SPJIMR Podcast

WISE Tech insights episode 8: Fintech: Beyond the unicorns, the untold story

Past Imperfect Episode 23 features Dinyar Patel, Associate Professor of History at SPJIMR, in conversation with Padraic X. Scanlan, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto and the author of Rot: A History of the Irish Famine.

Between 1845 and 1851, a famine of unimaginable proportions ravaged Ireland. At least a million people died and at least a million more Irish emigrated. The Great Famine, Scanlan argues, was a product of both colonialism and global capitalism. A rigid adherence to free market principles utterly blinded British policymakers about relief efforts. Stunningly, as Ireland starved, the country continued to export agricultural goods. Relief operations even discouraged Irish from growing their own food, lest such food interfere with market forces. Scanlan’s narrative of the Great Famine reminds us that this was a thoroughly modern event: one that was repeated in other parts of the British Empire, including in India.

WISE Tech Insights episode 06: AI in Cancer detection — Promise of a Revolution? by SPJIMR Podcast

WISE Tech Insights episode 05: India's next digital leap: From Public Infrastructure to public Intelligence by SPJIMR Podcast

WISE Tech Insights episode 04: The green dilemma why we don't buy what we believe In by SPJIMR Podcast

Fast on fashion, slow on responsibility?

From Zara’s weekly drops to Shein’s 6,000 designs a day, fast fashion has redefined style and access. But behind the bargains and trends lies a pressing question:

What’s the true cost of cheap, rapid fashion — on the planet, on workers, and on society?

In this latest edition of WISE Tech Insights, we explore:

🌍 The environmental toll — CO₂, water, and microplastics

🧵 The human cost — low wages, unsafe conditions, exploitation

♻️ The greenwashing dilemma — intent vs. business model conflict

🇮🇳 The rise of Indian pioneers like @Doodlage, @NoNasties, @Upcycleluxe, @KaSha, and @Cottonworld leading the way on sustainable fashion

💡 The question we leave you with:

Can fast fashion ever be truly sustainable, or is conscious consumerism our only way forward?

Past Imperfect Episode 22 features Dinyar Patel, Associate Professor of History at SPJIMR, in conversation with Srinath Raghavan, Professor of International Relations and History at Ashoka University and the author of Indira Gandhi and the Years that Transformed India.

Indira Gandhi has been one of modern India’s most controversial leaders, a savior to some, a power-hungry autocrat to many others. Above all, she was deeply consequential in shaping so much of today’s political and economic landscape. Raghavan examines Gandhi’s prime ministership during what he calls the long 1970s, a period of profound crisis for Indian democracy, one which was joined at the hip to global events. While the Emergency remains the most infamous chapter in Gandhi’s rule, it was only one part of a longer story of steady centralization of power, recalibrations of economic policy, breakdowns in political norms, constitutional crises, anti-democratic tendencies, and violent insurgency.

Listen in to discover how SPJIMR's TaSIC 2026 explores innovation through the lens of wise, purpose-driven impact.

TaSIC 2026 brings together global researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to explore how fast-moving technologies can serve society ethically, inclusively, and sustainably. Hosted by WISE Tech, the conference will take place on February 20–21, 2026 and invites research that blends rigour with real-world relevance.

This year’s themes are structured around four high-impact academic tracks:

Sustainable Consumer Well-being

Enabling Technologies-led Inclusion and Equity

Circularity and Sustainability of Supply Chains in Emerging Economies

Impact and Externalities of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Sustainability Framework

The Call for Papers is now open! There are two submission options for TaSIC 2.0:

Option 1 involves submitting a proposal for the Research Writing Workshop. The proposal—up to 1,000 words—is due by September 15, 2025, and the final short paper—up to 2,500 words—must be submitted by December 15, 2025.

Option 2 involves direct short paper submission by December 15, 2025, with a word limit of up to 2,500 words.

All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review. Selected papers will receive detailed interdisciplinary feedback, be eligible for best paper awards, and may be considered for publication in partner journals.

WISE Tech Insights episode 02: In the name of health, The promise and peril of Nutraceuticals by SPJIMR Podcast

Past Imperfect Episode 22 features Dinyar Patel, Associate Professor of History at SPJIMR, in conversation with Srinath Raghavan, Professor of International Relations and History at Ashoka University and the author of Indira Gandhi and the Years that Transformed India.

Indira Gandhi has been one of modern India’s most controversial leaders, a savior to some, a power-hungry autocrat to many others. Above all, she was deeply consequential in shaping so much of today’s political and economic landscape. Raghavan examines Gandhi’s prime ministership during what he calls the long 1970s, a period of profound crisis for Indian democracy, one which was joined at the hip to global events. While the Emergency remains the most infamous chapter in Gandhi’s rule, it was only one part of a longer story of steady centralization of power, recalibrations of economic policy, breakdowns in political norms, constitutional crises, anti-democratic tendencies, and violent insurgency.