The #AskAbhijit Show #AskAbhijit 321: Starlink, Scramjet, Monroe Doctrine, Bollywood, Black Holes, Bengal, Iran, Russia
Jan 15, 2026
Dive into a captivating exploration of India’s historical narrative and current geopolitical strategies. From the fascinating evolution of the internet to debates on nuclear energy and the risks of regime change in Iran, a wide array of thought-provoking subjects are covered. The discussion on Bollywood’s song plagiarism and comparisons between pre-WWI dynamics and today will keep you intrigued. Plus, delve into science with insights on black holes and Hawking radiation. It’s a mix of culture, career advice, and cosmic curiosity!
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Episode notes
Nuclear vs Fusion: Risk And Timeline
- Nuclear power is safe when professionally designed and operated, with few major accidents in 80 years of reactors.
- Fusion is an engineering, not physics, challenge and will likely be realized on Earth before space deployment.
Ambition Needs Enforceable Capability
- A Monroe Doctrine–style posture only works if you can enforce it; ambition without capability invites suppression.
- Abhijit recommends Deng Xiaoping's 'hide strengths, bide time' approach for India for the next five years.
Bengal's Often-Overlooked Ancient Glory
- Bengal had rich pre-Islamic history: Gauda (Shashanka), then Pala dynasty with major universities and art.
- Modern narratives focus on colonial-era politics and miss the region's ancient cultural achievements.
