Ep 51. Counting Castes: Census & Savarna Anxieties (w. Sumit Samos)

Caste census announcement is probably one of the biggest policy interventions in independent India-- now that the fog of war is lifting, the incredibly talented Sumit Samos breaks it down for us. Also breaking a few savarna academic egos along the way for fun. PS. Apologies for the bad network & t…

Ep 50. Meet the Savarnas (Book Preview)

It is episode 50 of the show. That is a staggering number of hours of hearing mostly me talk to myself. The perfect way to commemorate this milestone is to hear me talk about my book. 'Meet The Savarnas'-- now out for pre-order on Amazon. Link: https://www.amazon.in/Meet-Savarnas-Millennials-Medio…

Ep 49. Reservation in Private Universities

This needs to be said. Caste-based reservation in Indian private universities & higher education institutes is the need of the hour. This is a deep dive on the political economy of higher education & how it intersects with electoral funding of parties, policy-agenda-setting and caste gatekeeping.

Ep 48. Language, Nation & Delimitation

Nations, around the world often tend split and fall apart. One of the major reasons for countries breaking is language & ethnic/cultural identities (which circle back to language). East & West Pakistan split over language. India seems to be developing a North-South divide.  Often the seeds of a sp…

Ep 47. Under Centuries of Dust: Buddha & Mahabodhi (w. Mangesh Dahiwale)

As the Mahabodhi agitation gains momentum in Gaya, Bihar-- we talk to Mangesh Dahiwale, one of the most important Ambedkarite scholars of history Buddhish history and culture. He breaks down for us the historical & civilizational context of Buddha & his Dhamma. The current agitation needs to be see…

Ep 46. The End of the AAP Era

AAP didnt just lose the Delhi elections-- it also brought to close an era (which began in the mid 2000s) where liberal elite savarns had a fantasy that they could politically & economically bring India to greatness. Well that dream is over. Swades, that fantasy of the educated savarnas that they co…

Ep 45. Post-Bahujan: Future of Dalit Assertion (w. Dr Rahul Sonpimple)

An absolute masterclass by Dr Rahul Sonpimple~ diagnosis of the crossroads where the anti-caste movement finds itself. Babasaheb's name is everywhere, but Ambedkarite parties at their weakest. What happens to the movement? Where does it go? What questions we need to ask?  In this Post-Bahujan Era-…

44. Caste, Law & the University (w. Adv Disha Waderkar)

Student suicides in top educational institutions have been peaking, there is rampant casteism across Indian universities. Against this backdrop we talk to Advocate Disha Wadekar who moved the Supreme Court on behalf of the mothers of the Dr Payal Tadvi & brother Rohith Vemula. Her interventioned re…

Ep 43. New Year, New India- Grow up or Go Crazy

Oi happy new year babies, only 2 ways out from here-- grow up OR go crazy. There is no other way out of here, we cannot keep pretending things are great-- everything is falling apart. We cannot keep pretending Vir Das is talented/hot/funny. We cannot. We must not. High time children! Grow up OR …

Ep 42. End of the Soft (savarna) Elite Era

For the first time in 25 years, Indian urban (savarna) elites are no longer relevant to the discourse in politics, economy, society and culture. From woke hipsters to hustle tech bros-- all soft elites are now irrelevant.