The Sandip Roy Show

Fine dining in India has shifted dramatically. What once meant dressing up for a five-star hotel is now shaped by standalone restaurants that are bolder, more experimental, and at the centre of culinary buzz. And in an unexpected twist, some of the most talked-about spots today are tiny,  intimate 10 to 18 seaters, like Naar in Kasauli or Papa’s in Mumbai — where chefs are reimagining what a dining experience can be.In this episode of our occasional series on Indulgence, host Sandip Roy speaks to three restaurateurs featured in this year’s Condé Nast Traveller Top 50:Gauri Devidayal, entrepreneur and restaurateur, co-founded The Table in Mumbai, as well as brands like Mag St. Bread Co., Iktara, and Magazine St. Kitchen. Shuli Ghosh, co-founder and creative force behind Sienna Calcutta. Yash Bhanage, founder and COO of Hunger Inc. Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., the company behind restaurants such as The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro, Bombay Sweet Shop, Veronica’s, and Papa’s.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

When people from upper castes talk about caste, it’s often through headlines — about atrocities or reservations — stories reduced to data, distant and impersonal. And even when caste violence is discussed, it’s usually set in faraway villages, rarely finding a place in books written in English.That’s what makes Rakshit Sonawane’s novel The Scum of the Earth stand out. Drawing from his own life as a first-generation learner from a family that once faced untouchability and later embraced Buddhism, Sonawane tells a deeply personal story of caste and identity.A graduate in English literature who has worked with media houses like The Indian Express, Mid-Day, and The Free Press Journal, he joins Sandip this week to talk about his journey and why he chose fiction to tell his truth.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Vidya Rajan, an adjunct associate professor and author of *Rubber: The Social and Natural History of an Indispensable Substance*, dives deep into the multifaceted world of rubber. She uncovers the plant's origins, linking it to colonial exploitation and the brutal labor conditions of rubber harvesting. Vidya also discusses the intriguing history of rubber's commercialization, from its Olmec roots to its strategic importance in WWII. She highlights the ecological consequences of plantation practices and suggests future solutions through recycling and alternative sources.

Every election season, attention turns to India’s Hindi heartland,  a region central to the country’s politics and identity. It has produced most of India’s prime ministers and a large share of its parliamentarians, while also witnessing some of the most intense communal clashes and temple–mosque disputes. Yet, it also remains the cradle of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, a culture rooted in coexistence and shared traditions.This week on the show, host Sandip Roy speaks with Ghazala Wahab, whose new book, The Hindi Heartland, traces the region’s complex history and examines its continuing influence on India’s politics and society.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

When we think of cheese, names like Brie, Gouda, or Cheddar usually come to mind — but nothing much from India. Yet India, home to the world’s largest dairy herd, is now witnessing a quiet but remarkable cheese revolution. At farmer’s markets, artisanal producers are offering everything from creamy classics to inventive varieties infused with Tellicherry peppercorns or curry leaves. This week, as part of our series on Indian indulgences, we explore how local terroir is shaping India’s cheese story. Joining host Sandip Roy are two pioneers redefining what Indian cheese can be — Namrata Sundaresan, cofounder of Käse Cheese, and Mansi Jasani of The Cheese Collective.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Many of us grew up with only a patchy knowledge of Bhutan. And these days, most stories about the country in India tend to focus on tourism. But what was it like to grow up in Bhutan in the 1950s and 60s? Kunzang Choden, who grew up in a landed household, explores this in her memoir, Telling Me My Stories, which paints a complex portrait of a country caught in the winds of change.This week on the show, Sandip speaks to Choden about her childhood in Bhutan, the transformations she witnessed, and how they continue to shape the country today.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In this episode, host Sandip Roy discusses India’s national sleep crisis, a problem that affects all ages, from anxious teenagers to overworked professionals, with Dr. G.C. Khilnani, a renowned pulmonologist and chairman of the PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, to understand why sleeplessness has become such a widespread concern.They discuss everything from sleep hygiene and circadian rhythm disruptions to insomnia, sleep apnea, and how modern lifestyles, screen addiction, and late-night habits are quietly eroding the quality of our sleep and our health.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

In recent years, online retail has transformed how we shop—bringing everything from food to taxis to our doorstep. The convenience is undeniable, but the gig economy behind it remains largely unexamined. How does this system impact those who work in it, use it, or build it? This week on the show, host Sandip Roy speaks to social science researcher Vandana Vasudevan, author of OTP Please: Online Buyers, Sellers and Gig Workers in South Asia, to explore the hidden human stories behind the apps and algorithms that power our everyday lives.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

Sopan Joshi, an independent journalist and author of 'Mangifera Indica,' dives into the world of mangoes, revealing their deep-rooted cultural significance in India. The discussion highlights the mango's historical journey and genetic diversity, comparing Indian varieties to those from Southeast Asia. Joshi challenges common perceptions around mango cultivation, shedding light on modern agricultural pressures and the need for sustainable practices. Through personal anecdotes, he captures the nostalgia and communal joy that mangoes bring to Indian life.

Long relegated to the footnotes of history, Lal Bahadur Shastri is often overshadowed by the towering legacies of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. But what if Shastri hadn’t died suddenly after signing the Tashkent Agreement with Pakistan? Would Indira Gandhi still have become Prime Minister? And how might India’s political trajectory have changed?In this episode, host Sandip Roy speaks to Sanjeev Chopra, author of The Great Conciliator, a new biography of Shastri. Chopra, a former IAS officer and former director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, traces Shastri’s rise to power and explores why India’s second Prime Minister deserves a closer look today.Produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar