SparX by Mukesh Bansal

Harshil Mathur, co-founder of Razorpay and a key figure in India's fintech revolution, shares his inspiring journey from coding at IIT Roorkee to transforming digital payments. He discusses the early challenges of being young founders and the organic evolution of Razorpay from a side project. Harshil unpacks the complexities behind payment systems and the significance of UPI, as well as the regulatory landscape. Insights on balancing innovation with regulations and the future of biometric payments round out this enlightening conversation for aspiring entrepreneurs and fintech enthusiasts.

Vikram Sampath, a prominent historian and author, dives into the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, revealing the complexities of this polarizing figure in Indian history. He discusses Savarkar's transformation from a young revolutionary to a nationalist icon, the fierce ideological debates of India’s independence movement, and the often-overlooked sacrifices of freedom fighters. The conversation also highlights the evolution of Savarkar's Hindutva ideology and its implications for modern politics, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of India's historical narratives.

What if the secret to better health isn’t just what you eat, but when you eat? In this episode, we sit down with renowned circadian biology expert Dr. Satchin Panda to explore the science behind time-restricted eating, body clocks, and how your daily routines can transform your metabolism, sleep, and overall well-being. From groundbreaking mouse studies to practical human applications, Dr. Panda breaks it all down in a way that’s eye-opening and actionable.About SparX by Mukesh BansalSparX is a podcast where we delve into cutting-edge scientific research, stories from impact-makers and tools for unlocking the secrets to human potential and growth. We believe that entrepreneurship, fitness and the science of productivity is at the forefront of the India Story; the country is at the cusp of greatness and at SparX, we wish to make these tools accessible for every generation of Indians to be able to make the most of the opportunities around us. In a new episode every Saturday, our host Mukesh Bansal (Founder of Myntra and Cult.fit) will talk to guests from all walks of life and also break down everything he's learnt about the science of impact over the course of his 20-year long career. This is the India Century, and we're enthusiastic to start this journey with you.Follow us on our Instagram: / sparxbymukeshbansal Also check out our website: https://www.sparxbymukeshbansal.com You can also listen to SparX on all audio platforms!Fasion | Outbreak | Courtesy EpidemicSound.com

Description - In the latest episode of SparX, your host, Mukesh Bansal, welcomes author and historian Vikram Sampath to discuss the contents of his book “Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum.” He shares stories not only from Tipu Sultan’s reign and but also a background about his father Hyder Ali. We hear some unheard stories where Vikram paints a picture of truth and reality bringing to light Tipu’s unsee sides. Chapters - About SparX by Mukesh BansalSparX is a podcast where we delve into cutting-edge scientific research, stories from impact-makers and tools for unlocking the secrets to human potential and growth. We believe that entrepreneurship, fitness and the science of productivity is at the forefront of the India Story; the country is at the cusp of greatness and at SparX, we wish to make these tools accessible for every generation of Indians to be able to make the most of the opportunities around us. In a new episode every Saturday, our host Mukesh Bansal (Founder of Myntra and Cult.fit) will talk to guests from all walks of life and also break down everything he's learnt about the science of impact over the course of his 20-year long career. This is the India Century, and we're enthusiastic to start this journey with you.Follow us on our Instagram:   / sparxbymukeshbansal  Also check out our website: https://www.sparxbymukeshbansal.com You can also listen to SparX on all audio platforms!Fasion | Outbreak | Courtesy EpidemicSound.com

Is money real, or is it just an illusion we all believe in? In this episode, Neelkanth Mishra takes us through his journey with studying and understanding money. We explore the concept of money—how it started, why it holds value, and why it might not be as real as we think. Neelkanth challenges everything we assume about wealth, explaining how inflation, trust, and government policies shape our financial system. Watch till the end to rethink how you see money!Resource list - What is Fort Knox? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Knox Gold in Fort Knox - https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/how-much-gold-is-in-fort-knox/Bank run - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bankrun.aspCRR - https://www.idfcfirstbank.com/finfirst-blogs/finance/what-is-crr What was the 2008 Financial crisis? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_financial_crisis https://www.britannica.com/money/financial-crisis-of-2007-2008Loan-to-Deposit ratio - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/loan-to-deposit-ratio.asp#:~:text=The%20loan%2Dto%2Ddeposit%20ratio%20(LDR)%20helps%20you,expressing%20it%20as%20a%20percentage. Open market operations - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/openmarketoperations.asp Currency in circulation - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/currency-in-circulation.asp#:~:text=Currency%20in%20circulation%20is%20all,in%20checking%20and%20savings%20accounts.What is EBLR? - https://www.kotak.com/en/stories-in-focus/loans/home-loan/eblr-interest-rate.html What is CBDC? - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/central-bank-digital-currency-cbdc.asp How can RBI contain rupee depreciation? - https://www.icicidirect.com/research/equity/finace/how-can-rbi-contain-rupee-depreciation 

In this episode of SparX, we dive deep into the complexities of the global economy, India's growth trajectory, and the impact of Trump's return to power. Neelkanth Mishra breaks down why forecasting the economy is as tough as predicting the weather, how crowd behavior shapes policy, and why AI is disrupting global markets.We discuss India’s economic challenges—monetary tightening, regulatory hurdles, and geopolitical shifts—while exploring potential solutions for achieving 7%+ growth. Are global markets headed for a crisis? How will AI reshape economic structures? And can India leverage this disruption to its advantage?Resource List - US President Trump and Ukraine President Zelensky - https://youtu.be/ajxSWocbye8?feature=shared Nixon and Kissinger meeting Indira Gandhi - https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve07/d135 https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/henry-kissinger-indira-gandhi-when-henry-kissinger-called-indira-gandhi-a-b-h-indians-bastards-4619944 The Great Transformation, book by Odd Arne Westad and Jian Chen - https://amzn.in/d/0QllE5P India’s Quantitative Tightening by Neelkanth Mishra - https://tessellatum.in/?p=478 What is the Overton Window? - https://www.mackinac.org/OvertonWindow More on Mrs. Watanabe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Watanabe https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-mrs-watanabe-how-japanese-housewives-became-force-moenga-alex-akg6f What is fiscal deficit? - https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/fiscal-deficit?from=mdr What is base money injection? - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/monetarybase.asp#:~:text=The%20money%20that%20they%20provide,of%20the%20Federal%20Reserve%20System. What is loan deposit ratio? - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/loan-to-deposit-ratio.asp#:~:text=The%20loan%2Dto%2Ddeposit%20ratio%20(LDR)%20helps%20you,expressing%20it%20as%20a%20percentage.

Welcome back to another episode of SparX by Mukesh Bansal. Today our host Mukesh, founder of Myntra and Cure.fit is in conversation with Alok Sama, the former President and CFO of SoftBank Group International. In this episode, we dive into the concept of the "money trap" and how one can avoid its pitfalls. Alok discusses his latest book, "The Money Trap", and explores topics such as his inspiration behind the book, Masayoshi Son's investment strategies, SoftBank's investment pitfalls, and more.Resource list - The Money Trap by Alok Sama - https://amzn.in/d/g4Kpx8G Read more about Masayoshi Son - https://www.forbes.com/profile/masayoshi-son/ https://group.softbank/en/about/officer/son SoftBank Vision Fund - https://visionfund.com/inAl Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize - https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2007/gore/facts/Trump’s Gold Card - https://thedispatch.com/article/trump-gold-card-visa-immigration-explained/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-gold-card-eb5-visa-5-million-immigration-oligarch-cbs-news-explains/ DeepSeek AI - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv5976z9pohttps://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/american-ai-firms-try-poke-holes-disruptive-deepseek-2025-01-28/ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/is-deepseeks-rise-a-threat-to-american-ai-dominance-here-is-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/117610064.cms?from=mdrTravis Kalanick’s Resignation - https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40352868https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/technology/uber-ceo-travis-kalanick.html?smid=url-share WeWork’s Downfall - https://accountancycloud.com/blogs/weworks-2-billion-disaster-what-went-wrong#:~:text=Adam%20Neumann%2C%20WeWork's%20founder%20and,fund%20his%20own%20personal%20projects. https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/9/23/20879656/wework-mess-explained-ipo-softbankSarvam AI - https://www.sarvam.ai/

Ajai Chowdhry, co-founder of HCL Technologies and author of "Just Aspire," shares his inspiring journey through India's tech landscape. He reflects on HCL's pioneering achievements and recruitment innovations that set the company apart. Ajai details the company's strategic shift from hardware to software and impactful acquisitions, including a tense outbid during the Beijing Olympics. He emphasizes the importance of aspiration for success and advocates for India’s need for an indigenous semiconductor industry to achieve technological autonomy.

