In this episode we speak to Dr. Diego Maiorano, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore about two fascinating topics. First - we ask him about his book Autumn of the Matriarch: Indira Gandhi's Final Term in Office which examines Indira Gandhi's last term in office, and the political and social implications of her last term. We also ask about the residues of her politics in contemporary India. Second, we touch upon Diego's current work on the NREGA program, and his fieldwork in Andhra Pradesh, and the politics of welfare. It is a long-ish episode, but we cover a lot - about history, contemporary politics, and the complex political economies of welfare delivery on the ground.

Discussed on this episode:

• Autumn of the Matriarch

• Post-Clientelistic Initiatives in a Patronage Democracy: The (Non) Distribution of Pork in India’s MGNREGA

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