Ideas of India

Our third scholar in the series is Chetana Sabnis, who is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Political Science at Yale University. Her research focuses on how states regulate intimate relationships and construct hierarchies of familial belonging. We spoke about her job market paper titled, The Intimacy Contract in Action: How Indian Courts Determine which Extramarital Relationships Deserve Recognition. We talked about extramarital affairs, polygamous relationships, Uniform Civil Code, social versus legal acceptance, and much more.  Recorded September 5th, 2025. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:23) - How Courts Recognize “Family” (00:03:12) - Why This Paper? Rethinking “Family” (00:05:28) - India’s Legal Patchwork: Customs vs. Code    (00:11:07) - Judicial Heuristics: Rituals, Cohabitation, Children    (00:14:44) - Endogamy vs. Interfaith: Law, Bias, and Recognition (00:22:22) - How the State Views Children (00:25:27) - Welfare Logic & Gendered Maintenance  (00:29:29) - UCC and the “Intimacy Contract” (00:35:48) - The Role of the State (00:42:30) - Contract vs. Sacrament (00:49:00) - Outro

Sunny Rai, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the contrasting portrayals of shame and pride in Bollywood and Hollywood films. She discusses how Bollywood emphasizes family honor while Hollywood focuses on individual accountability. Rai shares her research methodology involving vocabulary analysis and Large Language Models to dissect these themes. Additionally, she highlights challenges like the limitations of subtitle translations and the implications of cultural biases in AI training, suggesting broader applications for her findings.

Our first scholar in the series is Kartik Srivastava, who is a PhD candidate at the Kennedy School at Harvard University. Before this, he received his bachelor's degree from Yale University, where he majored in Economics and Engineering Sciences.  His research focuses on development economics, labor economics, and political economy. We spoke about his job market paper titled, Familiar strangers: Evidence from referral-based hiring experiments in India. We talked his large-scale experiment at a footwear manufacturing firm in Delhi, on how referral-based hiring improve firm productivity, cohesion, and inclusion, differences in hiring between higher caste versus lower caste networks, feudalism and labor opportunities, and much more. Recorded August 28th, 2025. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Follow Kartik on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Narayani Basu, a historian and author of 'A Man for All Seasons: The Life of K. M. Panikkar', dives deep into the life of this fascinating figure. She discusses Panikkar's role in the Indian nationalist movement and his intricate relationship with China in the 1950s. The conversation touches on his ideological complexities, including his views on Zionism and communism. Basu also examines the impact of historical traumas on India's identity and the challenges of integrating princely states into a unified nation.

Yamini Aiyar, a Visiting Senior Fellow at Brown University and author of 'Lessons in State Capacity from Delhi’s Schools', discusses the multifaceted challenges in India's education policy. She delves into the effects of local governance on school autonomy and the impact of Delhi’s education reforms. The conversation also addresses the complexities of decentralization, the gaps in learning outcomes, and the urgent need for portable benefits and school vouchers. Aiyar emphasizes the importance of empowering educators and the role of community in driving meaningful change.

Rathin Roy, a Distinguished Fellow at the Kautilya School of Public Policy, dives into India's complex fiscal landscape. He discusses the intricacies of fiscal federalism, showcasing how resource allocation affects rich and poor states differently. The conversation highlights challenges surrounding the Goods and Services Tax and critiques current fiscal policies for their regressive impacts. Roy emphasizes the need for transformative approaches to public finance, focusing on equity and inclusive growth to address systemic disparities.

Join legal scholars Chitrakshi Jain and Prashant Reddy T., co-authors of 'Tareekh pe Justice,' as they delve into the dysfunction within India's district courts. They discuss the opacity in judge evaluations and the challenges of judicial data. The duo critiques the integrity and accountability issues in the system, particularly the controversial practice of compulsory retirement for judges. They also highlight the flaws in judicial statistics and explore the pressing need for transparency and reform, underscoring the vital role of district courts in upholding justice.

M. R. Sharan, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland and author of "Last Among Equals," dives deep into the dynamics of local governance in India. He discusses the critical role of local political actors and the effects of decentralization on public service delivery. The conversation also covers the challenges of caste and gender representation, the evolution of the Panchayati Raj system, and the interplay between migration and welfare. Sharan highlights the potential for local leadership to empower marginalized communities amid the complexities of corruption and governance.

In this conversation, Rakesh Mohan, a prominent economist and former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, shares insights from his extensive experience with India’s economic reforms. He discusses the challenges and complexities of dismantling the License Permit Raj and its impact on growth since the 1991 reforms. Mohan also delves into the historical context of India’s industrial regulations and emphasizes the structural transformations still needed to bolster the economy. His reflections on urbanization and infrastructure highlight the ongoing journey towards a more efficient system.

Ramachandra Guha, an esteemed environmental scholar and biographer, dives into the roots of Indian environmentalism. He discusses the contrast between grassroots movements like the Chipko and centralized governmental practices. Guha also contrasts the visions of Patrick Geddes and JC Kumarappa on sustainable development. He emphasizes the importance of integrating local knowledge into ecological strategies and critiques the tension between technology and environmentalism. The conversation further highlights the often-overlooked contributions of women in this critical discourse.