia has evolved since that time, and the incredible future for India and its people. 

Ambassador Vohra's remarkable journey as the Indian High Commissioner to Australia has left an indelible mark on the bilateral relationship. Appointed to role in April 2021, his role in Canberra has been at a crucial time as the world grappled with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the Australian government, he helped restore two-way mobility, advocated for the return of Indian students and reinforced the strong educational bond between our nations.