The India-China Review

Ne Zha 2 has grossed over $2.25 billion, propelling a millennia-old myth into the ranks of the highest-grossing films ever made. But where did Ne Zha come from?

In Episode 6 of The India–China Review, we speak with Dr. Pratishtha Mukherjee, archaeologist and scholar of ancient art and iconography about the claim that Ne Zha's roots reach back to India, to Nalakuvara, the Yaksha son of Kubera.

We trace the figure's journey through Buddhist translation networks and Silk Road exchange into Chinese folklore and the Ming novel Fengshen Yanyi, examine the textual and iconographic evidence, and ask why India's own mythological wealth is yet to produce a comparable global moment.

Date of Recording: July 17, 2026

In Episode 5 of The India–China Review, we examine how India and China respond differently to global oil shocks — from the 1973 oil crisis and the 1991 Gulf War to a hypothetical 2026 Strait of Hormuz disruption.

The episode explores why China has built deeper strategic buffers through petroleum reserves, renewable energy, pipelines, and electric vehicles, while India remains heavily dependent on imported oil and maritime chokepoints.

At the center of the discussion is a powerful idea: “Electron vs Molecule” — and why the future of energy security may depend on it.

Date of Recording: April 23, 2026

In this episode, we sit down with Manoj Kewalramani, Head of the china Desk at Takshashila Institution, for a deep and structured conversation on his co-edited book and the evolving contours of India–China relations.

Following the October 2024 border disengagement, there is renewed debate around normalization, trust, and strategy as far as Sino-Indian relations are concerned. But beneath the surface lies a more complex question: How should India engage a China that is simultaneously a partner, competitor, and systemic challenge?

This episode explores the idea of “taming the dragon”, not through confrontation, but through clarity, capability, and strategic self-strengthening.

Is the recent India–China Strategic Dialogue a genuine reset in bilateral relations — or simply a gymnastics of words?

In Episode 3 of The India–China Review, we examine what is truly “strategic” about the India–China Strategic Dialogue held on 11 February 2026 between senior officials of both countries. After the October 2024 border disengagement, diplomatic engagement has resumed across multiple levels — but the central question remains: can trust be rebuilt between India and China?

Date of Recording: March 10, 2026

Is BRICS+ a genuine force for multipolarity, or a coalition held together more by what it opposes than by what it seeks to build?

In this episode of The India–China Review, we cut through the noise surrounding BRICS and the emerging idea of BRICS+. Is the bloc truly an alternative to Western institutions? Does the debate around de-dollarisation hold real substance? And how does India navigate its strategic balancing act within a group that includes China and other major emerging powers?

To explore these questions, we are joined by Dr. Brian Wong, Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong. His work examines the intersection of geopolitics, political philosophy, and technology. Dr. Wong is also the co-editor of Towards a Future for BRICS+.

Link for the book: https://openbookshongkong.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/9789888900831.pdf

In October and December 2025, China filed complaints at the World Trade Organization challenging India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes in solar modules, electric vehicles, and advanced chemistry cell batteries. It marks the first time China has initiated a WTO dispute against a major developing economy like India.

In Episode 1 of The India–China Review, we unpack China’s WTO challenge against India’s solar, EV, and battery sectors. and what it means for industrial policy, strategic autonomy, and the future of energy transition in India.

The India–China Review

India and China. Two ancient civilizations. Two of the world's largest economies. Nearly one-third of humanity. And a relationship that is consequential for Asia and the wider world.

The India–China Review is a podcast by Rashtram School of Public Leadership, Rishihood University that tracks India-China relations from an India-perspective. Not through the lens of diplomatic optics or global opinion, but through evidence, data, and India's national interests.

Every episode picks one story. A headline that deserved more than a headline. We explain it, analyse it, hold conversations, and ask one question: Why should India care?

From geopolitics and national security to business, technology, economy, and culture, we cover every space where India and China meet. Because China affects India in far more ways than we acknowledge.