Veteran journalist and contributing editor of The Indian Express, Neerja Chowdhury, in her book 'How Prime Ministers Decide,' recounts the stories of what transpired behind the scenes as Indian Prime Ministers made some of the most monumental decisions of their tenure, and sometimes opted not to make them.

In this episode, leading up to the crucial Lok Sabha polls, she joins Sandip Roy to discuss some of the decisions that altered India and the processes through which they unfolded.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Last month, a one-and-a-half-year-old girl was allegedly mauled to death by street dogs in central Delhi’s Tughlaq Lane. In response, the National Human Rights Commission directed authorities to submit a detailed report within six weeks and to control the population of street dogs. However, within days, some animal welfare organizations stated that there is no evidence implicating street dogs in the incident, citing the gated nature of the toddler's home which made it inaccessible to dogs in the area.

This incident underscores the swift polarization between animal welfare advocates and those concerned for public safety. Some regard those who feed street dogs as good Samaritans, while others believe they only exacerbate the problem.

In this episode, host Sandip Roy speaks with ecologist Abi T Vanak about the management of street dogs and what actions authorities should take. Vanak is the Director of the Centre for Policy Design at ATREE.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Varanasi holds sacred significance for many Hindus who believe that being cremated at its famous Manikarnika ghat will grant them Moksha or salvation. However, most of us know little about the lives of the Doms who work at these ghats.

In this episode, Sandip Roy is joined by journalist Radhika Iyengar, who spent several years documenting the lives of the Doms of Varanasi through many ups and downs. Her book, 'Fire on the Ganges', delves into the dreams and aspirations of this community, whose job is to help others attain salvation.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Krish Ashok, the author of the bestselling book "The Masala Lab," has become hugely popular on social media as the man who demystifies the science behind our cooking. In this episode, he joins Sandip to debunk myths about the Indian thali.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The provocatively titled book, "The Colonial Constitution," examines how we got the Constitution we did and argues that, despite being crafted by the individuals who secured India's independence, it ultimately embodies strong colonial influences.

On the occassion of Republic Day, Sandip speaks to its author, Arghya Sengupta, who is the Research Director at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

For two decades, Sanjay Patel served as an animator and storyboard artist for Pixar, contributing to beloved films such as Ratatouille, Cars, and Toy Story 2. Notably, he also wrote and directed "Sanjay's Super Team," a short film released in 2015 that earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film.

In this episode, Sandip speaks to Patel, delving into his illustrious career, exploring how he drew inspiration from the Ramayana, discussing his response to criticism, and uncovering the factors that led him to pursue a career as an animator.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

What makes Indian secularism so unique? Why is it so often misunderstood? And what challenges does it face at the moment? In this episode, Sandip Roy speaks to Rajeev Bhargava, the Director of the Parekh Institute of Indian Thought at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, who addresses all this and more in his book, 'Reimagining Indian Secularism’.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed Suresh Pawar

They could be the biggest pop stars you've never come across. Absent from your social media feed, yet integral to the pop culture consumed by millions. Meet some of Hindutva's prominent pop stars who say they are on a mission, spearheading a cultural revolution.

In this episode, Sandip speaks to journalist Kunal Purohit who in his book, 'H-Pop: The Secretive World of Hindutva Pop Stars', profiles key figures in Hindutva Pop, and delves into the motivations behind the audience's consumption of their 'daily dose of bigotry'.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Even though Rahul Gandhi is the guardian of the Nehru-Gandhi holy flame, at times it seems that his real mission is to reinvent his own party. On the other hand, many supporters of his party feel that the real stumbling block to its reinvention is Rahul Gandhi himself, who neither wishes to renounce it nor lead it from the front with gusto.

Joining host Sandip Roy in this episode is journalist and author Sugata Srinivasaraju, who explores the politics and predicaments of Rahul Gandhi in the book, Strange Burdens.

Produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

After the Supreme Court’s disheartening verdict on same-sex marriage, it appears that we are still struggling to make progress in this regard. However, if we were to look just beyond our northern border, we would realise that Nepal is actually several steps ahead of India on this issue.

In this episode, Sandip Roy speaks to Sunil Babu Pant, one of the country's best-known LGBTI activists, about the lessons that India can learn from Nepal.

Hosted, written and produced by Sandip Roy
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar