AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma
Ep 348: Devangshu Datta Traded His Corduroy Pants
Sep 25, 2023
Devangshu Datta, a traveler with mad experiences, discusses Bengalis making bombs, Gujaratis making fetish costumes, river pirate ancestors, and the disruption caused by Only Fans to Pornhub.
05:28:56
Episode guests
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- India's diversity poses unique challenges in governance.
- Brain drain hinders India's growth potential.
- Military history reveals repeating patterns of conflict and strategic objectives.
- OnlyFans disrupts traditional porn industry, giving creators more control.
- Shifts in dating landscape due to dating apps and easy access to porn.
- Marriage persists despite its flaws, serving specific legal and financial needs.
Deep dives
Regional Satraps in Bengal
In his youth, the speaker used to hang out in Kalighat in Kolkata, where he would smoke grass and occasionally encounter Mamata Banerjee, who would ask him for help in structuring her speeches.
Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Landscape
The speaker emphasizes the diversity in India, with more languages and ethnic groups than the European Union, and discusses the challenges of governing such a diverse country.
Brain Drain and Lost Opportunities
The speaker highlights the brain drain in India, with millions of talented individuals leaving the country, resulting in lost economic opportunities and hindering India's growth potential.
Fascination with Military History
Growing up in areas with historical significance, such as the Shenandoah Valley and visiting battlefields like Pani Pat, triggered a fascination with military history. The patterns and strategies of warfare, the reasons behind battles in specific locations, and the impact of geography on conflicts intrigued me. I delved into books on military campaigns throughout history, examining the rise and fall of empires, and the repeating patterns of conflict. The chess game, with its strategic elements, also appealed to my interest in battles and warfare. Exploring battlefields and understanding the reasons behind historical conflicts continues to shape my passion for military history.
The Changing Face of Warfare
While the technology of warfare has evolved, the patterns and objectives of battles often remain constant. Although the specific tools and tactics change, the desire to control strategic territories and the need to secure advantageous positions persists. For example, the battlefields of the past, like Thermopylae and Flinders, may not see another conflict due to the changing nature of warfare. However, conflicts continue to arise in new locations, driven by similar strategic objectives. Modern warfare, with its advancements in technology, presents new challenges and possibilities, making military history a dynamic and ever-evolving field of study.
The Fascinating Parallels
The study of military history reveals intriguing parallels between past and present conflicts. Despite changes in technology, the desire for power, control, and strategic advantages remains a driving force in warfare. Whether it's battles over specific terrains or the shifting dynamics of geopolitical struggles, the lessons from history often provide valuable insights. Understanding the impact of geography, examining strategic decisions, and recognizing patterns of conflict contribute to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of military history. It is a field that allows us to learn from the past and gain perspective on the complexities of warfare throughout time.
Changing dynamics of the porn industry
The rise of platforms like OnlyFans has disrupted the traditional porn industry, allowing creators to have more agency and control over their content. With the ability to customize content based on subscriber preferences, creators can cater to niche markets and build a loyal following.
Evolution in relationships and dating
The proliferation of dating apps and easy access to porn has changed the way men and women relate to and interact with each other. The transactional nature of casual encounters and the separation of love and lust have become more commonplace, particularly among younger generations. This shift in mindset and behavior has transformed the dating landscape.
Normalization of sexual exploration and transparency
As societal attitudes towards sex and relationships become more open and accepting, there is a growing trend of sexual exploration and increased transparency in discussing desires and preferences. This is evident in the burgeoning popularity of categories and subcategories in the porn industry, as well as in the LGBTQ+ community's embrace of open conversations about sexual compatibility.
The Influence of Marriage on Society
Marriage is seen as an archaic institution that presents various challenges, especially for women in India. It can lead to trapped roles and expectations, causing unhappiness and quiet desperation. However, marriage still serves as a shorthand or shortcut for certain legal and financial implications, such as inheritance and child custody. Despite its flaws, marriage persists as a means to address these specific needs in today's society.
The Evolution of Publishing and the Rise of E-books
The publishing industry has struggled to adapt to the digital era and compete with platforms like Amazon. E-books have plateaued in popularity, but publishers have failed to exploit the potential benefits of digital distribution and the ability to provide alternate reading platforms. The industry has also struggled to generate mainstream media coverage for books, relying heavily on bloggers and Goodreads, which presents its own challenges. There is a need for publishers to understand and capitalize on the medium to overcome these issues.
Investing Insights and Personal Preferences
The key to successful investing lies in understanding risk management, determining the amount of money one is willing to lose, and setting clear investment goals. The Indian context presents unique challenges, such as dishonest management and complicated legal and regulatory compliance requirements. Being a quant investor, the speaker emphasizes the importance of data analysis and numbers in the investment process. They also highlight the need for segmenting investment needs and preferences, distinguishing between long-term goals, short-term trading, and risk tolerance levels. Additionally, the speaker shares personal interests, such as enjoying time alone, engaging in mental and physical activities, and appreciating luxury, good food, and pets.
From Ganja Park in Kolkata to lock-ups in 13 countries, he has travelled the world and lived through mad times. Devangshu Datta joins Amit Varma in episode 348 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss Bengalis who make bombs, Gujaratis who make fetish costumes, his river pirate ancestors and how Only Fans has disrupted Pornhub. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Devangshu Datta on Twitter and Business Standard. 2. Previous (miniature) episodes of The Seen and the Unseen with Devangshu Datta: 1, 2, 3. 3. The Life and Times of Nilanjana Roy — Episode 284 of The Seen and the Unseen. 4. Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India — Akshaya Mukul. 5. The Gita Press and Hindu Nationalism — Episode 139 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Akshaya Mukul). 6. Private Truths, Public Lies — Timur Kuran. 7. Godwin's Law. 8. The End of History? — Francis Fukuyama’s essay. 9. The End of History and the Last Man — Francis Fukuyama’s book. 10. Fixing Indian Education — Episode 185 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Karthik Muralidharan). 11. Our Unlucky Children (2008) — Amit Varma. 12. Aakash Singh Rathore, the Ironman Philosopher — Episode 340 of The Seen and the Unseen. 13. The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama -- David Remnick. 14. VP Menon: The Unsung Architect of Modern India — Narayani Basu. 15. India’s Greatest Civil Servant — Episode 167 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Narayani Basu, on VP Menon). 16. 'How big is your Madhya Pradesh?' -- Mamata Banerjee asks a party worker to lose weight. 17. Patriots, Poets and Prisoners: Selections from Ramananda Chatterjee's The Modern Review, 1907-1947 -- Edited by Anikendra Sen, Devangshu Datta and Nilanjana S Roy. 18. The State of Indian Sport — Episode 238 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Joy Bhattacharjya & Nandan Kamath). 19. Early Indians -- Tony Joseph. 20. Early Indians — Episode 112 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Tony Joseph). 21. All Quiet on the Western Front -- Erich Maria Remarque. 22. The Dosadi Experiment (featuring Jorj X. McKie) -- Frank Herbert. 23. A Deep Dive Into Ukraine vs Russia -- Episode 335 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ajay Shah). 24. Lost Victories -- Erich von Manstein. 25. Basic Chess Endings -- Reuben Fine. 26. The Tamilian Gentleman Who Took on the World — Amit Varma. 27. The New World Upon Us -- Amit Varma on Alpha Zero. 28. Alpha Zero -- Episode 51 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Devangshu Datta). 29. Google’s AlphaZero Destroys Stockfish In 100-Game Match — Mike Klein (with Peter Heine Nielson's quote on a superior species playing chess). 30. Skynet (Terminator). 31. Neuromancer -- William Gibson. 32. Snow Crash -- Neal Stephenson. 33. Why Children Labour (2007) — Amit Varma. 34. The Poetic Feminism of Paromita Vohra — Episode 339 of The Seen and the Unseen. 35. Satisfaction: The Art of the Female Orgasm -- Kim Cattrall and Mark Levinson. 36. Deep Throat and The Devil in Miss Jones. 37. The Matunga Racket (2007) -- Amit Varma. 38. Colleen Hoover on Amazon, Instagram, Wikipedia and her own website. 39. The Business of Books — Episode 150 of The Seen and the Unseen (w VK Karthika). 40. New in Chess. 41. Amartya Ghosh on Spotify. 42. The Universe of Chuck Gopal — Episode 258 of The Seen and the Unseen. 43. 'Wet Streets Cause Rain' -- Michael Crichton explains Gell-Mann Amnesia. 44. How to generate black money in India (2013) -- TEDx Talk by Devangshu Datta. 45. Poker and Stock Markets — Episode 47 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Mohit Satyanand). 46. Once Upon a Prime -- Sarah Hart. 47. Herman Melville and Edgar Allan Poe on Amazon. 48. Professor Moriarty. 49. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time -- Mark Haddon. 50. A Gentleman in Moscow -- Amor Towles. 51. NK Jemisin and Ursula K Le Guin on Amazon. 52. The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 -- Antony Beevor. 53. The Spanish Civil War (playlist with all six parts of the docu-series). 54. The Sandman on Netflix. 55. The Sandman -- Neil Gaiman. 56. The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal -- Mikhail Tal. 57. Dune and Blade Runner 2049 -- Denis Villeneuve. 58. India’s War: The Making of Modern South Asia -- Srinath Raghavan. 59. Episodes of The Seen and the Unseen with Srinath Raghavan: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Amit Varma and Ajay Shah have launched a new video podcast. Check out Everything is Everything on YouTube. Check out Amit’s online course, The Art of Clear Writing. And subscribe to The India Uncut Newsletter. It’s free! Episode art: ‘Chess Board’ by Simahina.
Get the Snipd
podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any
moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share
& Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode