SparX by Mukesh Bansal

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 

Join us as we explore the complex challenges of "wicked problems" with Guru Madhavan, renowned engineer and author of "Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World.” We uncover the fascinating story of Edwin Link, a pioneer who revolutionised aviation engineering with the invention of the first mechanical flight simulator. Guru Madhavan shares his insights on how historical and socio-cultural contexts shape engineering solutions, and highlights the critical role of systems engineering in tackling complex challenges that require a multifaceted approach.Tune in for engaging stories, expert insights, and a fresh perspective on the power of engineering to create positive change.Join us as we explore the complex challenges of "wicked problems" with Guru Madhavan, renowned engineer and author of "Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World.” We uncover the fascinating story of Edwin Link, a pioneer who revolutionised aviation engineering with the invention of the first mechanical flight simulator. Guru Madhavan shares his insights on how historical and socio-cultural contexts shape engineering solutions, and highlights the critical role of systems engineering in tackling complex challenges that require a multifaceted approach.Tune in for engaging stories, expert insights, and a fresh perspective on the power of engineering to create positive change.Resource List - Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World, Book by Guru Madhavan - https://amzn.in/d/5Yx6Rxs Applied Minds - How Engineers Think, Book by Guru Madhavan - https://amzn.in/d/5GMOzNn What are Wicked Problems? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_problem https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/wicked-problem/about/What-is-a-wicked-problem https://www.resonanceglobal.com/blog/the-characteristics-of-wicked-problems#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20the%20term%20'wicked,certainly%20a%20'wicked%20problem'. About Edwin Link - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Albert_Link https://www.simulationinformation.com/hall-of-fame/members/edwin-albert-link/More about the Link’s ‘Link Trainer’ - https://www.nasflmuseum.com/link-trainer.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_Trainer https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196852/link-trainer/https://rastek.com/the-worlds-first-commercially-built-flight-simulator-the-link-trainer-blue-box/More about Chaplin Airlines - https://www.islapedia.com/index.php?title=Chaplin_Airlines,_Santa_Catalina_Island https://www.laalmanac.com/transport/tr707.php#google_vignette Read about Philosophy and Engineering - https://hbr.org/2024/04/why-engineers-should-study-philosophyhttps://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/144214599.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269921583_Philosophy_of_Engineering_What_It_Is_and_Why_It_Matters Read more about the Great Molasses Flood - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Floodhttps://www.history.com/news/great-molasses-flood-science

Amitabh Kant, a prominent bureaucrat and former CEO of NITI Aayog, shares his insights on India's impressive leadership during the G20 Summit. He discusses the challenges of navigating geopolitics, including the Russia-Ukraine war, to enhance global cooperation. Kant also highlights his efforts in promoting tourism and startups through campaigns like 'Incredible India.' Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of youth empowerment, innovation, and India’s potential in the AI revolution, as the country aims for a $30 trillion economy.

What drew Shrinivas Kulkarni to physics? What's the current state of astrophysics and its future prospects? What major reforms need to be implemented to boost India’s progress in astrophysics? For the latest episode of SparX, we are joined by Shrinivas Kulkarni, a renowned Indian-American astronomer. Mr. Kulkarni has made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of the universe. His notable career milestones include the discovery of the first millisecond pulsar and the identification of the optical counterpart of a gamma-ray burst. Kulkarni's work has earned him numerous accolades, with a recent addition of the 2024 Shaw Prize in Astronomy to the list. Resource List -  About Shrinivas R. Kulkarni - https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/~srk/  The Discovery of the First Millisecond Pulsar: Personal Recollections by Shrinivas Kulkarni - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384500207_THE_DISCOVERY_OF_THE_FIRST_MILLISECOND_PULSAR_PERSONAL_RECOLLECTIONS About the Millisecond Pulsar - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millisecond_pulsar#:~:text=The%20first%20millisecond%20pulsar%2C%20PSR,200%20that%20have%20been%20discovered.  What is a Beaming Fraction? - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Beaming-fraction-as-a-function-of-the-mass-of-the-neutron-star-in-NGC-300-ULX1-The_fig2_353920284  More about Brown Dwarf - https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question62.html