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of ancient India's scientific and cultural legacy with Sanjay Anandaram, a visionary entrepreneur-turned-researcher. Driven by a passion to uncover the hidden treasures of India's rich heritage, Anandaram's research reveals the profound influence of ancient Indian innovations on modern mathematics, science, and philosophy. In this captivating conversation, we'll explore the pivotal moments in India's ancient scientific history, unlock the secrets of ancient Indian knowledge and philosophy, and discover the enduring impact of India's contributions on contemporary society.Resource list - Book review by David Mumford - https://www.dam.brown.edu/people/mumford/beyond/papers/2010a--PlofkerReview-AMS.pdf Mathematics in India - https://amzn.in/d/2lvk3Av The Mahavakyas - https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/sivaprakasam-study/d/doc1210740.html More about Chanakyaniti - https://chanakyaniti.in/#google_vignette Read more about the Yuktikalpataru - https://cahc.jainuniversity.ac.in/assets/ijhs/Vol11_2_5_MChaudhuri.pdf Who is Tu Youyou? - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tu-Youyou Who was Sushruta Samhita? - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11527508/ America’s Manifest Destiny - https://americanexperience.si.edu/historical-eras/expansion/pair-westward-apotheosis/ Read about the Monroe Doctrine - https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/monroe-doctrine 

ISRO has made remarkable strides in space technology, with multiple world records and milestones that prove time-and-again that ISRO is one of the leading space research institutions of the world. These achievements demonstrate ISRO's capabilities and commitment to advancing space research.And at the frontier of some of the great milestones is Dr. Somanath, former chairman of ISRO, who played a crucial role in shaping India's space program. Under his leadership, ISRO achieved numerous milestones, including the successful launch of several satellites and spacecraft. His vision and expertise have left a lasting impact on India's space research endeavors.Tune into this conversation with a visionary from India’s space program and gain some valuable insights on space exploration. Resource List - ISRO Official Website - www.isro.gov.in ISRO Missions Page - www.isro.gov.in/Mission.html ISRO Profile - www.isro.gov.in/profile.html ISRO History, Missions & Achievements - www.sriramsias.com/blog/isro-history-missions-achievements/ About Dr. Somanath - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._Somanath https://pwonlyias.com/s-somanath-biography/ https://www.iafastro.org/biographie/s-somanath.html Chandrayaan-3 - https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/chandrayaan-3#propulsionmodule More about PSLV - https://www.isro.gov.in/PSLV_CON.htmlhttps://www.isro.gov.in/PSLV_Launchers.htmlhttps://www.nsilindia.co.in/pslv-productionNASA’s Scout Rocket Family - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_(rocket_family) Starship by SpaceX - https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/ More about NGLV -https://www.drishtiias.com/printpdf/isro-s-next-gen-launch-vehicle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Generation_Launch_Vehiclehttps://youtu.be/hcbpU6dtMTA?feature=shared What is a Semi-Cryogenic Engine? -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCE-200 ISRO’s Gaganyaan Mission - https://www.isro.gov.in/Gaganyaan.html More about Gaganyaan’s Test Vehicle - https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/TVD1/TVD1_Brochure_new.pdf Read more about ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission - https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/jan/doc2025116486201.pdfhttps://www.isro.gov.in/mission_SpaDeX.html https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-successfully-executes-spadex-docking-experiment-india-joins-elite-club-of-nations/article69103462.eceChandrayaan-4 Mission - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrayaan-4 https://www.isro.gov.in/UnionCabinetApprovesIndiasMission.html Aditya L1 Mission - https://www.isro.gov.in/Aditya_L1.html https://www.isro.gov.in/Aditya_L1-MissionDetails.html